Back catalogue: Roots/Lovers Rock

Review: This 2xCD set celebrates Dennis Bovell's exceptional talent during the golden years of reggae, from 1977 to 1981, a time when he was also playing a pivotal role linking punk and post-punk to reggae via collaborating with Orange Juice and producing key records such as The Slits' debut Cut. Featuring a mix of major hits and rare tracks, this collection highlights his brilliance as a producer, arranger and pioneer of roots, dub and lovers rock. Not only was he one of the first to blend disco with reggae but he was also important for fusing the disco standard 12" and using for Lovers Rock artists. His use of the format to create dynamic dub edits is a standout element, cementing his legacy in reggae production. Disc 1 includes Errol Dunkley's title track, Marie Pierre's soulful gems and Janet Kay's classic 'Silly Games', which brought lovers rock to mainstream audiences. Tracks like Errol Campbell's 'African Queen', Angelique's 'Cry' and Africa Stone's 'Choose Me' capture the era's emotional depth and Bovell's masterful touch. Disc 2 delves into 12" extended mixes, showing Bovell's innovative fusion of reggae and disco. A lifetime of great music within just two discs.

Review: J Nile is the son of reggae legend Gregory Isaacs and his vocal work is almost as powerful as that of his great father. To prove it once more he presents his powerful new album Tired which manages another sound both fresh and new but also a descendant of roots greats who have gone before, not least his dad. The authentic tunes feature collaborations with some of reggae's finest musicians including Sly Dunbar, Vin Gordon, Michael "Megahbass" Fletcher and Alan Weekes, With deep roots and a modern production edge in things like the shiny synth work, Tired blends conscious lyrics and soulful rhythms that capture the spirit of classic reggae. There are plenty of sunny horns and swaggering low ends with substance, soul and timeless grooves never far away.

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'.

Review: .Six years after their acclaimed Ten Thousand Lions, roots artist Ras Teo and Spanish producer Roberto Sanchez reunite for Soul Rebel, a bold new project blending Teo's conscious lyrics with vintage rocksteady riddims. Originally sparked in 2018 during sessions at A-Lone Ark Muzik Studio, the album grew from two standout tracks into a full-length record which is unexpected yet seamless. Between them, the pair evoke classic Jamaican duos with buttery smooth harmonies and persuade drums and guitars that mesh perfectly with the bass. It's a case of all killer and no filler here wherever you listen.

Review: Reggae legend U Brown returns with a powerful new album, a testament to his enduring legacy and unwavering commitment to roots music. The offering showcases U Brown's inimitable voice and socially conscious lyrics, addressing contemporary issues with wisdom and conviction. Backed by a stellar cast of musicians, including the Roots Radics and Irie Ites All Stars, the album delivers a potent dose of classic reggae sounds, reminiscent of 70s roots albums. Guest appearances from reggae luminaries like Eek A Mouse, Cornell Campbell, and Frankie Paul add further depth and excitement to this already impressive collection. With its infectious rhythms, conscious lyrics, and masterful production, 'Still Chanting Rub A Dub' is a must-have for any fan of roots reggae and dub.

Review: Back in 2019, Soul Jazz marked Record Store Day by releasing a rather tidy seven-inch box set of classic Studio One reggae jams, the simply titled Showcase 45. Six years on, they've decided to reissue the collection on CD in expanded, 18-track form (the original edition featured 10 tracks stretched across five 45s). It provides a perfect introduction to the Studio One universe, showcasing cuts from such masters of reggae, rocksteady and ska as Freddie McGregor ('Beat Down Babylon'), Bob Marley and the Wailers (the original version of the later re-recorded 'One Love'), Jackie Mitoo (the rhythm & blues-tinged, Hammond organ-rich 'Mixing'), the Heptones (the horn-heavy shuffle of 'How Can I Leave You'), Horace Andy (the cheerful-sounding 'Miami Blue') and the Skatalites (bona-fide dancefloor gem 'Sudden Destruction').

Review: The Irie Ites label, founded by the French production collective of the same name, has long been one of the international reggae scene's leading lights - an impression only strengthened by the Le Mans-based stable's latest annual compilation. Comprising a mixture of 2024 label highlights and previously unheard cuts, the set offers a range of quality conscious and roots cuts (as well as a few curveballs such as the reggae/hip-hop fusion of Anthony B hook-up 'Rub-A-Dub (Stop That Sound Riddim)') featuring such global stars as Eek-a-Mouse, Sly & Robbie, Linval Thompson, Solo Banton, Screwdriver and Frankie Paul. To top it all off, crew member Jericho d'Irie Ites serves up a quintet of quality dub versions to get soundsystems rattling and dancefloors shaking.