Romain Virgo,"Trouble"

VP records, Strictly the Best, 2017, compilation resets the standard of genuine reggae. Our staff’s favorite is the soulful narrative of Romaine Virgo, Trouble. Chris Martin, Better than the Stars, classic lover’s rock tempo is also good for demographic preferring old school reggae.

Romaine Virgo’s vocal arrangement is noteworthy. It is sweet and melodic with a strong and passionate tonality. We noted it was reminiscent of Tarrus Riley’s conscious vibes with an engaging neo soul vibe to add some bounce.

For us, this is significant for two reasons. First, while it is a declaration of forbidden love it aligns with the revival of lover’s rock in which the greatest form of activism is being mesmerized by love. Second, although the rhythm prompts you to sway, the horns, strings, and percussion remains in the background. We found this appealing. Captured by the narrative, we were engaged to learn the lyrics. Often, the rhythm is the star of the song. Not only does this expedite the shelf life of a song, the artist and the listeners can’t take ownership of the song. Not in this case. Trouble will be a permanent part of our playlist.Zen Creatif, AG.

Image Courtesy of VP Records