Review | Alborosie – Nine Mile

Of course, the title of Alborosie’s ninth studio album (and the cover photograph) is a tribute to both Bob Marley and Rastafarianism in general, Nine Mile being Bob’s birthplace and last resting place. The track Trench Town itself makes Bob’s influence on Alborosie even more overt, as the lyrics are a clever use of many song titles. But then, he also references other reggae pioneers too – as with the mention of The Book Of Rules in No Tan Distintos.

Musically, the set, recorded in Alborosie’s Kingston studio, is very much in Bob’s roots-rock-reggae style, catchy and accessible. Sometimes though he reaches back a little further to Bob’s time with Lee Perry – try Come My Way, which rides the King Tubby Meets The Rockers Uptown riddim, but has something of Sun Is Shining about it. Club Paradise could almost be a previously unknown Bob Marley track, late 70s in the vocal, backing vocals and arrangement, whilst the title track itself is a delicate, acoustic number.

Alborosie is Italian (born in Sicily), with joint Jamaican nationality, and has an international outlook. He sings in Spanish on the beautifully horn-driven Ganas De Verte, and Ipanema has a relevant touch of bossa-nova in the introduction and the guitar solo. Loco Loco has a healthy serving of funk in the reggae arrangement and contemporary-themed lyrics, delivered in Alborosie’s strong, committed, and voice, angry at modern madness.
In short, this is a very fine international reggae release.