In Control
With R&B; charts dominated by the flat voices of disaffected post-New Jack soul boyz, Hammond's hyper-romantic, old-school throw-down--juiced by reggae's exotic allure--makes him one of the few stalwarts who can stir the soul of any deep-down old-fashioned gal. Jamaica's top-ranking soul brother also happens to be one of the island's greatest singer/songwriters, and this album, his sole recording for a stateside major label (Elektra), is a standout, even for this consistent and prolific vet. The scales may be tipped here towards R&B-infused; love tunes, but lead track "Reggae Calling" makes an equally heart-swelling plea to the world to stop the violence, and truth-and-rights track "Motherland" receives its rightful share of Hammond's considerable store of passion. Of course, he would rather make love than war, and those urgent, whiskey-grained vocals throb most exquisitely when Hammond sings to the ladies in "We've Found It," a tale of young love in bloom, and in "No Disturb Sign," one of the best booty-knocking soundtracks ever recorded this side of Barry White. "I Won't Surrender" takes a stand against a faithless love, but Hammond is most familiar and convincing as the love junkie of "Can't Get Enough," a mix of moaning cries and startling poetic juxtapositions--the Bible, Oil of Olay, breakfast cereal. "I Could Beat Myself" revisits another favorite Hammond persona, the errant lover full of regrets, but nothing approaches his voice slipping midnote, like satin over silk, from a low, sultry croon to an angel's sweet swoon in "It's Not Too Late," his superheated duet with the reggae man's favorite partner, Marcia Griffiths.--Elena Oumano