A tribute to Bob Marley by a venerable British prog band seems like an unusual flight of fancy, but Yes makes it work.

YolanDa Brown’s blending of styles doesn’t even have a name. Whatever you call this, ‘Love, Politics, War’ is certainly in a class of its own.

Ronnie Lane, Joost Maglev, Patrice Jegou, Tiny Legs Tim and the Green are part of the latest edition of Five for the Road, an occasional look at music that’s been in my car lately.

The picture is grainy, the sound far too tinny. Still, there’s no denying the magic going on as Bob Marley returns to “Is This Love.”

This charity single deftly combines a Richards deep cut with a reggae classic.

Following the assassination attempt on Bob Marley’s life in December of 1976, he flew to London to escape the imminent threat hanging over him in Jamaica. He’d spend more than a year in Britain, developing and recording songs that would eventually make up both 1977’s Exodus album and Kaya, theRead More

UB40 can be forgiven for getting a little maudlin, for enjoying some tear-in-your-beer saloon music. After all, it hasn’t been all red, red wine and roses lately for the British reggae-pop band. You May Also Like: Susie Blue and the Lonesome Fellas, “Waitin’ Just For You” (2019): One Track MindRead More

Sounding something like reggae dub, Paris, New York, Port-au-Prince blends Bob Marley-style political sentiments and thunking music hall beats — with Karlex’s spoken-more-than-sung vocals as the centering point. You May Also Like: Prince Recalled Past Glories on ’20Ten,’ But Then Made the Same Mistakes DELIRIOUS: Our Ultimate Prince Playlist

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mZKY3R1MIQ&w=500&h=305] Tchiya Amet creates this interesting subtext, weaving a mystical tapestry of stories, myths, legends and spells through a varied rhythmic landscape. But even if you aren’t familiar with the source material, Celestial Folk Music charms. You May Also Like: The Immediate Family, “Cruel Twist” (2020): One Track MindRead More