Alpha Steppa & Nai-Jah - Crowned Eagle (Steppas Records)

The two had previously collaborated on 'The Great Elephant' in 2018, an album largely rooted in steppers and dub, but on 'Crowned Eagle' the duo delves much deeper into Nai-Jah's musical roots, making room for stronger influences from afrobeats and West African music.

Like its predecessor, 'Crowned Eagle' arrives as a double album, with Alpha Steppa providing dub versions of every vocal cut. To dismiss those as mere bonus tracks would be doing him a disservice, as Ben Alpha effortlessly transcends Nai-Jah's original versions on several occasions.

Thus, 'Streets Of Dub', the dub counterpart to 'Streets Of Africa', is enriched with hypnotic African drum rhythms, the pop-leaning 'Asking Why' is stripped back to a minimalist composition as 'Asking Dub', and eco-anthem 'Nature Taking Over' - the album's only combination tune, also featuring Ras Tinny and Pupajim - is transformed into a meditative, bass-heavy dub.

Highly enjoyable release that once again underlines the chemistry between Alpha Steppa and Nai-Jah.