Nothing can stop Cornel Campbell and Soothsayers

In classic Sizzla style the Original Gorgon Cornel Campbell drops his second album in just three weeks. The first one was the excellent roots album New Scroll for U.S. production trio Zion I Kings.

The latest set Nothing Can Stop Us, recorded together with UK’s music collective Soothsayers, is a different affair compared to New Scroll. It’s a varied and ethereal set firmly grounded in reggae, but with significant influences from funk, afrobeat, dub and soul.

Soothsayers have utilized the mixing skills courtesy of Yesking, Manasseh, Ticklah and Wrongtom and the sound is warm, hypnotic and swirling with lots of instruments, vocal parts and harmonies trading places in an eclectic, organic and breezy cocktail.

The horns are sublime throughout, especially in Good Times and There’s A Fire, the piano in the uplifting Never Give Up is driving and Cornel Campbell’s high pitched tenor is soothing and a little rougher and raspier compared to his heydays in the 70s.

With an album like this there’s definitely no stopping to what can happen next in the careers of Cornel Campbell and Soothsayers.

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A wonderful new chapter in the Cornel Campbell story

Jamaica has produced countless of gifted, versatile and soulful performers and one of my all time favorite singers is the Original Gorgon aka Cornel Campbell. He started his career in the 60s as a member of The Eternals, but rose to prominence in the 70s when recording a number of major tunes for Bunny Lee.

Now he’s in the hands of acclaimed U.S. production team the Zion I Kings and together they have recorded another golden nugget in the Cornel Campbell catalogue.

New Scroll boasts nine fresh vocal cuts and four dub versions. Most of the tracks carry Zion I Kings’ signature sound – warm with live instrumentation, rich with vibrating arrangements and smooth with a soulful and deep vibe.

Cornel Campbell’s voice still sounds remarkably fresh. His emotive and instantly recognizable high tenor is a bit raspier, but it’s still cool as a pair of shades and soothing like aloe on sunburned skin.

New Scroll contains catchy melodies, memorable hooks and well-thought conscious lyrics and this album is yet another outstanding release from the Zion I Kings and one of the most distinguished, but sometimes overlooked, Jamaican singers.

Cornell Campbell’s New Scroll

New Scroll is the new album by foundation Jamaican singer Cornell “Original Gorgon” Campbell. In a press release it’s describes as “evoking that timeless sufferah’s sound and spirit of the golden era of Jamaican reggae within a treasure trove of original roots music”.

It boasts nine new songs penned by Cornell Campbell, as well as four dub mixes. New Scroll is furthermore described as injected with “the musicality and poetic flow that brought Campbell early and unparalleled success in the 1960s and 70s with solo recordings like the iconic Queen of the Minstrel or as a member of Jamaica’s most beloved harmony groups, the Eternals and the Uniques.”

The album bears Zion High Productions’ sweet sound crafted by the Zion I Kings production team – Jah D on bass representing Zion High Productions, I Grade Records’ Tippy I on keys and guitarist Moon, who co-founded the Lustre Kings label and is credited with writing on Snoop Lion’s debut album.

New Scroll hits the streets on CD and digital platforms on June 18.