In 1976 Island Records released the Toots & The Maytals album "Reggae Got Soul", a title which expressed that there's a lot of soul in reggae music. This we already knew from the rocksteady era (1966-69), when the impact of various soul styles on Jamaican music was apparent in the style of rocksteady vocalists such as Alton Ellis, Ken Boothe, Slim Smith and Delroy Wilson. Later on there were quite a number of reggae artists including Jimmy Cliff, Dennis Brown, Maxi Priest, Sanchez, and Beres Hammond, who became known and loved for their soulful vocal delivery. And now we can add the Dutch-Caribbean artist Lloyd de Meza to that list, although he's not really a typical reggae singer. According to insiders the history of Lloyd de Meza's "Back To Eden" album started more than two years ago, when the soul singer dropped by in the JahSolidRock studio, where he went wild because of the sound of the album that was in the making at that moment. A groovy reggae track pounded from the speakers, heavy bass lines, deep drum patterns, a rootsy horn section... and Lloyd de Meza just "caught the vibes". He then voiced the song "Part Of My Life" on the "Anybody" riddim, which was featured on the compilation set "Cultural Vibes Vol. 1", and is now also included on this "Back To Eden" set. While we expected to be treated to love songs from the very first moment, the album unexpectedly opens with two modern roots pieces. First there's the truly outstanding "It's A War", which very much sounds like a Morgan Heritage tune. A roots killer with big vibes! It's followed by the matching "Back To Eden", done in combination with Joggo on the "Collie Weed" riddim, already known from the title track of Earl Sixteen's acclaimed album "The Fittest Of The Fittest" and Chezidek's "Walk With Jah". Then it's time for a more lighthearted song, the real nice "9 To 5 Grocery Store". The next five songs, all of them incorporating a great thumping bass line and dealing with matters of the heart, showcase Lloyd de Meza's soulful voice to the fullest. Best efforts are "Hey Lovely", "You're The One" and "Part Of My Life", while also "Heartbreaker", the collaboration with Richie Spice, makes a decent impression. The album is rounded off in great style with the uptempo lovers tune "Lie To Me". This project continues an old tradition of "soul meets reggae", and we can only say that there's nothing wrong with that. Well done Not Easy At All Productions, JahSolidRock, and of course Lloyd de Meza.