They say you can judge a man by the company he keeps – so there are no worries there for Nyle Banks (a.k.a. Fyakin). Among the guests he has on the eleven tracks of this set are Sizzla, Capleton, Lutan Fyah, Sanchez, Pressure, Kmetik Nyne, and Perfect Giddimani – a mix of older and younger performers, all upstanding artists committed to making good – or better – reggae, as they certainly help to do here. Nyle Banks certainly deserves his place alongside them, and despite the presence of some real heavyweight names, there is no doubt on Word Sound Power that this is indeed his album.
Take a listen to Concrete Jungle, like the majority of the other tracks here, a conscious number but with a bleak sound and just a tinge of hip-hop in there; the mood lightens with the following lover’s track, Something For You. Ras Tafari Call is a fine example of Nyle’s taste for unusual accompaniments whilst Green harks back – very effectively – to perhaps an 80s sound. Herbman Stylee is a lovely, lively response to a police stop and search, though I’m Bless (with Sanchez) perhaps – hopefully – sums up Nyle’s attitude to life. It’s a good way to be. Another quality release from Nicholas Levy from Portmore – Mr. Nyle Banks himself.