*GUEST REVIEW*
Hailing from the African country of Benin, Rasbawa's debut (as far as I know) album is astonishing, astonishing, astonishing. Perhaps it is the association with African reggae, but I have to say that I have never heard someone excel at sounding more authentic and immediate than Alpha Blondy. Alpha Blondy comes to mind because the singer's voice sounds similar, and he sings in French on most of the tracks. Backing up this extraordinary vocalist is an equally impressive roots band and a beautiful female harmony group. I can't understand most of the lyrics on the album, but the melodies still manage to engage the listener's attention and are guaranteed to stick in your head. Like Alpha Blondy's songs, these rely a good deal on call an response style phrasing between vocalist and chorus. The only English tracks are "Control Business" and "Corruption," which talk about the oppressiveness of the world economy and the exclusiveness it has. There are other English lyrics scattered here and there, but mostly it switches between French and an African language. It is a very strong album full of soulfulness and originality that manages to explore several sides of reggae in a way that not much other reggae does.

- Trammell Scruggs