Labi Siffre came out of retirement to make this one, and the urgency shows. So Strong is built around "(Something Inside) So Strong," a protest song written in response to apartheid that has outlived its moment to become something closer to a standard. The rest of the album earns its place: Siffre's songwriting is plain-spoken and generous, his voice unforced, the arrangements full without crowding him. He was always more interesting than the singer-songwriter label allowed, and this record is where the political and the personal sit closest together. An RSD Essential pressing of a record that deserves the attention.