A powerful, poignant, proud, emotional, defiant first LP in eight years by the Northampton-born singer-songwriter, journalist and activist, with soul, reggae, spoken word, hip-hop and gospel numbers focusing on questions of Black British identity with guest poets and interwoven voice clips. Opening track Break of The Night sets a punchy, marching protest flavour, followed up by more specific rage and defiance in Marginalised, into quieter, more reflective I Will Always Be Black with poet Derome. But perhaps the key tracks include the funk-gospel-soul number Black British – a rousing, if worthy call-to-action call-and-response song to “put your banners up and read your James Baldwin”. The track History opens a famous clip of slaves singing along with the swing of axes chopping logs. The gospel-style track Philosophy is a strident call for confidence and self-assurance with profound spoken-word clips. Strongest of all is the title track with Nottingham’s Liam Bailey, describing the experience of adoption in a largely white area. Bailey also makes a soulful contribution on No Fear. Generations, with Amaroun, pulls no punches when describing casual but very cutting racism and sexism for a young black girl. On Inhale, VV makes an articulate spoken word number about her Northampton experience. Twisted focuses on cultural appropriation, while the reggae-infused Feel So Alive celebrates the melting pot joy of British culture of of coming from a Jamaican heritage and the Windrush generation, and one gone into detail, celebrating food, with Ron Frater, on the song Jamaica. A mixed menu of politics, history and music. Out on YOY Records. See also more about Black British history and a podcast via VV’s website.
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