Vanguard

The enchanting neo-soul/reggae vibe of Finley Quaye’s 1997 debut, Maverick a Strike, made him a somebody in his native England and his drinking, drugging, and carousing since then has made him a fixture in the London tabloids. On this side of the pond though, he’s still safe from the paparazzi’s flash. Vanguard may not change that fact, but don’t blame Quaye. More expansive and ambitious than his debut, the album reflects Quaye’s multicultural roots and odd personality. Potent, soulful rockers (“Spiritualized”) nestle up close to irresistibly catchy reggae (“Feeling Blue”) and meditative, mystical folk (“Hey Now”), while his mood runs from blissfully stoned to bitter and confused. Quaye’s got the pipes to sing like Seal, but on some of the more experimental, beat-scarred tracks he casts himself as a cross between Tricky and a Rasta Lou Reed (“Chad Valley”). An eclectic mix of the old and the new, Vanguard’s unique musical gumbo feels strangely inviting and familiar—a testament to the talent and vision of its creator.