Half Pint

No Stress Express

Universal

(Half Pint MySpace)

It’s been close to 10 years since Half Pint’s last full release of new material and after one listen to No Stress Express you can’t help but be a little disappointed and think that was way too long a wait. Possessing one of the most soulful and beautiful voices in reggae, it is a joy to have 15 brand new tracks to consume from the irrepressible Half Pint.

So it's all aboard the No Stress Express, an album that travels at its own speed and is classic reggae at its best. First single and album opener Unity, featuring Jack Maness (LBDA/Dubcat) is such a positive force and brings Half Pint a new modern sound that wonderfully compliments his crooning, as does the light and breezy Never Let Go.

It's a little worrying nothing grooves as hard as some Half Pint’s earlier material until you get to one of the last tracks in Babylon Release the Chain. That’s ok though because the rest is just so much fun and smile inducing, like the sweet Just Be Good and the horn punches of Mind Over Matter, you will barely notice.

If there is any justice in the world, Half Pint’s new album will get the mainstream media attention it deserves. It is getting a little boring in the USA, that in recent times the only new reagge albums that get this kind of attention are the ones where the artist has to have Marley in their name. As Half Pint proves with No Stress Express, there is so much other great reggae music in the world on offer waiting to be discovered by the masses.

Reviewed by Pilipo