Jamaica is still the first Caribbean island nation coming to mind when it comes to reggae. Since around the turn of the century, however, St. Croix has had at least one accomplished purveyor of Rastafarian roots style in Midnite. That prolific band’s lead singer, Vaughn Benjamin, is now on his second solo album under his nom du disc, Akae Beka.

If Portals differs from Midnite’s already Haile Selassie-loving, staunchly traditional aesthetic, it’s in the subtleties added by Beka and band. Shades of heavy guitar deep in the mix, bits of melodica reminiscent of Augustus Pablo further up, a sideline or two into U.K.-styled R&B akin to Soul II Soul’s late-’80s collaborations with The Reggae Philharmonic Orchestra mingle amid Beka’s wizened vocals and meditative philosophical ruminations. The combination makes for a nigh alchemical rhythmic potion.