Following 2023’s Destiny, Alborosie is set to release his ninth full-length, ‘Nine Mile’ Album, out October 24 via VP Records. Named after Bob Marley’s birthplace in Saint Ann, Jamaica, the project was recorded and produced at his own Shengen Studio in Kingston, home to vintage equipment once used by King Tubby himself.
As always, Albo handled everything himself, from production to engineering and mixing, maintaining the sound and spirit that has defined him for decades. But the ‘Nine Mile’ Album feels more global in reach, shifting between lovers rock, roots reggae, and cross-cultural detours, blending hints of 80s rock, bossa nova, and new wave without losing its roots foundation.
The album opens with Calling Selassie, setting a meditative tone. Emperor Haile Selassie’s famous words echo over Nyahbinghi drums before the track drops into a brass-heavy groove. Unfortunately, the use of Auto-Tune on Albo’s vocals slightly dulls the spiritual energy of the opener, and the hook feels a bit repetitive to me.
Track two, Trench Town Legend, pays direct tribute to Bob Marley and the Wailers. It also begins with noticeable Auto-Tune, but that quickly fades once the drum and bass kick in and Alborosie finds his stride. The song cleverly weaves titles from Marley’s classics into its lyrics, a nod to reggae’s global reach and to Trench Town as the cradle of the music. The track, already released as a single, stands out as a powerful meditation on Marley’s legacy and the roots that shaped Jamaica’s sound.
No Tan Distintos (“Not So Different”) brings a heavier guitar edge, touching on the world’s divisions and the need to end the chaos that defines 2025. It’s a protest song in true Alborosie fashion, a global message grounded in truth.
Come My Way follows in the spirit of Augustus Pablo and Dawn Penn, a loversrock prayer carried by dubby keys and a classic roots rhythm. Then comes Cool Down, a laid-back breakup track about a man giving his all to a relationship that still falls apart. It’s heartfelt and relatable, simple in message but very human.
Digital Love flips the mood, uptempo, ironic, and modern. It’s Albo’s take on social media romance and the fake realities people build online. The song feels like a generational bridge; older listeners will hear the warning, while younger ones may nod along to the beat and probably get a lowkey ‘boomer vibe’.
He then switches completely with Ganas de Verte (“Looking Forward to Seeing You”), sung entirely in Spanish. Despite Albo’s Sicilian roots, the song sounds like it was made for the Latin reggae audience, smooth, warm, and radio-friendly.
From there, on Ipanema, listeners go on a musical trip to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, from Ipanema Beach to the favelas. The track opens with a familiar bossa touch reminiscent of “The Girl from Ipanema,” blending samba and reggae vibes into a sunny, feel-good tune. Nothing nuh wrong with this vibe.
Another Day brings back something rarely seen in modern albums: an interlude. It’s a short reflective piece where Albo seems to be quietly giving thanks for life itself, ending another day and looking forward to the next.
Things take a darker turn with Zombies. The track opens with the sound of chaos, like a zombie apocalypse, as Alborosie calls out the corruption and moral decay in global leadership. “Clock is ticking… Doomsday,” he chants, backed by haunting harmonies that lift the message.
Loco Loco continues the social commentary, again in Spanish. “The world gone loco,” Albo repeats, referring to the madness both in real life and on social media. The lyrics don’t shy away from touching on current global conflicts and genocide, giving the track real weight, even as its hook lives in your head long after.
Club Paradise brings the sunshine back. It’s an ode to Jamaica, an easy, tourist-friendly anthem full of tropical imagery, advice to “have a coconut,” and enjoy the “sweet paradise.” It’s reggae at its most uplifting, crafted for the ears of many, the kind of tune that could easily underscore a Jamaica Tourist Board campaign.
On When, Albo turns introspective again. It’s a soulful song about heartbreak, that moment when love fades, but one person keeps waiting, still asking, “When?”
The ‘Nine Mile’ album closes with the title track Nine Mile. Stripped-down and semi-acoustic, it’s Alborosie at his most vulnerable. A song of remembrance and love, it reflects on someone dear who has passed, now watching from above. It’s a simple, beautiful ending that could leave you with some chills or goosebumps..
Overall, ‘Nine Mile’ feels like a solid, conscious, and diverse body of work, not Albo’s heaviest roots album, but one that shows his growth and willingness to explore new corners of reggae. While there’s no Kingston Town, Still Blazing, Herbalist, or Blessing moment here, Trench Town Legend and Come My Way easily stand out as highlights on this one for me.
And whether you like it or not, you’ll probably still find yourself humming Loco Loco, Loco Loco, locooo long after the album ends.
By Danny Creatah
