Chris Toppa - Connected (Boomrush Productions)

After the break-up of Bonestrip, a first solo album under the moniker Chris Toppa already followed in 2010, but with reggae the singer-songwriter effort 'Harvest Time', had little to do. That changed when Chris met drummer Jan Szarny and bassist Tim Dierich. Together they founded the band Toppaman, releasing a first long player, 'Coloured World', in 2011. During a trip to Jamaica in that same year, Toppa met Cassafaya, a young Kingstonian singjay. The chemistry between the two was unmistakable and a musical collaboration seemed inevitable; 'Give Thanks For Life', recorded at Gussie Clarke's Anchor Recording Studios, is the closing track on 'Connected', Chris Toppa's first real solo album in the reggae genre. Apart from in English and German ('Es Gibt Diese Tage'), Chris surprisingly enough also sings in Spanish ('Pachamama'). In songs like 'In Your Eyes' or 'I Don't Go' Toppa's singer-songwriter past surfaces again, but disregarding these tracks, 'Connected' is the excellent new roots debut of a promising new European talent.