Review: Mad Professor (Neil Fraser) is renowned worldwide for his dub recordings, captivating live sets showcasing the creativity of dub sound engineers, and his collaborations with both reggae and non-reggae artists alike such as Lee Scratch Perry, Jah Shaka, Sade, The Orb, Massive Attack and Grace Jones. Above all, he is celebrated for his prolific output in the genres of dub, lovers rock, reggae; now this reissued version of this original 1984 release for Ariwa Sounds is sure to turn just as many heads as his originals do. Known to be the yield of the label's first ever collaborative effort - after Fraser set up his South London studio with no prior experience - 'The Early Session' is one of the purest incarnation of the Mad Professor sound we know today and set the tone for the label thereafter.
Review: Jamaican singer Clive Matthews has enjoyed a stop-start career, with relatively brief periods of activity in the 70s, 80s and early 2000s followed by a late blossoming over the last decade - a career bump provided by the backing of Spanish roots reggae outfit A-Lone Productions. They're at the controls again on Matthews' second album, Going Home, which marks the Trenchtown-born artist's first full length for seven years. Rooted in his love of roots reggae albums of the 1970s, but with occasional updated instrumentation, it's a classic-sounding set that provides a perfect platform for Matthews' conscious lyrics and honeyed, effortlessly soulful voice. The results are undeniably impressive, with our current favourites including 'Yes I Do', 'Ancient Lion', dancefloor-ready title track 'Going Home' and the pleasingly jaunty 'Reggae Music'.
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