Mad Professor & Dean Fraser - "Kunte Escape" (4:04)
Dean Fraser meets Mad Professor - "Silent Invaders" (4:14)
Dean Fraser meets Mad Professor - "Silent Invaders" (dub) (4:11)
Review: 'Dark Clouds' is a powerful anthem about overcoming life's toughest challenges. The song embodies resilience by conveying that victory is always possible, even in difficult times. Its uplifting melody and infectious chorus blend English, Wollof and an Arabic, African and Caribbean patois to make a unique, cross-cultural sound. Produced by the legendary Mad Professor at Ariwa Sounds, the track offers hope and strength while inspiring us to keep pushing forward despite adversity over a compelling rhythm.
Review: The legendary Fatman is back with another must-have 10" release featuring Don Carlos's iconic vocal roots classic from 1980. The A-side includes the full 12" disco mix, highlighted by Robbie Shakespeare's unforgettable bassline which adds to the fresh, deep groove of this perfectly aged track. On the flip side, you'll find Delroy Wilson's infectious 'Live Good' alongside its dub version. The OG is a heavyweight cut with plenty of FX, echo and lo-fi sounds all making it an unforgettable jam. Essentially this is an absolute no-brainer for reggae and roots music lovers.
Review: The Disciples & Creation Stepper came together for 'True Nazarite' back in 1991 and it was an instant classic on the dub circuit. It has long been sought after by collectors and now comes back as a reissue from Partial Records who have done a fine job of cutting it so that the deep, heavy UK roots sound, which has become pricey on the second-hand market, is as clear as possible. Produced by Russ D, the crucial tune has thunderous sub-bass and bouncing keys and dubbed to the max across three extra mixes. 'True Nazarite (Version)' carries traces of the vocal, while the B-side 'Nazarite' dials up digital keyboard melodies and echo effects. The fourth mix strips it all down to skeletal toms and shivering bass for a stark, raw dub experience.
Review: Ronnie Davis' 'No Man Is Free' is a powerful roots reggae anthem that has everything a good tune needs to in order to make an impact on the head, heart and heel, namely soulful melodies with conscious lyrics. Released in the 1970s, the track addresses themes of oppression, inequality and the quest for freedom and reflects the socio-political struggles of the time. Davis' deep, resonant vocals ride atop a rich rhythmic backing which is typical of the era's classic reggae sound. Known for his work with The Itals and as a solo artist, Davis delivers a message of unity and resistance here that reminds us that true freedom is a shared human right, not just an individual pursuit.
Review: For those in the know, this new collab between veteran Portuguese DJ and producer Dedy Dread and fast-rising Hawaiian singing star Olivia Ruff has been a long time coming. But it was worth the wait. The opener 'Cover Me' features Ruff's, well, slightly rough - or at least gravelly - vocals over a rhythm and bass instrumental. It's accented with wispy chords, neat little guitar riffs and crunchy claps. Flip it over and you'll find a remix by label founder The Rebel and Roman pianist and producer Shiny D. Their version is a modern update with brilliant reggaeton rhythms.
Prince Alphonso & The Fever - "Malostran-Ska" (2:42)
Junior Dell & The D Lites - "Remember To Forget" (2:51)
Woodfield Rd Allstars - "Beseda Blues" (2:43)
Review: The superb Original Gravity label is back with more OG reggae brilliance and ska classics. This second volume of Ska Fever kicks off with a big stepper from Junior Dell & The D Lites in the form of 'Rude Girl' while Prince Alphonso & The Fever bring big playful brass to 'Malostran-Ska' and Junior Dell & The D Lites then return on the flipside of this 7" with 'Remember To Forget' which picks up the pace and is built on a hardcore rhythm. The legendary Woodfield Rd Allstars shut things down with a more melancholic vibe on 'Beseda Blues.'
Review: The latest edition to the illustrious Charly catalogue - a re-release of Dillinger's most successful single from 1976, 'Cokane In My Brain' - marks a welcome return of this popular release to record stores. Listening to this release, it's easy to trace the figures the Kingston-born Dillinger has labelled as key inspirations in the sound he brings into existence - namely Dennis Alcapone and Lee "Scratch" Perry, the latter of whom he found himself under the guidance of following his big break in 1974 with the release of his single 'Dub Organizer'. There's a reason this achieved serious playtime - though not necessarily on the radio - worldwide following its release. A key release you certainly won't want missing from your collection.
Review: A crucial 12" version of Karen Dixon's sweetly innocent version of the insta-clock-it, insta-cop-it classic, 'I Just Want To Be Free' by Deniece Williams. Sung and rendered in a new lovers' rock style, and sifted from the Neville King archive for license on 7" press, this one comes with a brand new instrumental dub version on the flip. This one's not a mere vocal scrubbing either, as it amounts to a full heavyweight reshake; the overall feel is muted, allowing for extra reams of bass to riffle systems underneath.
Review: Sao Paulo's Junior Dread brings his world reggae excellence to this latest gem from Red Peak Sound. The collaboration began when J.Brenner met Junior at Minneapolis' Word Sound Power Festival back in 2022 and soon after they began making music and it led to two powerful tracks act were finely crafted through extensive mixing and testing. On the A-side here is a slow, heavy stepper evoking a vision of resilience atop Babylon's heart, paired with a dubwise mix that strips the rhythm to its core. The B-side offers a meditative one-drop rhythm and uplifting lyrics and is also accompanied by a swirling dub version that transcends space and time.
Review: Sub Merchants kick off a new 7" series with a special limited edition pressing of Drumterror ft. Dego Ranking & Ed Hodge's 'Social Dub.' The original version is as juicy as the orange depicted on the cover and finds the label head Drumterror in fine form with with the vocal talents of Ranking serving up some quick, tight bars that vibe nicely with the insistent chord stabs and heavy, rooted drums. The sax styling of Ed Hodge add extra sensuousness. On the flipside you get treated to a 'Social Version' that tweaks the original, layers in more echo and generally flips the vine to a more heady and late night sound.
Review: Common Ground International cast it back to 1977 here for one of Errol Dunkley's more standout cuts. The Kingston-born reggae musician put out an impressive 14 albums from the seventies up to the turn of the new millennium and made some 450 appearances on various other projects. 'A Little Way Different' is a mid-tempo tumbler with drums and bass perfectly bedded in together beneath fat trombone sounds and tick-tick guitar riffs. His vocals bring real yearning, and they also do on the flipside gem 'I'm Not The Man For You.'
Review: The peerless Partial is back with some brilliantly deep cuts from Nick Manasseh and Jeremy The Equalizer. A-side cut 'Absentee' showcases a robust part-digital rhythm and some warming dub low ends that are finished in style with Danny Red's commanding vocals weaving in and out of the mix to a heady effect. The single was originally a track from their popular 1993 album, and here it is served up on 7" next to a rare B-side dub mix that fleshes things out, adds plenty of reverb, and generally makes for more horizontal and heady listening.
Review: Mattias Penselin aka Pensis meets Dub Me Ruff here, a German dub and reggae band made up of Danielle Mommertz, Hauke Wendler, Jan Roper, Markus Grapmeyer and Rolf Saggau. Their work is hugely authentic though and you might not necessarily know this wasn't from the 70s and a legendary suit like the Black Ar. The drums are fulsome and flabby, the hist scattered and the vocals add some crucial spice up top. Both cuts get more contemporary dubs and run through with all manner of percussive twists and turns.
Tarrus Riley - "Love Is Stronger Than Pride" (4:10)
Dean Fraser - "Love Is Stronger Than Pride" (version) (4:13)
Review: If you're in the mood for some gently summery reggae-soul to warm you on cold winter nights, we'd heartily recommend this tidy new single from Tarrus Riley, son of legendary Jamaican vocalist Jimmy Riley. 'Love is Stronger Than Pride' is breezy, musically positive and gentle, with Riley delivering a slick and emotive lead vocal over a backing track rich in toe-tapping reggae grooves, subtle organ motifs, twinkling synth sounds and, most surprisingly, some rather lovely Spanish guitar motifs. It comes accompanied by a flipside 'Version' mix that's not all that dubbed-out, but nevertheless does a great job in showcasing the track's sunny and heart-warming instrumentation.
Review: Digital English is a pioneering digital reggae producer who founded his own self-titled label in New York City back in 1984. Since then it has focussed on local talent from dancehall, lovers rock and roots worlds and is influenced by London's 70s sound system culture and icons like Jah Shaka, Sir Coxsone and Fatman, He is known, as a producer, for integrating a hardcore frequency into his music that reflects a blend of digital innovation and traditional reggae sounds and that is evidence here on a limited edition new 7" with Ras Sherby.
Burning Drums (CD2: Fire Burning Charmers In dub 1973-1976)
Mother Mary
Brand New Version
Question Sign
Now You Can See Me Again
I'm A Changed Man
Let Go (instrumental)
Last Date Version
Gathering Version
I'm Falling In Love With You Dub
Long Dub
Honey Version
After Midnight
Dub Waiting
Dub Slave
Dub Don't Cry
Roots Of Africa
My Rhythm
Just A Dream Version
Natural Thing
Love For Dub
Devoted Skank
Review: Dadawah aka. Lloyd Charmers was one of Jamaica's boldest and most resourceful record producers, testament to which was his standout LP Peace & Love. Originally released as an EP of just four tracks, drawing on the rhythmic hallmarks of the Nyabinghi gatherings of Rastafari, Charmers is heard commanding an ensemble cast of virtuosi, including Willie Lindo on guitar. With its multi-layered, weighty and patriotic breathtakers such as 'Zion Land' and 'Know How You Stand', which blow away with their adept command of space and reverb, the tracks now come backed a whopping 21 dub versions also produced by the man himself - 19 of which have never been before released on CD - the best of his dub output since the mid-1970s.
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