Joe Higgs was a hugely influential figure in the development of reggae both in Jamaica and in the UK, his knowledge of melody and harmony directly impacting on the Wailers and many others. This new release gives us an opportunity to hear what Higgs himself had to say, and it’s an arresting collection. The album combines strong melodies together with stripped-down arrangements from the excellent supporting Now Generation session band that included Earl Lindo (organ) and Mikey Chung (guitar). There is no adornment to the instrumentation here, no guitar solos, synthesised sounds, dubs or studio effects. Instead, the musical feel as well as the vocal style is based in R and B, and the blues more generally. The overall mood reflects this inspiration. The opening track, ‘Come on Home’, demonstrates the strong influence of the blues in both its structure and mood, and it wouldn’t be difficult to imagine someone like Nina Simone offering the vocal to this powerful track. A slower ballad style is apparent elsewhere, especially on the title track. [Source]
New Music United 