Babelsouk - Charlykingston (Self-published)

The title of this debut album is both the name of Babelsouk's nonprofit organization and a clever pun: an imaginary musical universe between Charleroi and Kingston. Stylistically, Babelsouk positions itself somewhere between Dub Incorporation and Gnawa Diffusion: French reggae with North African influences. The latter is best illustrated in 'Mehdi Ben Barka', an ode to the Moroccan anti-colonial and politician who disappeared under suspicious circumstances in 1965, but at the same time also a song in which they criticize the consequences of the so-called "Arab Spring". Babelsouk plays "message music", which is underlined by the fact that most of the lyrics to the songs on 'Charlykingston' are reproduced in the liner notes of the album. The band has already been going at it since 2012, but has patiently taken the time to record this debut effort; an approach that has clearly paid off. Welcome to the Beljam reggae massive Babelsouk!