Reviewed by Stephen Luff

Heath occupies a unique musical position few would venture. . . mixing hip-hop with elements of folk and pop, while communicating to a listener who may not be a fan of either genre. This collection, exploring several difficult subjects, is a sombre listen - often dark and exceptionally honest. A combination which may not sit well with those not willing to acknowledge or feel comfortable with such direct emotions, but to my mind this 'Job approach' should be explored in art, alongside the more common praise, love, etc. Two tracks have been released prior to the album, "Believe", (featuring J Givens and Propaganda) probably the most upbeat track here, and "Cross My Heart" with its self-examination and very catchy chorus line. "Chemo" explores the death of someone opening with the line "the chemo ain't working no more" and is brutally honest as it explores the situation around the bedside and the struggle to cope - utterly jaw dropping and the first listen is likely to stop you in your tracks. It continues as the person tries unsuccessfully to find meaning in sex, money and so on. The title track, finishing the 12-track album, brings hope to a collection which could leave you with a feeling of hopelessness, speaking of recovery and repentance. Every listen of the album never fails to affect me and, to my mind, this is Heath's best release yet. Simply put, outstanding!

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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