Album: Dan Bowskill, More Than Music (Inner Circle Universal)

Andy Gill
Thursday 17 April 2008 16:34 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

“Reggae is my brain food,” claims young north Londoner Dan Bowskill, a claim borne out by his mature, thoughtful attitude.

Formerly frontman of reggae band The Hiites, Bowskill brings to his roots-reggae songs a cool-ruler warmth reminiscent of Gregory Isaacs, as he surveys the social landscape around him and finds reasons for both gloom and optimism.

The result is somewhat akin to Black Uhuru or Burning Spear on tracks such as “Brain Food” and “Clear Water”. Bowskill views the spread of Babylon with trepidation in the single “Holy Land”, though his colleague Black Rein leavens the mood with an angry but level-headed rap advising, “stay conscious, and don't bother with no nonsense”.

Smoothly produced, with mellow horns rolling over the gentle skank grooves, this is a confident and creditable debut.

"Holy Land" from More Than Music features in this month's Independent Audio Player. CLICK HERE to listen.

To order any CD previewed here, call the Independent Music Service on 01634 832 789.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in