Capsicum Records LLC "Reggae-In-Fusion Album #1" gets writeup in Hartford Courant

Eric R. Danton of the Hartford Courant had the following to say:

There's more to reggae than the old-school sound of Bob Marley or the newer dancehall-fusion style of quasi-rappers like Sean Paul.

In fact, reggae can be a template for pop, R&B, rap and even gospel. For proof, look no further than "Reggae-in-Fusion Album #1" (Capsicum Records), a compilation of styles on 13 songs by seven different singers, six of whom live in Hartford.

It's a calculated bid at positioning little-known local reggae singers at the intersections of reggae and other genres, including country music, but it seems to be working. Two of the songs — "No Better Than I" by Sledge and "Just as I Am" by Misteree — are doing well on the radio station Lightning FM in London, Capsicum CEO Roger Meltzer says. (Meltzer also co-wrote 10 of the songs on the record.)

"It's really exciting to take somebody who was perceived as local and prove that they really are international artists," Meltzer says. "They're that good."

Sledge, the stage name of Courtney Whyte, lends a smooth funk edge to "No Better Than I," with wah-wah guitar burbling just below the surface of a lilting reggae backbeat. True to the name of the album, Sledge puts a soulful reggae spin on the Rascal Flatts song "Take Me There" and issues a steady stream of Nashville clichés on a version of Tim McGraw's "Find Out Who Your Friends Are."

Misteree, born Camille Tomlinson-Ismail, showcases her powerful, fluid voice on "Just as I Am," which tops a reggae beat with devotional sentiments.

Other standout tracks include the grittier "Born on Third Base" by Ardie "Cuban Cohiba" Wallace, who is branching out from his primary gig promoting local reggae concerts. The song features horns and Auto-Tuned vocals. His other song on the compilation, "Enuf Is Enough," features Wallace singing politically conscious lyrics in a gruff voice, accompanied by swells of bass and an ominous chiming bell.

Burnie Terrell sounds appropriately rueful on the slow-burning "The Good Guy," , and Mayyah Stuart sings in a sultry voice on "Life's Too Short" as he espouses a seize-the-day sentiment.

Pennsylvania singer Sal Anthony also contributes three songs including the double-entendre-laden "Makin' It Harder" and the Buffett-lite number "If You Really Wanna Know."<!-- P2P_LIVE_EDIT "content_item_body_preview" END --> <!-- sphereit end -->