Four-piece band Christophe Rigaud & The High Reeds from Lyon is the latest addition in France's ever expanding reggae landscape. Asked to describe their music, this motley crew of musicians from France, Corsica, Guadeloupe and Ivory Coast called it blue reggae: reggae with influences from blues, soul and jazz. In 2012 this already resulted in a first EP ('See The River'), but when front man Christophe Rigaud travelled to Jamaica in 2014 to Jamaica, his explorations of the island and its culture among other things led him to the Harry J Studio where he met Sam Clayton Jr. and Steven Stewart. It's Clayton Jr. who would ultimately also do the mastering of 'Sounds Of Life'. The fact Christophe Rigaud, bassist Yao Kan and drummer Mister Djo (also front man for Pawolka) all share the microphone, makes 'Sounds Of Life' a varied listening experience. Add Joe Pilgrim, the French-Beninese singer who made a name for himself as an MC for Dub Addict Sound System (like Christophe Rigaud & The High Reeds also hailing from Lyon), to that mix and you end up with the most infectious track on the album: 'Forward'. Excellent French roots release!