'A Matter of Time' - Protoje delivers on latest album

From the release of his first album, 'reggae revivalist' Protoje has been working on a timeline. In January 2011, he dropped The Seven Year Itch. In February 2013, the rising 'reggae revivalist' continued with The 8 Year Affair, and again in March 2015 with his most recently released album, Ancient Future. Though he missed the intended mark, it was only 'A Matter of Time'.

On Monday night, The Gleaner was treated to a private listening session of his upcoming album - A Matter of Time, before its June 29 release.

"My sequence was supposed to be April 2017. When I missed that, I was beside myself. But it wasn't ready. I think the best decision I made was to not rush it," Protoje said to his small, captive audience.

Anxious fans will be happy for the wait - because A Matter of Time is amazing, carrying the Indiggnation's quality of production into more ambitious territory.

Ancient Future was heavily based on sampling, and reliving Protoje and his producer, Winta James', favourite era in music - the '80s. However, this time around, "I think Winta set out not to make Ancient Future part two - and to try lots of different sounds - you can hear from the intro," Protoje explained.

VALUE OF PATIENCE

The project epitomises the value of patience from the first moments of the album's theatrical, majestic opening track, Flames. Protoje is accompanied by Chronixx on the song, along with a 24-piece orchestra.

"We wanted to get strings for Ancient Future, but to get an orchestra is very expensive," Protoje said. "We had to release Ancient Future first," James interjected, before the vocalist concluded, "and get wi ting up." Flames features the Matt Jones Orchestra from Chicago. "Me did just kinda have a whirlwind day, where mi just guh up deh and do di ting," James told The Gleaner.

The album name was taken from a phrase which is frequently visited, and even highlighted, in one of the upcoming album's leading singles.

"How the album name came out is from Blood Money - it's a matter of time before a total divide ... . And it's like you say, 'it's a matter before Jamaica reach - yo, it's a matter of time before it's World War III."

"Mi just hear the phrase all the time. People ah seh, 'yo - it's a matter of time if the man dem doh fix up dem ting yah,'" Protoje said.

The title was also cathartic for the reggae star. "It was me consoling myself, because this album was a year late."

A Matter of Time is currently available for preorder on Protoje.com. To accommodate the touring artiste's schedule, instead of an album launch, the Indiggnation camp will orchestrate an 'album-party-vibes' to be held on July 7.

Tracklist

1. Flames, featuring Chronixx

2. Blood Money

3. Mind of A King

4. Like This

5. 'Bout Noon

6. A Matter of Time

7. No Guarantees, featuring Chronixx

8. Lessons

9. Truths and Rights, featuring Mortimer

10. Camera Show