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Dem No Know Demself (Minor7Flat5, 2004)

*GUEST REVIEW*
Lutan Fyah is quickly coming up the singjay ranks.  His voice is distinctive and light, not as rough-edged as most of his contemporaries (Capleton, Sizzla, Jah Mason, etc.).  As such it is particularly well-suited to the generally lighter riddims provided by Minor7Flat5 on this release, yet another solid entry by the label in their recent string of successes, including Anthony B's excellent My Hope. This album is not quite a My Hope, but it's very, very good nonetheless.  The opening track, "Keepin' It Straight," is the cheeriest thing I've heard from Lutan Fyah, and it works so well that it makes me wish he'd do it more often.  Some singjays -- Sizzla for example -- sound better in a serious minor key, but Lutan Fyah works equally well on both sides.  The tracks here are very mixed in tone and style, hopping from sunny roots to serious dread ("Clearance") to drum-and-bass dancehall (seriously, check out the title track, which is a borderline-successful and very interesting experiment).  Other ideas pop up here and there, including classical music on "De Youth Dem," which recycles the riddim used on Anthony B's "Dancehall Thing," and works much better than that track.  "Who Draw Last" is another re-used riddim, a bleeping, bare-bones dancehall song that has a monster hook. If I have complaints about this album, one is that too many of the riddims are familiar.  Minor7Flat5 isn't releasing enough albums to dip this aggressively into their own material already.  Besides this, the track sequencing here is a little odd.  I applaud the variety and experimentation, but this album tends to hop around a little too rapidly from one mood to another. Overall, this is a quality release for Lutan Fyah, and it's been strangely buried compared to his high-profile albums like Phantom War.  Well worth hearing.

- Dale Cooper

Time and Place (Lustre Kings, 2005)

In the increasingly crowded cultural sing-jay market, Lutan Fyah is making a name for himself.  Having guested on Turbulence's awesome Different Thing (plus various other releases, including the Superior riddim compilation), Fyah stepped into the spotlight in 2004 for his debut album Dem No Know Demself and is now following it up with the fine Time and Place.  With new sing-jays emerging daily, it's difficult for an artist to stand out amongst the crowd, and while Fyah's style isn't revolutionary (somewhere in the range of Turbulence and Anthony B by way of Sizzla), the quality of his material sets him apart.  There are 7 or 8 pure heaters on this album, tracks that could find their way onto any Strictly the Best or Reggae Gold release -- including the funky roots of "No More War" (featured on the Calling All Jah Children mix tape, along with several other tracks on Time and Place) and "Fire in the Barn" (which may remind some of Anthony B's "Raid the Barn"), the inspirational dancehall of "Upliftment," the quirky Latin/hip-hop flavor of "Joy Within Myself," the lovers-styled "Don't Waste Your Time," and my personal favorite, the infectious, melodica and organ-led relaxation anthem "Stress Free."  He even manages to finish the album on a high note, with the endearing acoustic guitar ballad "Love Is the Only Absolute."  You'd expect to hear more dancehall from a DJ, but aside from "Upliftment" and maybe "Joy Within Myself," Time and Place shies away from the dancehall, remaining largely within the roots realm, with a touch of lovers rock.  With each release, Lutan Fyah appears to be carving himself a deeper niche in the reggae world.  The "time" seems to be now, and the "place" is anywhere you can pick up this album.

Click pic to buy!

Click pic to buy!

Healthy Lifestyle (VP, 2006)

*GUEST REVIEW*
Fans of smooth sing-jay Lutan Fyah will be glad to know that his follow-up to the acclaimed Phantom War does nothing to diminish his status as one of reggae's rising stars. Although perhaps nothing else on Healthy Lifestyle can match the majestic glory of "Thief in Jah Garden," the album is marked by solid production and songwriting throughout. Other album highlights include the diamond-sharp single "Rough a Yard," the uplifting "You Can Do It," and "Natural Herbs." Killer tracks like these make Lutan Fyah one to watch in 2007. 

- Reggie