Anthony David: As Above, So Below, CD

Grammy-nominated Atlanta singer-songwriter ANTHONY DAVID is a rising star, recently the subject of an enthusiastic endorsement from President Obama, who singled him out as his personal listening favourite. “As Above So Below” is his first new album in four years.

Nominated for a Grammy in 2009 for “Words”, his duet with India Arie from his last, widely acclaimed album “Red Clay Chronicles”, Anthony David now returns with a stunning third album, recorded in Nashville with producer Shannon Sanders.

Often described as the heir apparent to his early influence Bill Withers, he is elbowing a space for intelligent lyrics and a grown man’s voice in a scene that’s in a race to be young. On the new album he ushers back the kind of masculine soul that men can identify with and that ladies can nestle up to. It covers his usual wide ranging canvas from country-blues to hip hop, R&B and acoustic soul.

Together with cousin Shawn Stockman from Boyz II Men he dusts down the Tears For Fears hit “Rule The World” to great effect, while fellow Atlanta singer Algebra and Phonte of Foreign Exchange and Little Brother join him on R&B groove “For Evermore”’.

Other highlights are the powerful gospel-rock political “God Said” and the radio-friendly “Let Me In”.