Angie B – Fyaah In The Blood

Produced by respected Jamaican reggae veteran Roy Cousins, Fyaah In The Blood is an 18-track collection that shows Angie B to be a capable and convincing vocalist with something to say. She sounds comfortable throughout, and the conscious material suits her particularly well. Cousins also gives her a strong musical setting, with several of the songs built on classic riddims that reggae fans will immediately recognise.

Eighteen tracks is a lot, and inevitably some are stronger than others. There are a couple of moments where the album loses some momentum, but the quality of the better material more than makes up for that. The conscious and spiritual songs are where Angie B makes her strongest impression.

She wastes no time making that clear. Demonic Generation opens the album with a haunting, serious message, matched by a suitably atmospheric riddim. The title track follows with a lighter musical feel, but its message remains firmly conscious.

Melanin, voiced on the Declaration Of Rights riddim, is another highlight. It’s beautiful without being lightweight, and Angie B delivers the song with real conviction. Move Out The Way keeps things moving on the Holding Firm riddim, best known to many through Everton Blender’s Lift Up Your Head. Then she tackles the Stalag riddim with Badmind, a pointed tune that shows she can handle a classic riddim without simply disappearing into its shadow.

After two tracks that don’t quite hit the same level, Father’s Voice brings the album back into focus. It’s a lovely spiritual number and one of the set’s more convincing moments. Mr Babylon then changes the pace completely, coming in uptempo and full of energy. Along with (Warrior) Children Of The Sun, it’s familiar territory for Angie B, having previously appeared on her 2022 EP B Outspoken.

Further down the tracklist, Prison Starr, riding the Movie Star riddim, deserves a listen, as does Don’t Rise Up The Moloch, another track that fits comfortably into the album’s conscious side.

So, who is Angie B? If you don’t know her yet, Fyaah In The Blood is a good place to find out. The album has its uneven moments, but there’s real substance here, along with a vocalist who clearly still has plenty to offer. After listening, you may well find yourself asking a different question: “Why haven’t we heard more from Angie B before?”