With more than two decades of musical experience behind him, Dutch-Surinamese artist Jah Decko brings a meaningful collection of songs with his new 13-track album, ‘Love Who Loves You Back’. The album is his first full-length work that he performed entirely in English, and at the same time, it has opened another page of his music career and enabled him to reach out to a broader international audience.
It is rooted in traditional roots reggae, but has a warm, organic sound that is immediately enjoyable. Instead of relying on heavy studio effects, Jah Decko lets live instrumentation dominate, with drums, bass and percussion, and lovely keyboard arrangements, brass accents and backing vocals adding character to the songs. The outcome is natural, rich and very close to the essence of reggae.
The album’s 13 tracks are chockablock with emotions and subject matter that make it particularly attractive. From the conscious message of ‘Fyah Pon’ and the gratitude expressed in ‘Give Praises’ to the cultural reflections of ‘Go Back To Africa’, Jah Decko shows that his music carries more than just a pleasant rhythm. There’s also light moments, such as ‘Take It Easy’ and ‘Irie Vibes’ which add a fresh dose of positivity. In the meantime, ‘Sen Her Come’ and ‘Gimme Tru Lovin’ delve into love and relationships, while the gorgeous title track brings to mind the significance of acknowledging and appreciating true love.
Another iconic scene is ‘Hold On’, which contains an uplifting message that is not about giving up, but about staying strong during tough times. Finally, ‘Opposite Of Good’ brings some interesting extra layers on the closing two dub versions, maintaining the album’s classic reggae feel.
At the end of the day, ‘Love Who Loves You Back’ is a musical manifesto, an expression of Jah Decko’s musical identity, culture, and philosophy. It is full of love, unity, gratitude, spirituality and positive living and does not lose the essence of roots reggae. A sweetly rounded album, from a seasoned and important artist.
