Review: Irie Ites is a French label that is back with two more reggae heavyweights and frequent musical sparring partners in the form of Eek-A-Mouse and King Kong. They tackle a relic of the 'Murderer/Hot Milk' rhythm, a production that will take you back to the 80s reggae sound in an instant. 'Musical Ambassador' comes first and is a happy-go-lucky sound with some slow, dubby drums and lazy hits as well as stylised vocals, while the flip from King Kong, 'Money Could A Buy' fleshes it out with more reverb and natty guitar riffs that hang in the air above the cavernous low end.
Review: Producer, selector and mixing engineer Kai Dub heads up Dub Forward and formerly was in Maasai Warrior but is now busy co-running Concrete Lion Soundsystem with Dubtronics. He is back on his own label with some more devastating dub here, first in collab with Galas on 'Rasta Come From Zion' then in solo mode on 'Dub To Zion' which has earth-shattering kicks and reverb-heavy low ends. Kai Dub Meets Aba Arigina' on 'Majestic' which is a warrior anthem with a zippy melodic lead and a final dub closes out a meaty package on nice yellow wax.
Roots Defender Riddim Section - "No Justice Dub" (4:18)
Kojo Neatness - "Bun Dem Down" (4:02)
Roots Defender Riddim Section - "Dub Dem Down" (4:19)
Review: Jah Mason and Kojo Neatness bring an authentic island flavour to this solid 4/4 roots rhythm that was crafted by the Roots Defender Riddim Section. The track features soulful horn arrangements as well as mesmerising guitars and keys by Black Steele and Maestro Inyaki. Originally recorded as a full band piece in Brixton over a decade ago, it underwent multiple stages to perfect its organic vibe for sound system heads. The multitrack was then taken to Ital Soup studio in South London where Petah Sunday served up a brilliant analogue mix while also adding some mind-blowing dubs all of which have already made their mark.
Review: Abendigo introduces a rising star from Jamaica, Abka Kaba, with this powerful new 12". His tune 'Mighty People,' pairs bold, fat-bottomed drums with some classic harmonicas and sleek synths. It is accompanied by two dub mixes from Hermit Dubz and on the flip side, legendary artist Prince Alla presents 'Backstabber,' marking his sixth collaboration with Abendigo Records. This special release includes two dub mixes and is limited to 300 copies on 12" vinyl.
Review: Lion Vibes lives up to its name with his powerful release from Jamaica featuring the legendary Ini Kamoze and rising star Lila Ike. Produced by Kareem Burrell of XTM Nation, this heavyweight track was recorded at Anchor, 9soundclik and Tads studio with top reggae musicians bringing real authenticity to the sounds. The A-side mix by Veer Dhaniram delivers a stunning vocal cut that exudes island cool while the low-end swaggers. The B-side unveils a previously unreleased dub mix by Gregory Morris and the record comes in a beautifully designed picture sleeve by Juppi Juppsen.
Review: Originally released on a Partial 10" in 2019, 'Mediation' became a staple in the underground roots and dub sound system scene and got heavy plays from the late Jah Shaka and others. This 12" includes the original vocal and dub versions along with two previously unreleased dubplate cuts. Eva Keyes, a rising artist from Limerick, Ireland, brings a distinctive and powerful voice, reminiscent of Sinead O'Connor and Dolores O'Riordan. This one has deep roots but offers a fresh take on classic sounds.
Review: First released in 1983, Khartomb's 'Swahili Lullaby' first surfaced on the underground punk and reggae label Whaam! before fading back again into obscurity. In fact their only release, originally a 7", it came backed by the 12/8 wonderwork 'Teekon Warriors' on the B; both tracks established their sound as straddling both a restlessness and a laconism, channelling influences from the Slits to the Raincoats. Legend speaks of an original Peel Session and support from Melody Maker - the holy one-track difecta for breaking artists back then - yet this initial support sadly, madly waned. Now, however, the release comes miraculously back to the fore, rendered concscious again by way of a new-to-vinyl track - 'Daisy High' - as well as two versions of the A1 by Synkro and Talking Drums. 'Daisy High' is a lissome one, its layered contraltos overdubbed to perfection against endless Balearic guitar-swirls amid an overarching 'bossa feel' (in Peel's words). Synkro's dub could just as easily have come from '83 as it did from '24, swelling away into a sweet kickless reverie that happily, barely resembles the original; Talking Drums' version is more loyal to the genesis, yet amps up the dub pressure.
Review: Dennis Anthony Thomas is known as King Kong and is the celebrated Jamaican singer behind hits like 'Trouble Again' and 'Legal We Legal.' His track 'Song of Love' was originally released by Pisces Productions and is a rare gem and a powerful anti-apartheid anthem. The song confronts South Africa's apartheid regime, referencing President P.W. Botha while urging unity and human rights. Through themes of love and resilience, King Kong highlights the strength of cultural solidarity in a tune that is rooted in reggae's tradition of political advocacy. As such 'Song of Love' transcends music and symbolises global support for freedom.
King Kong - "Wake Up The Town" (feat Eek-A-Mouse) (3:29)
Irie Ites All Stars - "Wake Up The Town" (riddim) (3:30)
Review: As we continue to enjoy some warm weather here in the UK there will never be a better time to be dropping your finest reggae sounds. And this new 7" deserves a place amongst your collection with an original by King King featuring Eek a Mouse. 'Wake Up The Town' is a contemporary-sounding dub with some digital synth lines as well as nice echoing hits and dub-wise vocals. On the flip, you can find the Irie Ites All Stars seeing up the 'Wake Up The Town' (riddim) for a more paired back sound.
Review: Leisure Group Recordings is a side label from Razor-N-Tape's JKriv that now debuts in the vinyl world with Kings Of High Speed's trippy dance-floor dub on a 7" slab. Following J's Balearic Within EP, Leisure Group revisits J's archives for a pair of tunes he originally started with late Tortured Soul bandmate Ethan White over a decade ago. An aficionado of dub reggae, Ethan infused these tracks with authentic organ and synthesizer stylings. Recently unearthed and completed by J with dub treatments using a Space Echo and Eventide, these productions pay homage to Ethan's memory-a tribute to his musical legacy and vibrant spirit.
Review: Before I Die have been putting out some high-grade leftfield delights from respected operators like Bernardino Femminelli, Tungusku and most recently Sewell & The Gong. Now it's the turn of Klangkollektor, indulging a collection of hazy dub excursions which sit somewhere near Balearic splendour, piano-charged melancholy and isolation tank meditation. In the dub tradition the approach is consistent and evenly paced, but it's certainly not aiming for any kind of typical Jamaican sound. Instead, there's a gentle introspection to the melodic content which gels perfectly with the spacious approach to mixing, unfurling across four sides of wax for an album you can just melt into.
Review: Japan meets Jamaica in Tokyo Riddim Band's latest single where illustrious keyboardist Izumi 'Mimi' Kobayashi joins forces with Jamaican singer Ras Tavaris. This track revives Kobayashi's 1981 hit, 'Lazy Love,' originally from her sought-after Coconuts High LP recorded in LA. Featured on Time Capsule's 2024 Japanese reggae compilation Tokyo Riddim 1976-1985, the song now transforms from soulful pop to a deep dub cut. The Tokyo Riddim Band brilliantly blends Japanese and London sounds and infuses the track with big energy, reggae rhythms, funky bass lines, and smooth City Pop guitar, all enhanced by Prince Fatty's studio magic.
Review: Kodama & The Dub Station Band is fronted by the talented dub trumpeter Kazufumi Kodama and together they recently presented their new cover album, COVER Song Collection featuring a selection of their versions of popular songs that they often call upon in their live performances. They have all been meticulously recorded in the studio and now one of them, inspired by Bob Marley's masterpiece 'Is This Love,' gets cut to 7". It finds Kodama transforming the classic into a vibrant instrumental rendition that captures Marley's positive vibes while offering a fresh take on the rhythms.
Review: Fresh off the back of a whole album of majestic covers, Kodama aka talented dub trumpeter Kazufumi Kodama and The Dub Station Band are serving up a selection of them on 7" singles. After Bob Marley's 'Is This Love' comes a fresh rendition of 'You've Got A Friend' which is another lovely blend of dub and reggae. With vibrant instrumentation and real rhythmic depth, the group breathes new life into the beloved Carole King song and emphasises a warm, uplifting atmosphere that invites listeners to connect with its heartfelt message of friendship and support. Bliss.
Review: Workshop is one of those labels that has always operated at the fringes of genre. Deep house and techno are the loose starting points in many cases, but artists never fail to veer off into the shadowy nether worlds that surround those basic forms. Kolorit does that here with two intriguing cuts all with the same name. The first has lumpy scattered drums, scraping sounds, ticking hi-hats and freaky noise samples all peppering them. The second has haunting chords sequences over a ticking sound that is coated in hiss and crackle. It's late night and mysterious. The third has clattering percussion and shimmering synths that rise and fall and build in tension and intensity.
Review: This is one of a pair of new slabs of wax from Amsterdam's Sound System and label of the same name, King Shiloh. It features an array of modern dub and reggae talents and first up, Lavvosti & Black Omolo offer the modern sheen of 'Red Gold Green'. Kare's 'Better Days' rides the same rhythm but with more stylised and soulful vocal turns that empower with every bar. Jah Works dubs things out with a ton of effects and Tiger Simeon & Brada Jahziel layer in storytelling bars. Brasspect brings a fresh horn-led sound that is romantic and hypnotic and Roots Mechanic pairs things right back to an 80s sounding Jamaica dub vibe.
Review: Australian bass collective Echo Chamber get busy with this supreme VA featuring a range of talented friends old and new. LQ takes the lead with the sublime 'Way Down' that bubbles and flexes in two system-primed forms: the spacious heavyweight Dubkasm mix and LQ and MSHCode's own breakbeat-heavier shakedown. Flip for more LQ goodies as he links up with Kloke for the fittingly titled groove-up 'Computer Bubblers' while Duburban and Galvatron finish the EP with the furious drum funk up 'Let Off The Music'. The only echo here is the reload.
Review: After his silky-smooth vocal feature on Eva Lazarus' Light As Feather, it was inevitable that Mungo's Hi Fi would pursue a project with London-based pure sing-jay Kiko Bun. Ms. Burnett is an ode to a lady friend of distinction, atop a dreamy major key rhythm whose bass-heavy clarity could have come out of Jamaica's Channel One studio in its glory days.
We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you've provided to them or that they've collected from your use of their services.