R.I.C. - Blah Blah (BSA Production/Pias France)

The story of this Parisian threesome starts in the summer of 2001, with four school friends celebrating getting a degree in podiatry. When one of them unexpected loses his life in a tragic accident, the three survivors decide to draw strength from that tragedy to steer their life in a different direction: Roots Intention Crew, or R.I.C., is born! 'Blah Blah' is already the band's fourth album to date, was recorded in their brand new studio and for Olivier 'Don Roda' Roda, Kolia 'Kolyon' Rutili and Afwrukerah aka Afrwu represent their coming of age. On 'Blah Blah' reggae and dancehall ('Bombe Musicale') and especially classic fragga Tonton David style ('Ma Voisine'), but also ska ('Révolution'), salsa muffin in the style of Sergent Garcia (opener 'Fais Le Toi-Même') or Spook And The Guay, salsa ('Wine' featuring Tony Jimenez), rumba gitana ('Rumba') and even influences from opera in 'De Retour'. For those, who like yours truly, are unconditional fans of the work of French comedian Louis De Funès, 'Rapide Cuistot',  a song in which R.I.C. fulminate against fast food culture and for which they used a sample from the French comedy classic 'L'Aile Ou La Cuisse', is definitely worth a listen. In a similar vein, content-wise at least, is the soulful 'Mayday', in which R.I.C. question the nuclear industry. 'Bassin Houiller' is a tribute to the many migrants who came to France to work in the mines, the Latin American sounding 'Le Ciel Et La Luna' tackles the grim fate of street children and closing track 'Malala' is both a call for equality between men and women as a salute to Pakistani children's and women's rights activist Malala Yousafzai. Highly varied album full of militant lyrics!