'The debut album of Queen Makedah, 'The Awakening,' is a collection of reggae tunes with r&b and world beat influences, featuring two duets with reggae legend Ras Michael...' Teacher T, Reggae-Vibes.com

'The debut album of Queen Makedah, 'The Awakening' is a collection of songs ranging from reggae, world-beat, r&b to pop music. However,

'The debut album of Queen Makedah, 'The Awakening,' is a collection of reggae tunes with r&b and world beat influences, featuring two duets with reggae legend Ras Michael...' Teacher T, Reggae-Vibes.com

'The debut album of Queen Makedah, 'The Awakening' is a collection of songs ranging from reggae, world-beat, r&b to pop music. However, it's not a cross-over album, since the influence of reggae riddims and themes is present all over. With her excellent vocal outing she is capable of performing every song in a very distinctive style.

On the album you'll find two duets with reggae legend Ras Michael. First there's Love is a Universal Language, followed by On the Day that Babylon Falls, the latter being a tune in the traditional Ras Michael style. The tune Deliver Us is an excellent straight forward reggae tune and includes a fine flute solo. In the r&b orientated song Gold -check out the Spanish guitar solo ! - , she masterfully delivers a tune that can be called ‘a modern day lamentation for the Black Man.’ After the chanting prelude, she enters with a very tough tune - I Lost Everything - in which she takes you back '2000 years.'

Noteworthy tunes found here are the ballad Fools Rush In, a song which reminds me of a Tony Braxton song, the Sade cover 'Your Love Is King', here retitled Yah Love Is King and My Heart Is A Zion, which happens to be a superb heartfelt song. '

Teacher & Mr. T. (reggae-vibes.com)