Beats of Zion

Since the tragic murder of Lucky Dube, the Ghanaian-born Dawuni has emerged as Africa's premier reggae artist and earned a Grammy nomination for best reggae album for 2015's Branches of the Same Tree. The follow-up is a solid if unspectacular set on which he makes a valiant attempt to expand the basic roots reggae template. The title-track features the thumping beat of a troupe of Burundian drummers. ‘Wickedest Sound’ borrows a Fugees riff, gives it a reggae punch, adds a dose of highlife and features the voice of Ghanaian dancehall star Stonebwoy. ‘Kyenkyen Bi Adi Mawu’ is a remake of a highlife classic as a global reggae anthem featuring musicians from Cuba, Belize and Brazil and a forceful rap by the Ghanaian rhymester Sarkodie. ‘Freedom Train’ is a gospel-reggae excursion in the style of Bunny Wailer and ‘Elevation’ rocks steady on the timeless groove of Nyabinghi drums.

Despite this, there's a timidity that means ultimately the album as a whole seems less than the sum of its admirable parts. It's as if Dawuni – perhaps in fear of alienating his core reggae audience – is trying to conceal the more innovative aspects of the sound instead of emphasising them.