Beres Hammond has never been one of reggae’s most recognizable artists internationally but, in the singer’s native Jamaica, he enjoys an iconic status just a few notches below that of Bob Marley. A specialist in intimate love songs often told from the viewpoint of the blue-collar, “common” man, Hammond has been described as his country’s Marvin Gaye, and also its Springsteen.
At age 57, the crooner has just released one of the best albums of a four-decade-long career. Issued in November by VP Records, One Love, One Life is a double-disc set that breaks down between romantic (One Love) and more socially conscious fare (One Life). Produced mainly by Hammond himself and recorded at the singer’s Kingston studio, Harmony House, the LP spans not just lover’s rock – Hammond has been called the “king” of the romantic reggae sub-genre – but also dancehall, ska and gospel.
