ComingComing from a family that worked for Emperor Haile Selassie I, the roots of Rastafari run deep for the Nazarenes. Formed in 1996, the Nazarenes consist of Noah and Medhane Tewolde. The two brothers might be viewed as a living symbol of the diaspora and globalization of roots reggae, for although born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, they now reside in Sweden and work with a producer (Laurent ‘Tippy I’ Alfred) from the U.S. Virgin Islands. Meditation, their third album and the first on I Grade Records, seeks to musically express the global issues of suffering and persecution in a form that all can understand.

What is immediately apparent is that the Nazarenes aren’t your average, everyday roots reggae band. The opening title track hits with rich layers of deep bass, trebly guitar and smooth horns. The musicianship is superb, evoking memories of the golden era of roots reggae in the 1970s. The vocals only accentuate the song, as the mix of Ethiopic Ge’ez and English have an authentic, genuine sound. This is what roots reggae is truly about: having a deep connection between what you say and what you mean, and the Nazarenes could not be a better example. As we continue through Meditation there is no cessation of what has been laid out in the first few minutes. Possibly the most surprising of all the songs was “On My Way.” At the beginning the strings definitely feel off, and the grizzly vocalization doesn’t help either. However, in a complete turn of events the rest of the band enters, perfectly blending strings with a talented horn section. And while the semi-growling in the song wouldn’t usually fit with roots reggae, somehow the Nazarenes are able to make it work.I have nothing but good things to say about Meditations. There’s no instrumentation that feels as if it’s too weak or unnecessary, and vocals compliment perfectly. The content of these 14 tracks are the same tried and true Rastafarian messages. This is not a negative at all, for these messages of persecution and injustice are easily translatable wherever one may reside in the world. The Nazarenes have composed another great album that can be added to the list of greatest roots reggae albums in the 21st century and beyond.