The meeting of musical minds on ‘Long Time Traveller’ is what the best collaborations are all about. In it, Jeb Loy Nichols returns ‘home’ to Adrian Sherwood’s On-U Sound label, collaborating with the boss as he does so. Nichols is first and foremost a country music artist but the sounds and beats on this new piece of work will introduce him to a new audience. The likes of ‘To Be Rich’ – essentially a protest song – and the thoughtful ‘Mother Your Son’ are almost pure reggae, possessing the sort of atmosphere that puts the listener immediately at ease, taking the weight off the day. Sherwood’s touches involve characteristically smoky dub backdrops that complement Nichols’ careworn voice perfectly, as well as the sighing brass in ‘I’m In Need Now’ or the piano of Mr Nobody, both beautifully done. All the recordings were made in 2010 but are timeless – and are supplemented with alternate mixes and bonus tracks. They could in effect date from any point in either artist’s career – and because of that timeless quality, are strongly recommended.
4 out of 5
Reviewed by Ben Hogwood