SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: FERGUS HAMBLETON WITH LORD SASSAFRASS – A BETTER TOMORROW: ORIGINAL REGGAE AND SKA

FERGUS HAMBLETON WITH LORD SASSAFRASS
A BETTER TOMORROW: ORIGINAL REGGAE AND SKA
G-THREE MUSIC MANAGEMENT

One of the many things I love about Fergus Hambleton is that one never really knows what he will do next. His last studio album, 2021’s brilliant Jazz Lover’s Society Vol. 2 was a jazz album, prior to that he released a wonderful folk/pop album Neighbourhoods (2019) and in between he released a number of singles, including a Beatles cover (“Blackbird”). Here, on A Better Tomorrow: Original Reggae and Ska, he goes back to reggae. Hambleton was a key member and founder of the fantastic band The Satellites, but with A Better Tomorrow: Original Reggae and Ska he shows what he can do as a solo artist within the genre of reggae.

A Better Tomorrow: Original Reggae and Ska is a wonderful album full of great songs. Hambleton is joined here by Lord Sassafrass (Michael Orlando Johnson, who is perhaps best known as a dancehall DJ and for his work with The Black Scorpio Sound System. The two artists work together perfectly. Hambleton has a wonderfully smooth voice, and when Sassafrass comes in with his vocals the combination is absolutely amazing.

When the two write a song together, such as the incredible “Freedom”, it is pure magic. Their vocals glide over the smooth production and arrangements and the song sails into the listener’s ears. Lyrically, songs like “Freedom” are peaceful protest songs.  The title track for A Better Tomorrow is another excellent example. In some ways this album brings to mind Boy George’s latest string of singles, which focuses on setting things to right as opposed to expressing anger and resentment.

A Better Tomorrow: Original Reggae and Ska gets better with each spin on the turntable. Hambleton has always done that. His songs have instant appeal, but keep listening and dig deeper, and like Paul McCartney, Hambleton has a lot to say and he does it so well and smoothly. The addition of Sassafrass adds a layer of energy and when the two work together it is bliss.

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