The first full length album from Ghanaian reggae artist Tradition Man Wolo has come out in infectious style. With two remakes and seven originals, Wolo’s record is a pure piece of reggae in a time where the genre is often diluted and watered down. There’s roots and consciousness throughout the record, a sumptuous piece of groovy and funky reggae that at its core is honest, affectionate, and loving. From the opening pieces that calls to come on home, Tradition Man Wolo immediately grips you into the vibe that Reggae Man is meant to exude. It’s just so easy to feel happy while listening to this music, so easy to jump into a world where you feel warmth and love all around you, and so easy to think of your community and all that’s good within.
Wolo’s vocals, a subtle falsetto, are an undeniable highlight throughout the record. It’s delicate and vulnerable, complementing the happy-go-lucky instrumentation and general atmosphere that the reggae arrangement is able to deliver. Undeniable pieces to remember for a while would be would be ‘Come Home’ and ‘This Feeling’. The latter is perhaps one of the most intriguing and joyful pieces of reggae I’ve heard in a while. It takes the mundane and infuses with it so much unabashed fun and funk.
Alongside the originals, a few covers also make the cut on Reggae Man to further Wolo’s desire to bring the genre back through revisiting not just the sounds but also the compositions of the genre. Above all, the music on Reggae Man is made with love and warmth that any listener can undeniably feel when they go through it.