Maxi Priest - It All Comes Back To Love (S-Curve Records)

As the title suggests, Maxi Priest still feels most at home with a good lovers' tune, but just like Shaggy, Priest has never let himself be limited by one genre, and apart from excellent lovers rock ('If I Was Your Man', title track 'It All Comes Back to Love'), the track list of this album also contains r&b ('Baby You Can Love Me Slow'), new roots ('Hard As Me', a combination with Jamaican singer, actor and comedian Noah Powa), dancehall-light ('Free Falling') or even pure pop ('If I Could Change It', 'Out In The Rain'). However, it should come as no surprise Maxi is still at his best when performing a classic love tune, and with title track 'It All Comes Back To Love' Priest and Shaggy created a true gem. Opener 'I'm Alright', another highlight in the track list, is an actual duet with Shaggy, and the duo turns it into a hat trick with 'My Pillow', pure sweetness! Other guests are Bounty Killer (duet 'It's A Summer Vibe' should have been a great summer hit and also features Maxi's son Che $av), Inner Circle, Estelle, Anthony Hamilton and Noah Powa. Even thirty years after the release of his international breakthrough album 'Maxi Priest' (Virgin), Maxi's recipe still works!