Alpha Blondy is well known for his messages of African unity (he hails from the Ivory Coast) and his penchant for singing in multiple languages (including French, Hebrew, and Arabic). Yet it’s Blondy’s special sonic blend of traditional roots reggae and African sounds that puts him over, and this fusion is more evident than ever on Jah Victory. While many of the album’s trance-like grooves recall hardcore roots acts like Burning Spear, other tracks such as “Le Bai des Combattus” and “Cameroun” pulse with African rhythms. A reggaefied cover of Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” adds further flavor. – Anthony Tognazzini