Inna de Yard

It's been close to 25 years since Ken Boothe last entered the studio and, in truth, he has lost a little of that glorious vibrato that worked so well for him in the 1970s when he became a major reggae crossover artist. For his revival he's been put in the safe hands of the Inna de Yard crew: French producers who've been recording the cream of new and old Jamaican musical talent in their backyards for over ten years now. Boothe was at his best when giving R&B and soul songs a reggae makeover but here he heads into new territory, with a more sombre take on some of the songs that he has recorded over the years.

Opening track ‘Speak Softly Love’ feels like a cross between a Jamaican gospel song and French chanson due to its mix of Nyabinghi hand drums and accordion accompaniment. Though the pace overall is too languid and short on invention, bright moments such as ‘Let the Water Run Dry’ and Boothe's blissful version of Bob Marley's ‘African Lady’ ensure that there's still much to be thankful for in Boothe's return to the studio.