Released: July 1
Ali Campbell celebrates his final collaborations with the late Astro on the pair’s new studio album ‘Unprecedented’.
Recorded prior to his tragic death last November after a short illness, the LP features 14 tracks that cut to the essence of UB40 Featuring Ali Campbell & Astro.
Ali says: “Astro’s death came as such a shock, and I’m still reeling from it. This album is now more poignant and special than either of us could have imagined when we were recording it.
“Astro heartbreakingly passed just two weeks after we’d finished the final mixes, so this is a way of keeping his memory alive.”
In wake of his passing, opener What Have I Done cuts to the heart, as Ali sings, ‘I’ve got to learn how to do all the things we used to do together / I’ve got to find a way to carry on’.
Although the music predates his passing, many of the tracks take on a new meaning, reflecting the pair’s four-decades-long bond. Yet their timeless sound permeates the set, which feels strikingly positive and forward thinking.
Alongside original compositions, the album features a number of cover versions, including lead track Sufferer; a reggae standard originally by The Kingstonians, which brings Astro to the fore with his ‘sing-jay’ style of MC-ing, also prominent on the title track.
They showcase the duo’s ability to take songs from across genres and reinterpret them in their signature reggae style. Kris Kristofferson’s Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down and Stevie Wonder’s funky protest song Do Yourself A Favour come to mind, along with a more surprising cut – a new take on ‘90s boy band East 17’s single Stay Another Day.
What stands out on the album is Ali and Astro’s continued creativity, which began 40 years ago and, amid various iterations of UB40, has never faltered. For this project, the pair took themselves on a productive, five-day stay in Jamaica, where they hooked up with the cream of the island’s reggae players – including drummer Sly Dunbar, bassist Chris Meredith, keyboardist Robbie Lyn and guitarist Mitchum ‘Khan’ Chan – to bring the record to life.
The expedition paid off and, as UB40 Featuring Ali Campbell & Astro share ‘Unprecedented’ with the world, it hits home that the final chapter for one of music’s great partnerships has come to a close.
Remaining true to the authentic reggae spirit that kick-started his music career in the late 1970s, however, Ali is continuing to celebrate his and Astro’s legacy by passing their music down to fans and bringing the album to life on stage later this year, for what’s sure to be a moving yet memorable occasion.
‘Unprecedented’ is available now.
