Omar Perry - New Dawn (Khanti Records/Pias)

That being said, there's no denying the title hints at a new beginning. This new long player came about through an introduction to Jonas 'Koffi' Gouraud, drummer with Nantes based Soulnation Band. For the recordings Omar took to Fabwize's Wise Studio, fast becoming a serious hub in the French reggae scene. In addition to the members of the Soulnation Band, for this remarkably roots-flavored album, Omar also collaborated with saxophonist Guillaume 'Stepper' Briard, with whom he already recorded the successful 'Can't Stop Us' back in 2009, as well as guitarist Xavier 'Kubix' Begue, percussionist Nicolas 'Nicodrum' Belouet and kora player Ahmed Fofana.

Furthermore, the track list features a number of well-known vocal guests like Cedric 'Congo' Myton ('Checking For Me'), Jah Mason ('Educated School', another real old-school Jah Mason tune) and Bouchkour and Komlan of Dub Inc. ('Sound The Trumpet'), but the voices of Omar's children Alexandra (who took care of all backing vocals), Faya and Isayah can also be heard, and a tiny cameo is reserved for "boo" Marijke in 'Sweet Love' (in an acoustic version also closing track of the album). Apart from the aforementioned duets, our personal favorites from the track list are opener 'Living Legend', an ode to Haile Selassie in which audio fragments from the news report of the emperor's arrival in Jamaica in 1966 can be heard, the militant 'Rebel In Your Town', and the African nyahbinghi of 'When One Door Close' featuring Ahmed Fofana's kora and tambin or Fula flute and the percussion of Nicodrum in a leading role. With 'New Dawn' Omar Perry proves he's still standing strong!