I was in Paris a couple of weeks ago and figured I couldn't leave without picking up some European reggae. I chose Nile because: a) I had heard of Patrice (full name: Patrice Bart-Williams), and b) it was one of the few albums that cost less than 20 Euros (granted, I was shopping at a Virgin Megastore). Patrice is a singer of Afro-German decent whose eclectic sound has won him legions of fans in Germany, France, and beyond. Nile is evidence of his unconventional style, as it would be difficult to categorize this R&B/neo-soul set as "reggae." This isn't necessarily an insult -- indeed, Winston McAnuff has shown that French fusions can be quite enjoyable -- but it's something you should know before you lay down your doll -- er, Euro. If you're open to this type of music, you'll find Nile a truly satisfying experience. And even if you're not open to it, you may be surprised at how much of it you enjoy. Patrice's sound is quite striking. At its most basic level, I'd call it a cross between Bob Marley (there's even a cover of "It Hurts to Be Alone") and Prince, both vocally (a rootsy Caribbean wail with a high-pitched, nasal intonement) and musically (a couple of traditional reggae tunes mixed in with acoustic guitar ballads, live-band funk, and pseudo-jazz). He throws in a bit of his own flavor, of course, veering into a dancehall sing-jay mode at times and a crooning neo-soul vibe at others ("Done" showcases both, a triumphant fusion that I dare say few can pull off). This is the type of hybrid that the Marley kids have been attempting for years with mixed results. Patrice hits it on the head, though, with melodies and grooves so infectious, you might not realize the seriousness of lyrics dealing with racial pride, rebellion, spiritualism, life, and death -- even a rare expression of the frustration that even "positive" artists like him feel at times on "Gun": 

Sometimes I wish I had a gun, 
'Cause I don't wanna haffi talk to dem.
Don't get me wrong; I know it's wrong,
But I don't wanna haffi talk to dem.

Reggae fans get a small but delicious taste of what he can do over straightforward one-drop grooves on "Lead the Way" and the sizzling ska tune "Soulstorm," enough to whet your appetite for (hopefully) a full-length reggae release to come. (In the meantime, Silly Walks Meets Patrice is the closest thing you'll get.) Often bordering on brilliance, Nile showcases the universality of great music.