Vision

This is another fine example of Alpha Blondy's easy-going roots reggae style and conscious lyrics. Since the tragic demise of South African reggae singer Lucky Dube, it's fair to say that Seydou Koné (aka Alpha Blondy), from the Ivory Coast, is Africa's best known and globally appreciated reggae artist. His albums are always immaculately produced and performed with a mixture of talented African, French and Jamaican musicians. Opening track, ‘Rasta Bourgeois, featuring The Gladiators, is sung in English, but the majority of songs are performed in French with three sung in the West African Mande language. Though his career stretches back 30 years, Blondy's voice has lost none of its distinct youthful charm: perfectly evident on the jaunty ‘Bogo,’ with its spritely kora backing.

Whilst the majority of this CD is eminently listenable, there are a few slightly over-worked attempts at commercialism: the vocoder vocal trickery on ‘C'est Magic’ is unnecessary, as are the occasional rock guitar passages on a couple of tracks. I'm also not sure that I want to hear a saccharin version of the old folk tale of Stewball the Racehorse. However, despite a few minor aberrations, this is a joyous and uplifting album. Particularly interesting is ‘Vuvuzela’, an HIV warning in which Blondy humorously and euphemistically implores us to ‘protect your Vuvuzela, before you Waka-Wakal’ A varied and highly enjoyable album.