Back catalogue: Dancehall/Ragga

Review: CASQUIAT's ability to balance heavy, floor-filling beats with thoughtful, experimental layers is on full show in this new 7" from DATUM. The two cuts push the boundaries of hip-hop and bring in a raw electronic edge. 'The Stopper' is a high-energy cut that collides skittering percussion and intricate rhythms to make for an intense yet hypnotic club vibe. In contrast, OG Ranks takes a deeper, more introspective route with moody undertones, spacious production, and a sharp focus on atmospheric tension. They make for a fine yin and yang and cannot fail to make their mark in the club.

Review: The Plymouth soundsystem and collective known as No Ice Cream Sound take their namesake after the historic Johnny Osbourne song 'No Ice Cream Sound', which hears one of the many most popular faces and voices of reggae decry "ice cream sound", his shorthand for tunes and soundboys who'd dare soften the original intended rawness of roots music. Here the boys take a thousand-watt megabulb to a gelato the size of a glacier with 'This & That', which hears residents Charlie P and Jman go back to back, trading verses and rhythms in a soundsystemic pattern. Fusing influences of both rubadub and roots, the two versions featured here are truly twin whirlwinds, not for slackened belts by any stretch.

Review: Cool Up Records's latest 12" maxi single features Spanish vocalist Yeyo Perez on two dynamic tracks, each presented in dual versions. 'King inna di Ring' and 'Burning in Flames' is fresh digital reggae that pays homage to traditional Jamaican MCs while infusing authentic new school style. The A-side showcases Perez's commanding vocals over a bass-driven groove, which is reminiscent of classic reggae clashes. Powered by the Casio MT-40 keyboard, it embodies the signature digital-dub sound and on the B-side, 'Burning in Flames' introduces Coronel Brown's smooth chorus, blending lovers' rock with Perez's rugged delivery. Crafted with dub and riddim variations, alongside rich instrumentation, this release exemplifies Cool Up's production prowess.

Review: French-Spanish, Latin soul and Afrobeats singer-songwriter Manu Chao returns to the fore with Viva Tu ('Long Live You'), a heartwarming Latin ska and worldbeat album dedicated to uncovetable, amicable neighbourly relations between members of the public. After the release of the eponymous lead single, the full record comes now in full cordial force. With its sleepily descendant vocals giving off the sense of a narrator too sunkissed to care, Viva Tu is an al fresco listening experience, one that also nonetheless betrays Chao's seasoned, well-tanned skin in the game. Now 63, this is a comeback album "inspired by (Chao's) travels and people's daily lives", and it hears him hark after something like a universal language, flexing his multilingual chops by singing in Spanish, French, Portuguese and English. All this forms part of Chao's mission to address the various global issues facing humanity today, in such a manner as only he can do best; he treats music as a vehicle for a humanistic global activism, aiming to promote anti-capitalist, antifascist and without-borders content.

Review: French Latin ska/dancehall artist Manu Chao (Los Carayos, Hot Pants) shares 'Viva Tu', his latest single pre-empting his upcoming solo summer stomper of an album. A wholesome ode to the neighbourly charms of his Chao's home city, 'Viva Tu' translates to "long live you!", and sports a universal message of simple merriment and streetwise hobnobbing. From "the one who sells tickets on the subway, to the street-sweeper", Chao's call for love - mediated by the irresistible sweetmeats of rhythm guitar and trilling ad-libs - excludes no-one. It's also a great, sweet-hearted song.

Review: Congo Natty celebrates a decade of revolutionary jungle music with this anniversary reissue of a classic. Originally released in 2013, this album remains a cornerstone of the genre, blending reggae, hip-hop, and jungle influences into a powerful sonic tapestry. With timeless tracks like 'UK Allstars' and 'Jungle Souljah,' Congo Natty captures the spirit of the underground rave scene with infectious beats and socially conscious lyrics. This anniversary edition breathes new life into the record with remastered tracks and additional content, reminding listeners of the enduring legacy of jungle music and Congo Natty's vital contribution to its evolution.