Edge Michael launches 'My Search'

Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:

After many years on the road touring Africa and Europe, reggae singer Edge Michael, the nephew of famed music legend Peter Tosh, is now seeking to make an indelible mark in Jamaica.

The Westmoreland-born singer, who was christened Oral Durloo by his mother, Melzeta McIntosh (Tosh's sister), recently released a new 17-track album titled My Search, which is aimed primarily at the Jamaica market.

"This album is for Jamaica and I am confident it will have the desired impact," said Michael. "I have not diverted from my core roots/rock/reggae principles, but the flavour is more in keeping with what is impacting the average Jamaican fan."

The album is produced by Original House of Riddim Production. Edge Michael penned all 17-tracks, which shows the singer's versatility in terms of rich vocal styling and his understanding of topical issues.

The album opens with a song, Equal Rights and Justice, which speaks to the absence of fundamental fairness in the society, especially among the less fortunate. The follow-up song, My Roots, is authentic roots reggae music at its best.

Si Dem A Come, War, Hail Peter Tosh, Lock Me Up, and Getting High point to Edge Michael's musical heritage as these songs evoke pleasant memories of Tosh, whose trademark was his uncompromising lyrics.

Fantastic range

As if to show off his fantastic range, Edge Michael's unique vocal style comes out strongly in the remake of his hit single, Delilah, which speaks about love, deception, and heartbreak.

Edge Michael, who has been a recording artiste since 1994, showed that he has the capacity to be quite soulful in love ballads such as Someone Else, You Have Got My Love, and You and I.

To make sure all the various bases have been covered, the punchy Garrison, with its strong dancehall beat, could well turn out to be a sound system selector's delight and passport to the hearts of dancehall fans.

The final four songs, the title track My Search, No Respect, Stand Alone, and Hazel Eyes, leave no doubt that Edge Michael is really serious about wanting to connect with Jamaican audiences as the songs are both melodious and chockfull of high-quality lyrics.

As part of his promotional campaign, Edge Michael has come up with the novel idea of distributing his music via 4GB USB flash drives, which can be worn on the wrist. The flash drive carries a medley of songs, which cannot be erased, in addition to 3.9 GB of free space for personal use.