Review: Jamaican reggae legend Horace Andy has many great tunes in his back catalogue, but 'Get Down' is a classic roots gem often said to be one of his best. It's a signature sound with his trademark smooth and soulful vocals and is known for its deep, socially conscious lyrics and heavy bassline. This is one of those tunes that showcases Andy's ability to blend powerful messages with mellow rhythms and now gets pressed up to a tidy limited green smokey vinyl 7" thanks to Ruderalis. It comes with a fine instrumental version on the B-side
Review: Saxophonist Joe Armon-Jones teams up with vocalist Hak Baker and saxophonist Nubya Garcia for a fresh EP paying homage to the dub music tradition in the UK. 'Wrong Side Of Town' homes in on this titanic genre, riffing off the trademark 'horns cut' that would appear on the B-sides of roots reggae EPs in the 70s and 80s. With Hak's vocals effortlessly evincing a South London drawl, it's clear from the outset that usual, prejudiced ideas of what the wrong side of town would normally be is flipped on its head; truly, it's the area outside Bank station and the Royal Exchange that's the real no-go. Note: B-sider 'Nubya's Side Of Town' was also played by legendary UK sound system founder Jah Shaka in one of his last sessions before his sad passing in April 2023.
Guru Pope - "Reggae Soldier" (Saxaphone mix) (3:15)
Aba Ariginal - "East Meets West" (Hornix mix) (3:15)
East Meets West (dub mix 1) (3:14)
East Meets West (dub mix 2) (3:18)
Review: A powerful collaboration between Jennifer Barrett, Guru Pope and Aba Ariginal released on a striking red 12". The original track blends smooth reggae rhythms with heartfelt lyrics that celebrate strength, resilience and the spirit of the reggae soldier. Each artist brings their unique flavour to the release and that leads to a harmonious fusion of voices and styles. Add in its infectious groove and uplifting message, and 'Reggae Soldier' is a standout tune that begs to be played loud.
Review: This new 45rpm single on Humble Action includes the original version of 'Musical Healers' by Hummingbird as well as a remix by Aryeh Yah. The a-side version is a nice twisted dancehall cut with some hot stepping rhythms that sound like they could well have been sampled by The Streets at some time. It's a future sounding cut even now with its sleek synth leads. It's a real trip too at over eight minutes long, and the remix is no less adventurous but has a more heavy low end.
Review: Bonjo Iyabinghi Noah and Adrian Sherwood have been working together as African Head Charge since 1981's all-time classic My Life In A Hole In The Ground. Of all the near-infinite reams of experimental dub production orbiting Sherwood's On-U Sound label, African Head Charge is surely one of the greatest and most revered projects and now after a pause since 2011's Voodoo of The Godsent their partnership is back on. A Trip To Bolgatanga takes us on a psychoactive journey to Noah's hometown in North Ghana, guided by his trademark, fiercely expressive percussion and Sherwood's mixing desk acrobatics, weighing in heavy and loaded with disorienting potential, which is just how we like it.
Review: By the time they recorded "Songs of Praise" in 1990, African Head Charge had gone from being an Adrian Sherwood solo project to a fully-fledged band helmed by percussionist Bonjo Ivabinghi Noah. Here reissued to mark the album's 20th birthday, the set remains arguably the group's greatest single work. While rooted in the twin attractions of heavy dub and dense African percussion, the album makes extensive use of a dizzying array of influences, from gospel, steppers reggae and yacht rock, to traditional Arabic music, blues, disco, religious chants and even industrial music. This edition features a handful of decent bonus tracks, but they're unnecessary: the original album is little less than a masterpiece and should reside in every discerning listener's record collection.
Review: These two powerhouses of pioneering dub meet up for the second time on this fantastic reissue by Burning Sounds originally released in 1978. The mostly instrumental album shows the duo helping to define the dub sound for the next generation of producers. Thanks to the inspirations and usage of Studio One, the sound is quintessential dub, like in the 'Garvey Dub' and title song 'Guerilla Dub'. They've not fully abandoned the traditional roots as you can hear in 'Malcolm X Dub' and 'Martin Luther Dub' though, turning them into more of remixes than original tracks. This album is a must for any 70s and 80s dub afficionado.
Review: This is an essential drop for dub lovers this Record Store Day. 'Dubbing At King Tubby's Vol. 1 comes on nice red vinyl and has been fully remastered as well as being resequenced for this release. It is packed with 22 jams that made it one of the bestselling compilations of the 1990s. It showcases the already well-revered talents of King Tubby, Prince Jammy, Scientist, Phillip Smart, and Pat Kelly, all of whom work their magic at the mixing desk on a series of iconic dubs. Each one is rooted in the works of Bunny Lee and they all bring the drum and bass to the fore and show why the studio has such an impact on Jamaican music history.
Review: Vaughn Benjamin is the voice of Midnite and Akae Beka and was a prolific reggae vocalist, poet, teacher and scholar known for his photographic memory and creativity. He released over 70 albums in 25 years while always discussing broad, detailed topics with unmatched precision. Living Testament is his final album, recorded shortly before his death in November 2019. In October 2019, Vaughn recorded the 11 tracks at Ras Biblical's Trinity Farm studio in Grass Valley, California, over two days alongside 11 musicians including Tuff Lion and Manuel "Go A Chant" Guerra. The result is sure to endure through the ages as a fine example of roots reggae storytelling.
Review: Kevin Griffiths (aka Jura Soundsystem) is the man behind the Isle of Jura label and now it turns to Ambient Warrior once more for II, which comes a couple of years after the hugely successful reissue of their Dub's Journey album form 1995. This is a previously unreleased record made between 1995 and 1999 and it comes from the same pool of sound as that LP. It's a seamless blend of instrumental dub, reggae, bossa nova and tango music that is hugely immersive and distinctive. None of the tunes you will have heard before and that are more great windows into the minds of Ronnie Lion and Andrea Terrano.
Review: Sergey Dmitriev and Nikita Chepurnoi resurface as Amkarahoi, the experimental project which, the release notes tell us, have prepared an album that "conjures ghosts of 90s chill out tents, aqueous ambient, exploratory turn of the century IDM and echoes of jammy dub." Borne from a largely improvised show that took place in Saint Petersburg, overdubbed and mixed down, it's patient yet wildly exploratory stuff. Amkarahoi is the name of a remote Siberian region and it's easy to see why the pair picked it for this project's name. Uncle Reed In The Purple Mine sounds desolate and sparse, but once we hone in on the details we realise it's taking us though cold, barren atmospheres and into warm, E-hued soundscapes. A thoughtful yet spontaneous slice of immersive ambient you won't regret committing to.
Review: But wonderful new record puts most artists who use the word hybrid to shame -it's beyond hybrid, even post-hybrid. If that sounds confusing just tune in and prepare to be dazzled. You'll find these tracks beautifully crafted and seamlessly blending dub with skilful jazz influences. For those drawn to melodies, musique concrete, or dub's experimental edges, this record is a perfect fit. It was born from a remix tribute to Jackie Mittoo and has grown into an exploration of themes with improvisation, precision, and intimate details. Androo proves to be an unpredictable musical force and combines free jazz and contemporary music influences to deliver a liberating, genre-defying experience that challenges conventions.
Review: Timeless Roots is a brilliant collaboration between reggae legend Horace Andy and renowned bassist Jah Wobble. Known for his ethereal vocals, Andy breathes new life into classics like Stevie Wonder's 'Superstition' and The Beatles' 'Come Together', while also revisiting his own iconic tracks like 'Skylarking' and 'Natty Dread A Weh She Want.' Wobble, former PiL bassist, Orb collaborator as well as a solo artist of some renown, blends reggae, modern dub and world music to create a rich sonic landscape that perfectly complements Andy's distinctive voice. The album stands out not only for its reinterpretation of well-known songs but also for its innovative production, which maintains the essence of roots reggae while introducing contemporary elements.
Wobble's deep bass grooves provide a solid foundation, allowing Andy's vocals to soar, particularly on new takes of his classics. This collaboration is a seamless fusion of two musical worlds, making Timeless Roots one of the standout reggae albums of the yearia true match made in musical heaven.
Review: Horace Andy, the iconic Jamaican roots reggae vocalist, joins forces with former PiL bassist Jah Wobble for Timeless Roots, a fresh collection of studio recordings. Known for his collaborations with Massive Attack, Andy's unmistakable voice brings new life to classics like Stevie Wonder's 'Superstition', The Beatles' 'Come Together', and America's 'A Horse With No Name.' He also revisits his own hits, including 'Skylarking' and 'Natty Dread A Weh She Want', adding a new depth to these beloved tracks. Wobble's production seamlessly blends reggae with modern dub and world music, creating a rich, contemporary sound. Notable highlights include 'One Love', a revamped version of Andy's 1991 Massive Attack collaboration and a reinterpretation of 'Spying Glass.' The combination of Andy's timeless vocals and Wobble's masterful basslines results in an album full of vibrant, fresh takes on both classic and new material. Released on yellow vinyl through Cleopatra Records, this is shaping up to be one of the standout reggae albums of the year.
Review: Du men don't come much more legendary or iconic than King Tubby and Horace Andy, so having them together on one album was always going to result in straight fire. And so it proves on The King Tubby Tapes, a double album of deeply affecting roots and lovers rock first issued on Jet Star Records' 'Charm' imprint. It showcases Dubby's audio skills and Andy's distinctive vocal style while including selections from his 1979 album Pure Ranking and a second album of dub remixes. Session men Robbie Shakespeare, Carlton "Santa" Davis, Tony Chin and Bernard "Touter" Harvey all feature this one.
Review: Stockholm-based multi-instrumentalist and composer Art Longo impresses here with Echowah Island, a new album sure to wind its way into your affections. It was crafted over years in his home studio and is "psychotropical pop" drawing deep inspiration from late 80s music and dub. The album's lush soundscape evokes orange sunsets and ocean breezes and is layered with spring reverb, space echo and wah-wah effects that smooth out the edges as the steady pulse of vintage drum machines moves things on down low. A standout feature is Claudio Jonas, whose ethereal vocals recall classic French femme fatale singers of the 60s. Her poetic, kaleidoscopic lyrics add to a nostalgic dream world that gently bends reality and makes his both escapist and thought-provoking.
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