Dominican Nasio Fontaine woke up the modern roots scene with his debut release "Reggae Power" in 1994, and the follow-up EP "Wolf Catcher" (1997) and album "Revolution" (1999) served notice that a budding genius was in our midst. Those of us familiar with his work have waited a long time for his third release, the one we all felt would be a masterpiece, and "Living in the Positive" - now re-issued and made available on a wider scale, and also including "Wolf Catcher" and "Under Attack", two excellent earlier released tunes - doesn't disappoint. In this reviewer's humble opinion, this is a top release. Nasio's soulful, slightly rough-edged voice and upful lyrics hit the sweet spot, and the use of live musicians including horns and occasional well-placed guitar solos are the perfect complement. The title track sets the tone right away, and nuff gems follow - "African Spirit," "Herb and Loving," "African Spirit" and the classic "New Song" are the highlights, but every song is top-notch roots. Simply put, this album is a must-have for any roots lover.
A more detailed review is available from our friend Professor Skank at www.skankproductions.com, and you can learn more about this wonderful artist at www.nasioreggae.com