Culture Returns with HUMBLE AFRICAN

Man, how good is it to hear Culture with a new album? Joseph Hill and crew have been pretty darn consistent through their career, with early albums like Two Sevens Clash and more recent releases like the oustanding One Stone (both on RAS). Culture's latest, Humble African is on VP and, as usual, is quite the treat.

On the opening track, "Why Am I a Rastaman?" Hill points to positive Rasta elders he remembers from his youth and the powerful Nyahbinghi drums as two reasons for his choice of Rastafari as a way of life. Colin "Bulby" York's production is well above average, making this a strong spiritual track that rivals "Slice of Mount Zion" from One Stone three years ago.

Bulby's production throughout this disc is surprisingly good. I thought that Joseph Hill would only sound great alongside his normal backing band, but the wide variety of musicians on this disc (including Scully, Junior Marvin, and Dwight Pickney) combined with wonderful production makes this great album.

And wait until you hear "Rolling Stone" -- Bulby and Fatta nice it up with Scully, Chinna, and a number of others on this wicked Nyahbinghi-style folk tune. This one is a top contender for track of the year, in my opinion, and I really hope I get to see it performed live. Following "Rolling Stone" is the title track, a perfect compliment with a bit more of a reggae leaning.

More great tracks about: "Never Give Up" has perhaps the best dub potential of all the cuts (wonderful percussion, heavily echoed vocals, and a catchy hook) and "Fishes to Fry" has a gospel style vibe with Bryan and Tony Gold on backing vocals.

A few guests join Culture including Marcia Griffiths (on the so-so "Where is the Love"), Morgan Heritage (on the beautiful acoustic tune "Home Grown"), and conscious veteran DJ Tony Rebel (on the bass-heavy bubbler "Poor People Hungry"). There isn't an overload of guests, and the few that do appear are carefully selected.

With this album being released around the same time as the new Beenie Man and Soca Gold 2000, it could easily fall into the cracks, but I certainly hope it doesn't, as Humble African is one of the best albums yet this year.

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