C’batch is back, and for anyone who has kept up with his musical career, this is a pleasing reunion with an artist who has always believed that a good song doesn’t really vanish; it just waits. Having been an admirer of C’batch and his skill in moving easily among different musical styles, this EP provides yet another argument for celebrating that versatility. C’batch’s journey is one of persistence, curiosity, and finally having his unfinished ideas come to the fore.
The song was based on an old musical idea inspired by his Jamaican-born wife, Yvette, who had for many years encouraged him to write a reggae song, and the composition for this EP had been stored in C’batch’s vault for about 26 years. In 2026, he has now revived it, finishing the lyrics and giving the song six different versions. As a dedication to the legendary Jamaican guitarist Ernest Ranglin, whom C’batch met at Heathrow Airport in 2001, the EP has a true link with reggae history while at the same time remaining clearly C’batch.
The first version, titled “I Guess You Want It This Way (Cinematic Reggae) 1”, sets out the overall atmosphere of the EP: it is reflective, romantic and quietly dramatic. The cinematic style imparts space to the song, which enables C’batch’s vocals to carry the emotional impact. The way he speaks sounds as though he is having a conversation rather than performing, as if he has at last been able to express what has been inside him for years.
The second track, “I Guess You Want It This Way (Cinematic Reggae) 2”, further enhances the song’s reflective nature since, instead of just repeating the first version, it offers another point of view on the same emotional content. C’batch’s voice still acts as the focal point, the way he phrases the melody giving it a warm and personal touch. The production indicates a combination of reggae’s laid-back rhythm and the general atmosphere associated with film music.
In I Guess You Want It This Way 1, the song comes across as more straightforward. The production moves nearer to the core of the composition and places greater emphasis on the melody, the lyrics, and the vocal performance. C’batch sings with a confident ease, giving the words room to be heard. The strength of this version lies in its simplicity since the song does not need to shout in order to make its point.
The fourth track, “I Guess You Want It This Way 2”, carries on the theme by illustrating the reason why C’batch decided to revisit the piece with various arrangements. Although the well-known melody is given a new character, his interpretation stays firm and expressive. There is a pleasant sense of maturity in his performance, as if he is looking back on an old idea without making an exact replica of it as it originally was.
It is here that the reggae roots of the project become clearly evident. “I Guess You Want It This Way (Reggae 2)” is the version that most closely reflects the original inspiration for the song and the Jamaican musical link that played a part in its creation. The instrumental delivery has a natural ease that suits the genre.
Finally, ‘I Guess You Want It This Way (Reggae Dub (1)’ is a suitable concluding piece. Since dub generally provides room for rhythm, texture, repetition, and atmosphere, this version allows the piece to breathe differently and appears to be less focused on explaining the song than on allowing its musical qualities to stay with the listener. Ultimately, it gives the impression that the story goes on after the last note.
Production is at the heart of the EP’s attractiveness. Instead of presenting the six tracks as being identical, C’Batch looks at the same composition from various points of view by using reggae, cinematic textures, soul, R&B qualities, and dub-inspired production. The arrangements allow the melody to remain throughout the different musical settings, while the rhythmic bases maintain the coherence of the project.
The vocal performance is just as significant. C’batch doesn’t treat the material as if he were trying to prove a point; instead, his delivery is steady, personal, and seasoned, which enables the emotion to be carried without over-decoration. The control exhibited gives the lyrics authenticity and makes the long history associated with the song seem to be there in the performance.
Ultimately, “I Guess You Want It This Way” covers more than just six recordings of a single song; it deals with themes such as time, memory, love, persistence, and the odd life that a melody can lead after the creator has stopped working on it. C’batch has now opened another door in The Vault, and what has come out is a piece of musical history which had been waiting for nearly 26 years to reach its proper conclusion. For an artist whose music keeps crossing boundaries without sacrificing its identity, this is another well-earned occasion to be in the spotlight. C’batch is not just going back to his past; he is showcasing what the past can become when it receives a new voice.
Listen to “I Guess You Want It This Way” EP on Spotify
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