Now based in France, Ilements is originally from Saint Martin in the Caribbean, and he has been singing reggae since he was a youth. He made his first album Justice in 2016, and As It Is is his third (if you are wondering, 2019’s Cyaan Trap Me is the other). It was recorded with some of the French reggae scene’s top musicians, and features Ilements in excellent form, raining spiritual fire down on Babylon and showing a particularly strong flow in his delivery over strong roots rhythms. Be sure to listen to the title track where he takes those performers who compromise Rastafari to task in no uncertain terms.
However, even though they keep the conscious approach, some of his songs have a mellower, more personal and intimate feel, and the guitarist (Kubix) sometimes adds distinctive Spanish or West African tinges which mark this out as a carefully thought-out release. Take a listen to I’m From A Place where Ilements describes a place where wealth and poverty exist side-by-side and calls for action, the thoughtful Modern Slavery or the celebratory Sweet Run A Dub. The set is completed by rather tasty dubs of As It Is and Modern Slavery by Tippy I Grade, making for a fine close to a very impressive and listenable release.