I-Octane takes on a mellow vibe for debut album

Album: Crying To The Nation

Artiste: I-Octane

Genre: Reggae

Rating: 3 1/2 stars out of 5

Known for his fiery and energetic stage performance, singjay I-Octane takes on a mellow vibe on his debut album 'Crying to the Nation'.

Scheduled to hit stores in January, the 16-track album released by VP Records showcases the somewhat more conscious side of the artiste. Starting off with Rules Of Life, Octane discusses the 'facts of life' in his world as he encourages people to remember that they are only human. Help I Please and Vanity Will Come follow and keep on the conscious side before making way for some of his popular hits.

Anthems like Nuh Love Inna Dem and Puff It, which are crowd favourites, are also on the album as well as his sombre hit Lose A Friend. Songs like L.O.V.E. Y.O.U. show the more romantic side of the artiste as well as Once More. In Once More he croons "let me tell you once more I love you, let me tell you once more I care."

collaborations

The touching Missing You with Agent Sasco; All We Need Is Love, featuring Tarrus Riley, and Space For All Of Us, featuring Alborosie, are the three collaborations on the album. I-Octane shows his singing skills in Missing You, his deejaying talents on All We Need Is Love, with Tarrus lending his singing voice. He closes the album with Space For All Of Us where he reverts to singing.

Overall, Crying for the Nation shows a mature I-Octane tackling different themes from his usual topic of 'bad-mind songs'. He also shows more of the reggae side to his music.

-Krista Henry

Track Listing:

1. Rules Of Life

2. Help I Please

3. Vanity Will Come

4. Nuh Love Inna Dem

5. Puff It

6. No More Violence

7. System A Beat Dem

8. Zion Awaits

9. L.O.V.E. Y.O.U.

10. Missing You ft. Agent Sasco