Black​.​.​.​With Sugar

Carol Simms, known professionally as Kofi, came on to the London reggae scene while still in her teens, and while the lovers rock sound was in the ascendant. With her light, supple voice she was a natural for that style, and in 1989 she went into the Ariwa studio (where producer Mad Professor had been forging and perfecting the smooth and digital lovers rock sound) to make this fine collection of love songs — plus the conscious “Black Pride,” which leads off the program. Kofi’s debut is one of the finest examples of a very important subgenre of British reggae.