Hope River, Agent Sasco’s fourth studio album, is perhaps his most mature, spiritual collection to date. The 14-track compilation was released at the end of August, and gives a wholesome representation of Sasco’s years of experience in music, and allows the listener to feel as if they were on a journey with him.Energy River, an ideal warm up to a reflective, inspirational album, which plays with the words of the popular Row Your Boat nursery rhyme. Banks of the Hope is a sequel of sorts to Energy River, and sails the listener back into Sasco’s childhood in Kintyre, St. Andrew, a community that borders the Hope River, where he grew up poor. The song celebrates the fact that he made it out of poverty without losing his values, and escaped the prophecy of a life of crime and drugs.So Blessed, comes in. Dre’s raspy vocals are perfect for this song, as one can’t help but sing along to it, then stop to listen again when Sasco spits his multiplex lyrics on the verses of a predominantly Dancehall beat.Mama Prayed features Glacia Robinson, the powerful voice behind household Sunday favourites like It’s Not Over Now and Hold My Hand Today. You know then, that nothing is held back in this song. The heavy ska sound in the beat and Sasco’s rich timbre are perfectly complemented by Robinson’s crisp voice.My Song and Winning Right Now. You already know the latter, as it was released some months before the album, but My Song is another powerful motivational anthem, that has the potential to become everybody’s song.They Will Rob You. Collaborating with songbird Sevana, Sasco samples John Holt’s 1971 Fancy Makeup, and tells the story of a love thriving and blossoming despite …well… badmind people.Passage of Time. This serves as an introduction to Journey, a contemporary Dancehall track with Wayne Marshall, reminiscing on the bittersweet days that made him who he is today. He cherishes the memories as “a part of the journey.”Grateful.

The playlist is headed by

“Ain’t got no shackles, no chains upon my feet, you set me free, Good Lord I’m blessed!”, Dre Island shouts as the first line of the third track,

Track four is where the album catches afire.

Tracks six and seven are strong songs –

The only love song on the album is

There is a half-minute interlude, which comes in the form of a quote from Buju Banton in a 2004 interview expressing that he sees great potential is Assassin (as he was called then) and that Sasco would master some things through the

Track 11 takes the listener back to the present day, where Sasco calls in Stephen Marley to help him give thanks for his many blessings in

Change, featuring Kabaka Pyramid, Spragga Benz and Stoneboy, is a Dancehall negro-spiritual if I ever heard one. It employs a hard-hitting Dancehall beat to speak of age-old issues that have been plaguing our society, asking “When is the Change gonna come?”Legacy (featuring Kardinal Offishall). This song invites the listener to think deeply about certain realities, and to question the purpose of their existence – what will their legacy be? The following song, New day, is another motivational groove, on an easy-going Reggae beat. Sasco calmly reminds us that every day is a new opportunity to grow and improve, regardless of what happened in the past.All Aboard is a call to action – calling for unity in Jamaica. Not only does it call for us all to come on board, but a number of entertainers are already on board, as the song borrows the voices of Chevaughn, Bay C, Tony Rebel, Jah Vinchi, Queen Ifrica, Tosh Alexander, Tessanne Chin, Romain Virgo, Wayne Marshall and Majah Hype. By strategically placing this song at the end of the album, Sasco leaves us on a lasting high, one that makes us feel as if we are a part of something great, and that we are empowered to create whatever change we want to see.

Sasco gives even more social commentary in the next track,

The closing track

Hope River is a beautiful, complete body of work. It balances the need to have a musical menu with an item fit for every taste, as well as the importance of adding a personal touch to each item. Well done, Sasco.