Azizzi Romeo – Signs Of The Time
Label: Recall Reality
Text: Volker Barsch
The golden rule of job interviews: Never badmouth your former employer! After all, your prospective boss will assume that you’ll eventually talk about them the same way. By that logic, dissing your ex in a love song might not be the smartest tactic either, as Azizzi Romeo does in ”Paragon of Virtue”: ”Compared to my ex, this is refreshing.” First, your new flame wants to be desired for who she is, and second, she’ll start imagining what Mr. Lover-Lover might say about her once the initial infatuation has long since faded. The singer might also struggle to impress more discerning ladies with ”Let Me,” the second love song on his debut album, as he simply strings together too many clichés.
So while the apple still has some maturing to do when it comes to love storytelling, it doesn’t fall far from the tree in the realm of roots and consciousness. On the remaining nine tracks, Azizzi carries on the legacy of his father Max, tearing down Babylon’s walls with uncompromising Rasta lyrics. Whether on the upbeat ”Babylon Ain’t Easy,” the uplifting ”Thanks and Praises,” the beautifully horn-driven ”Jah Jah Disciples,” or the anthemic ”Selassie I Reigns,” Azizzi’s unmistakable voice is in its element when he’s in conscious mode. He skillfully alternates between soulful singing and superbly flowing toasting passages.
The album becomes a family affair thanks to the strong duets with his father Max (RIP) on the title track and his sister Xana on ”All I See.” Denmark’s Guiding Star Orchestra, which has already demonstrated its excellent musicianship and versatility as Kumar’s live backing band, among other things, provides the singer with the perfect foundation of rootsy riddims, ranging from one drop to steppers. For the production, the orchestra teamed up with CHLLNGR, a California native also based in Denmark, while the equally professional mix comes courtesy of Prince Fatty.
All in all, with this successful debut album, Azizzi Romeo, who at times recalls Matthew McAnuff in both style and lyrical content, completes his shift from dancehall, trap, and hip-hop to roots reggae, a transition already hinted at on his African Youth EP. Compared to his earlier releases, he sounds more mature now, yet at the same time, thanks in part to the infectious enthusiasm of his Danish backing musicians, genuinely ”refreshing”!
”Signs Of The Time” was released on October 2 by Recall Reality.
