Empire Isis

On her new disc, Sound The Trumpets, Empire Isis reaffirms her reggae roots while stepping up her beat science on an international sound tip. From the get-go, the Montreal, QC-based dancehall vocalist/MC (aka Miriam Moufide AbdelKrim, who works with co-producers Prayon and Awane Jones) sequences these 13 tracks with an eye on multi-level market saturation. The disc starts with the straight up ragga crunk pop of "Get Up On It.” "Brand Nu Style” is crunchy reggaeton electro reminiscent of Santana’s Supernatural-era crossover vibe, and it almost works, except for the wonky paste-on guitar solo. Much better is "It’s About Time,” which is infectiously rugged ragga-hop that channels Sean Paul’s dutty groove while showcasing her Missy Elliot vocal callisthenics. Isis writes and performs everything here, with Jones and Prayon overlaying much of trumpets, and there’s a smooth, string-heavy production sheen that occasionally bangs, clangs and grates. Elsewhere, "Mission” reveals Isis chanting on a M.I.A.-styled sample-as-riddim beat. And it’s brilliant. But make no mistake: this is a reggae album. And reggae is where Isis gets her conscious socio-political lyrical steez on; she learned the roots ropes from old school masters Dean Fraser and Chinna Smith. And furthermore, her duet with Sizzla on the playfully X-rated "Undercover,” where Kalonji backs up Isis with his best falsetto, ends Sound The Trumpets with its sweetest lick.