New releases last four weeks: Dancehall/Ragga

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: Junior Delgado's album It Takes Two To Tango on the Fashion label arrived in 1986 and brought plenty of new ideas to the dancehall and lovers rock sounds of the time. It is one of an impressive 22 he has penned over his long career and now the title track from it has been pressed up to this 7" courtesy of the Real Rock imprint. 'It Takes Two To Tango' is a nice heavy roller with fat drums and bass and some great vocal work up top. On the flip is 'Jux In' (dub) which is a version of the A-side by Jux & The A Class Crew which adds some nice shiny synth smears that swirl about the mix.

Review: Death Is Not The End's wonderful 333 series continues here with another standout digi roots 7? from late 90s New York star Gumbae Culture, who it is said was a favourite of Jah Shaka. 'Take It Easy' was produced by Ricky "Mad Man" Myrie, a key figure in reggae/dancehall production since the early 90s and someone now just as known for working with Sean Paul and Capleton. Gumbae Culture's sharp vocals lead the way on a deep, dubby, cavernous track that was recorded at Philip Smart's iconic HC&F Studio with engineering by Michel McDonald. Haunting xylophone, sharp snares, and deep subs drive it onward and if you like it more stripped back then flip it over and dive into the version.

Review: Hawaiian enka singer Torao Hikariyama is renowned in his circles for winning a foreign talent singing competition on TV. He is utterly beloved in his home country, and rightly so, for his performances at Bon dance festivals. He has several hits to his name and now one of them, the wonderful 'Torao no Tairyo Sen' has been daringly remixed and dubbed by Tengaku Dub. This brilliant release now makes its long-awaited debut on double-sided 7" and is sure to get plenty of heavy plays.

Review: Aloha Got Soul is pleased to announce Bitta Attack, the newest release from Jah Gumby. Based in Palolo Valley, Honolulu, the producer and multi-instrumentalist brings shimmering musical diversity and crate-digging sensibility to his four-track EP. Two high-energy, progressive reggae tunes, 'Dine An' Dash' and 'Influencers.m.h.', trace a link to his 2018 release Humility: The Vibes of Jah G, a double LP that presented Gumby's masterful ability to craft rich arrangements with overwhelming instrumental density. Continuing this tradition, Bitta Attack hears an expansion of Gumby's galaxy, introducing listeners to his love of freestyle music, the electronic New York dance genre made popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Both tracks derive heavily from freestyle's rhythm, cadence and synth-heavy production, though it fuses this with Jah Gumby's already established yet unique style, resulting in something unlike anything you've ever heard before.

Review: 'Born With It' by Mungo's Hi Fi, featuring Aziza Jaye, Gardna, and Eva Lazarus, is a high-energy anthem blending UK Garage and 90s rave vibes with a powerful dose of Drum n Bass. Aziza Jaye's searing vocals, Gardna's dynamic delivery, and Eva Lazarus's fierce dancehall attitude create an explosive party track. On Side-2 'Back in the Dayz', adds nostalgia with a deft rap over rave-infused breaks, sure to evoke memories of old-school rave scenes. This 2024 12" vinyl, eco-friendly and pressed in Scotland, includes unreleased instrumental versions and a dub mix of 'Back in the Dayz', making it essential for summer festivals, clubs and sound system parties.

Review: Legendary reggae artist and snooker of the smoke Lee Perry left us a few years ago but his legacy will always live on through the vast amounts of music he was involved with. Originally released in 1984 on Island/Mango, this album History Mystery Prophesy gets a welcome reissue and features an array of his most weed-worshipping songs. Recorded across multiple studios in Jamaica and at Compass Point in Nassau, it delves into the funky electro-pop sounds of the era and highlights include tracks like 'Heads Of Government' and 'Mr Music.'

Review: Foundational reggae artist Dennis Walks' 'Waste Time in Babylon' has long been a much sought-after track and it is now the latest 1980s digital gem to be reissued on 45 as part of the 333 series. The tune was originally produced by Prince Jazzbo for his Ujama label in 1987 and finds Walks, who first gained recognition in the early 1970s working with producers Harry Mudie and Joe Gibbs, delivering his trademark powerful vocals over the iconic 'Racecourse Rock' rhythm. The track also features legendary keyboardist Winston Wright in fine form which helps to make this reissue a must-have for fans of classic reggae and digital-era fusions.