Caleb Hart’s totally unique strain of world music is not only creative and entertaining, but also soothing with its gentleness, and invigorating to the senses with its vibrancy. Emancipation is Hart’s latest, 7-song EP where he explores genre-bending timbres, rhythms, melodies, and atmospheres.
Caleb Hart is a singer, songwriter, and artist currently based in Victoria, Canada. Having grown up in the Caribbean haven of the Island of Tobago, Caleb fully possesses the tools to captivate his audiences with a delightfully rich strain of Caribbean sounds that permeate all through his reggae, soul, and pop songs. The results, on glorious display on Emancipation, are songs that delight with handpans and calypso elements, while featuring the all-too-cozy reggae rhythms alongside crisp and modern pop production. There really is very little to fault on a piece of work as focused and as concise as Emancipation.
Hart’s track record of +1100 live shows all over the globe, alongside a fruity discography of 3 records with Tasman Jude, his former band, and 3 solo albums, all paint Hart as a veteran musician fully in control of his craft. ‘Lambeau’ starts the album with the intoxicating blend of heavenly pads and Caribbean percussion that are to become a staple on all of the EP’s songs. The acoustic guitar part is sensual and gentle, going beautifully alongside Hart’s heartfelt delivery of the song’s romantic lyrics. ‘Emancipation’ is a little more playful and upbeat, introducing the album’s proper Caribbean side with its rhythms and instrumentation. An invigorating, simple, and joyful song with an arresting blend of percussion and melodies.
‘Step Closer’ is another hypnotic composition that slides perfectly smoothly under what Hart calls Island Soul. The blend of rumbling sub bass, perfectly mixed in percussion that’s equally soothing to the senses and novel, with Hart’s effortless and approachable vocals and melodies, all create an atmosphere that’s perfectly hypnotic. ‘Step Closer’ is among the EP’s most relaxing and enjoyable offerings. The wondrous and whimsical composition on the album closer ‘Homeland (refix)’ is a delightful conclusion to a short and sweet EP. The upbeat and bittersweet chord movements, marimba and electric guitar fusion, heartfelt words, and engaging, dynamic rhythm section, ‘Homeland (refix)’ might be the EP’s most dynamic song.
With production carried out by Jamaican/Canadian producer Jayden Brown, the sound of Emancipation is a perfect blend of pop accessibility and the exciting and uncommon sounds of Caribbean instrumentation that elegantly carry Hart’s simplistic and stylish compositions that are equally nice in their compositions and melodies. Emancipation is a gorgeous introduction to one of the most unique artists making new music today. Caleb Hart delivered a showstopping EP that sounds and feels beautiful.