Christopher Martin - Steppin Razor EP (VP Records)

What becomes immediately clear when listening to the 5 tracks on this EP, is the fact Christopher Martin is not an artist who limits himself to one genre. More than an outright cover, opener and title track 'Steppin Razor' is rather an update of the Peter Tosh classic. About the song Martin comments: "Tosh's song had a militancy, cutting down inequality, but I am saying (a) steppin razor is sharper than the rest, it is having so much confidence in yourself that whatever you are doing you are going to be sharp in it , whether it is with women, school work or how you dress. It has nothing to do with money; it all boils down to the belief in yourself, confidence and high self-esteem.". 'I'm A Big Deal', dancehall light, is in the same vein as 'Steppin Razor', and the in your face pop trash of 'We Are The Vibes' just echoes Rihanna. 'Secret Love (Creep)' is not a bad lovers tune, but our favorite song on 'Steppin Razor' is closing track 'Hide Away', written and produced by Clive Hunt and was a part of the soundtrack to 'Destiny', a romantic drama from 2013 in which Martin played one of the leading roles.