LEE EVERTON

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Review written by Smaël Bouaici on Monday, April 21st 2008 - 16 338 views It's a familiar pose. Ben Harper and Patrice had already drawn on the image of Bob Marley singing "Redemption Song", the moment when he becomes a sort of black Dylan, with an anthology protest song. Lee Everton has also adopted this attitude. With his headgear and goatee, he gives the impression of a young sage singing his laments about the world on an acoustic guitar. Apparently the girls love it. But as a result, these singers sometimes get taken for making beach reggae. It is hard, though, to put the Swiss artist in that category. He did go off to soak up the vibe in Kingston for a year at the Jamaica School of Music, before working as a studio musician in New York, alongside Alicia Keys and Kanye West. So of course, this is not roots. With such a background, his reggae inevitably takes on a pop tint. Everton even gave it a name, the "Slingstyle Rhythm", perhaps to lure radio programmers. There is not much that is new in Lee Everton's music, though, which blends soul influences for the voice, a little blues for the groove, skanks for the rhythm, and always that guitar in the background, soloing "mellow". The tracks are well furnished in terms of orchestration and the arrangements well put together. So not everything is "Sugar sugar, honey honey". Even if Lee Everton's songs won't transport anyone into space, one has to admit he is effective.

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