Joy And Blues

LIKE Julian Lennon, Ziggy Marley can never hope to fully escape from under the shadow of his legendary father. However, unlike the former, young Marley at least has sufficient talent to justify attempting to take over the family firm.

Of course, there's no getting away from the fact that Ziggy sounds uncannily like Bob and using some of the original Wailers on this album as well as including two of Bob's own songs here, further gels the link between father and son. That said, this is not a bad collection. Ziggy's hit of a few years back, 'Tomorrow People' was a lightweight piece of pop reggae but the songs here are rootsier and more politicised lyrically than his earlier output.

The title track Joy And Blues sets the tone with its uplifting plea: "We have the potion, to clear all evil notion/Putting these words in motion I refuse to give joy to blues". 'Brothers And Sisters' is the strongest track melodically, its family-uniting theme recalling Sly Stone's 'Family Affair' and Sister Sledge's 'We Are Family'.

There are no concessions to the ragga craze currently hitting the charts, and instead, the overall sound recalls the heyday of reggae in the seventies - crisp clearly syncopated rhythms punched with horns and soulful backing vocals (provided by various Marley siblings and Bob's wife Rita).

Of the two songs recorded by his father, 'There She Goes' works best with its catchy chorus and lovelorn lyrics. The second, 'African Herbsman', was written by the American black folk-singer, Ritchie Havens. Two other tracks, 'Mama' and 'Rebel In Disguise', are penned and sung by Stephen Marley, Ziggy's brother and his harder-edged approach helps to give the album a tougher feel than might be the case with the more pop-oriented Ziggy.

Overall, Joy And Blues continues the remarkable Marley legacy, at least in style and spirit if not in terms of innovation. As a certain chat show host once said: "If he's half the man his father was, he won't be doing too badly!

* Colm O'Hare