Review: L'Entourloop is a mysterious new crew headed up by Sir James and King Johnny, who fed on sound system culture and are now elder statesmen in the scene in their own rights. Lovers of vinyl culture and "epic dialogue of cinema's yesteryear" they mix up those influences with hip hop and reggae into fresh new forms. This new EP - "Golden Nuggets" - in collaboration with the Jamaican Skarra Mucci aka the "Dancehall President", offers crisp digi dub, UK funky drum patterns and plenty of synthesised bass to get your party pumping, all with some natty vocal deliveries, odes to weed and plenty of praise given to jah.
Review: Thompson Sound and Dubquake Records collaborate here to present O.B.F-style renditions of classic roots and rub-a-dub tracks from Linval Thompson's esteemed label. Rico O.B.F revitalises gems from the '70s and '80s using original recordings with each release featuring reinterpretations of the vocals, dubs, and mixes that include the beloved Nazamba. Following 'Curfew' and 'Sweet Sensimilia', the latest offering is 'Evening Love', a fresh take on Sammy Dread's emotive 'Morning Love' from the iconic dub album Scientist Meets The Space Invaders. Nazamba shines on 'She Nah Lie', delivering poetry steeped in warmth and romance, enhanced by the finesse of the Roots Radics.
Review: King Shiloh is back with more heavy and modern dub sounds from a range of talents who all add their own spin to a couple of heavy rhythms. Tiger Simeon & Brada Jahziel's 'Rastaman Vibration' gets underway with some bold, brassy horns and natty pianos that make for a full fat sound. Jah Works gets to work on the mixing desk and dubs it out to perfection while Lavosti brings a more modern sounding digital synth sheen and rousing vocal top line to the delightful 'Real Reggae Warrior.' Again it is Jah Wrks who steps up to do his thing and strip it back to deep dub vibrations.
Review: This release features two previously unreleased tracks on a beloved 1987 digital riddim. Singing Melody delivers the first, 'Friday Evening', a tune he revisited several times and it brings true dancehall energy. PN the reverse of the 7" is a nice dub that fleshes things out to the max with extra wobble and headiness. Both songs were recorded at Dynamic Sounds during this golden era and are cuts that capture the essence of classic digital dancehall, so are essential additions to the collections of any fans of this period.
Review:
The Specials are real UK national treasures, aren't they? And rightly so. Alexis Petridis has even gone so far as to say their standout single 'Ghost Town' is the second greatest UK single to have ever been released. Again, it's hard to really argue with that one. It was a UK chart topper at time of release and speaks eloquently of the urban decay, unemployment and ongoing racial tensions of the period. Sound familiar? Sadly, you once again have to agree. This 40th Anniversary Edition has been mastered and cut at half-speed for extra oomph.
Review: The Specials are real UK national treasures, aren't they? And rightly so. Alexis Petridis has even gone so far as to say their standout single 'Ghost Town' is the second greatest UK single to have ever been released. Again, it's hard to really argue with that one. It was a UK chart topper at time of release and speaks eloquently of the urban decay, unemployment and ongoing racial tensions of the period. Sound familiar? Sadly, you once again have to agree. This 40th Anniversary Edition has been mastered and cut at half-speed for extra oomph.
Review: French label Irie Ites has been busy of late and has put together a great bunch of new versions of classic reggae rhythms and pressed them all up to 45 rpm. This one takes the form of a brand new roots vocal cut over the classic 'Murderer/Hot Milk' rhythm with an instrumental version on the flip from the legendary backing band The Roots Radics. Their take is a more heady and carefully reduced one that allows the rich drums and bass to roll endlessly and hypnotise as they go.
Review: Samory I, one of Jamaica's most promising reggae artists to watch, releases his eagerly-awaited solo debut album Strength. The LP follows Black Gold, his 2017 collaborative album with the iconic producer Rory 'Stonelove' Gilligan. Named after Samory I's affectionate moniker for his son, Strength is an 11-track storied opus produced by esteemed Jamaican producer Winta James, whose credits include hits with Protoje, Chronixx and Damian Marley. Samory I said the LP represents "the struggles I've overcome, both mentally and physically." Growing up in Kencot, a rougher neighborhood in Kingston, Jamaica, he faced many adversities and found reggae music as a form of salvation. He used his voice as both an instrument and vehicle for social change in his community. The album is a true reflection of its title, proving that courage and love prevails above all.
Gimme The Light (feat Busta Rhymes - Pass The Dro-Voisier remix) (3:24)
Bubble (feat Farenheit) (3:51)
Shake That Thing (3:57)
Esa Loca (feat Tony Touch & ROBB) (3:46)
Punkie (Espanol) (3:31)
Baby Girl (3:40)
Review: Jamaican reggae and dancehall star Sean Paul did a lot to popularise the genre in the UK and US way before the current wave of artists who dominate. Dusty Rock is his seance album from back in November 2022 and it spawned plenty of chart-climbing singles that helped it, and Paul, go on to become a worldwide phenomenon. Of course, the standout single that still gets plenty of hammer is 'Gimme The Light' while 'Like Glue,' 'I'm Still In Love With You' and 'Get Busy' are all bangers, too, on a record full of big hooks, fresh rhythms and big energy.
Review: Kintsugi is the Japanese art of fixing broken stuff in beautiful ways and thus embracing the item's history. It is also in part the name of this new Kintsugi Soul Stepper's album that mirrors that concept by "celebrating the beauty found in piecing together diverse fragments to create a harmonious whole." Filipino Canadian collective seekersinternational and beat-maker jjuwanstockton lead the charge, on a record that celebrates the fusions of many diverse sounds from dub to soul to nostalgic 1980s Japan, as well as many different cultures, and identities.
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