'I fully accept that without Larry Norman, this page you’re reading right now probably wouldn’t exist.'

George Luke reviews the latest albums from Asa, Eric Bibb and The Washington Projects and a tribute album for the late Larry Norman

Use the links to buy the albums from amazon.co.uk and Christian Aid will receive part of the sale price

Larry Norman

I’m always loath to claim that any one person invented a music genre single-handedly. Nevertheless, I fully accept that without Larry Norman, this page you’re reading right now probably wouldn’t exist.

Larry, pictured, who passed away at the end of February, was the best known pioneer of early 1970s ‘Jesus Rock’, and arguably the biggest influence on contemporary Christian music.

I only saw him perform live once (in 1990, at my very first Greenbelt), but it didn’t take long for me to realise his significance – like a young jazz fan discovering John Coltrane for the first time.

Larry always remained an iconoclast in a genre which, for the most part, has become rather safe as it has grown older. His health took a turn for the worse in 1992, but he kept on recording – and his body of work (if you can find it all) adds up to one album for each of the 60 years he lived (no doubt some anorak will tell me that figure’s wrong).

I’m sure that by summer there’ll be a dozen Larry Norman tribute albums taking up shelf space in Christian bookshops. At least ForeFront Records had the decency to honour the guy in that way while he was still alive to appreciate it (and while the rest of the Christian music industry was busy ignoring him).

Asa

Nigerian-born singer/songwriter Asa (pronounced Asha) shares a record label with Katie Melua and, er, the Wombles. Her debut single, “Fire on the Mountain”, was championed by Radio 2, and with an appearance on Later With Jools Holland already under her belt she looks set to be one of 2008’s big breakthrough artists.

Asa’s self-titled debut album combines social and spiritual commentary with a free-spirited, whimsical charm. At times she sounds like a female version of fellow Nigerian Ben Okafor; at other times, it’s Corinne Bailey Rae she reminds you of. She’s like an elderly philosopher trapped in a young African woman’s body.

Musically, her sound sits somewhere between jazz and soft reggae, with songs in both English and Yoruba. On “No One Knows”, she’s accompanied by the seemingly incongruous – but highly effective – combination of a string section and a scratchy hip hop turntablist.

Asa is a unique album. It’s unashamedly African, yet soulful enough to avoid being confined to the ‘World Music’ ghetto.

Eric Bibb

Is a happy blues album an oxymoron? Possibly, but that’s exactly what Get Onboard (the new album from guitarist Eric Bibb) is: a blues album that puts a smile on your face. And that can’t be a bad thing.

Like the great old Negro spirituals, Eric’s songs are packed full of biblical imagery. It runs through “Deep in My Soul”, “Spirit I Am” “Stayed on Freedom” and “Promised Land”. “Conversation” is just that: a married couple talking through problems in their relationship.

Bonnie Raitt makes a guest appearance on “If Our Hearts Ain’t In It”, playing slide guitar. Also helping out on the musical side, we have Tommy Sims, one-time bassist for Bruce Springsteen and arguably Christian music’s funkiest bass player (Steve Lawson – if you’re reading this, I said “arguably”!).

The key ingredient that makes Get Onboard such a fantastic album is Eric’s voice; warm, comforting and reassuring. A bit like Chef’s in South Park, but without the dodgy connotations.

Eric isn’t trying to dazzle his listeners with science; he just wants to lay some simple but profound truths on them in the most disarming, laid back way possible. And in that, he succeeds.

The Washington Projects

The rapping siblings Jekob and Rachael Washington used to be known as Souljahz, and released their highly acclaimed The Fault is History album in 2004.

Legal wrangles with their record label kept them off the scene for a while – but now they’re back, renamed The Washington Projects. Their album Commanders of the Resistance is released in ‘hard copy’ form this month, having been available as a download since last November.

The Washington Projects inhabit the more bohemian end of the rap spectrum: the place where you’d find 4th Avenue Jones, Arrested Development or Outkast when André 3000 is in charge.

In fact, calling their music hip hop doesn’t tell the full story. 4th Avenue Jones’ made-up genre “Hiprocksoul” would be a more apt description.

Commanders… is a sprawling collage of songs about love (love gone wrong as well as love going right), get-up-and-do-something motivational messages, and general ruminations on life.

Standout tracks for me were “Move”, “Time”, “Zephyr Wings” and “If I Can’t Have You”. I must admit I found the recurring “Baby I love you long time” sample on the track “That Girl” a bit distasteful. But that quibble aside, Commanders of the Resistance is a very intriguing album.

Amazon links

• Various Artists – One Way: Songs of Larry Norman

• Asa – Asa

• Eric Bibb – Get Onboard

• The Washington Projects – Commanders of the Resistance

Use the links to buy the albums from amazon.co.uk and Christian Aid will receive part of the sale price

• Read other Tunes columns