Have Faith

Luciano

Both sides of this record are taken from Luciano's current album Great Controversy and is essentially a double A sider , although designated Sides A and B. In fact, of the two tunes, Bandits on side B is currently generating the most radio airplay here in the UK. A reality lyric which inveighs against bandits, culprits and backstabbers of all stripes over a powerful roots rhythm, Bandits is a fine record. However, for my money, Have Faith is more essential still.

Have Faith is a light, breezy, summery piece of vocal work. Luciano delivers delivers such relaxed and optimistic sentiments as 'Why should you worry when you can pray. Why complain when it's such a lovely day' over Bob Marley's sprightly Mr Talkative rhythm. The advice to 'have faith' is beguilingly echoed by a female chorus. Luciano even breaks into some fifties style scat singing towards the end, as though his joy in being alive can be kept to himself no longer.

Have Faith shows once again what a flexible, many sided vocalist Luciano is on record. Unlike other singers, he does not restrict himself to a single formula and you never know what he's going to come up with next. His last major vocal outing on a British label, Under Jah Rock, was an unexpected sing-jay styled piece with the great man launching into an extended toasting sequence towards the end. Perhaps his next album, in keeping with the relaxed style of Have Faith, should be entitled The Many Moods Of Luciano.'

Finally, this record shows once again the essential health of UK reggae music right now. For Luciano to record a growing section of his music here in London is a powerful vote of confidence in UK reggae, well rewarded here by producer Danny Ray and mixing engineer Fitzroy Blake.