New releases last four weeks: Reggae

Review: This first-ever CD anthology of Culture's earliest singles captures the trio in their purest, most incendiary form. Formed in 1976 by lead singer Joseph Hill, with Albert Walker and Roy Dayes, the Jamaican group emerged under the name The African Disciples before becoming Culture and signing with Joe Gibbsione of Kingston's most revered producers. What followed was a run of revolutionary 7"s and 12"s, including the seismic 'Two Sevens Clash', whose apocalyptic prophecy shook the reggae landscape. These recordingsinow collected in full, dub sides and allichart the group's 1977 to 1981 run with Gibbs, a period widely regarded as their peak. Tracks like 'Zion Gate' and 'See Dem a Come' show their power not just as writers of militant roots reggae, but as spiritual messengers, blending dread prophecy with hypnotic riddims. Even in dub form, these versions retain urgency and weight, anchored by Hill's unshakeable vocal tone and Gibbs's rich, bass-forward production. Later work with Sonia Pottinger would push their sound further afield, but what's here is raw, righteous and definitive. Eight tracks make their CD debut, finally doing justice to an era of singles that shaped both Culture's legacy and the wider trajectory of roots reggae itself.

Review: This exciting new compilation is a richly layered celebration of reggae's instrumental foundations. The second chapter in the Roots Architects project, this dub album gathers over 50 of Jamaica's most revered session musicians to breathe new life into rhythms rooted in reggae's golden era. Produced by Swiss keyboardist Mathias Liengme and dubbed by Roberto Sanchez, the record is a journey into the sonic textures of Kingston's legendary studios during the late 70s. Each track pulses with the timeless craftsmanship of players like Lloyd Parks, Fil Callender and Earl "Chinna" Smith. The dub treatments are both spacious and inventive, recalling the spiritual haze and echo-drenched brilliance of King Tubby and Lee Scratch Perry at their peak. Sanchez handles the desk with deep respect and balances fidelity with creativity. From Dub 'Til Now is a historical tribute of reggae's enduring history.

Review: Doctor Bird prescribe a new 2xCD anthology for the auralgics among fans of early UK reggae, bringing together for the first time on CD four pioneering albums from Creole Music Ltd, incorporated in May 1964 as chief outputter of prime British reggae. Bruce White and Tony Cousins took the helm, and Creole quickly became a key (and melodica) player in Britain's reggae scene. Their initial success came with The Hippy Boys' The Good, The Bad & The Upsetters, recorded on tour with Lee Perry; working with Trojan Records and eventually launching their own label, Rhino, Creole struck gold with Bruce Ruffin's 'Mad About You', helping clarify the UK reggae sound of the early 70s, and which comes rendered again here in clearest tones.