Review: Timeless Roots is a brilliant collaboration between reggae legend Horace Andy and renowned bassist Jah Wobble. Known for his ethereal vocals, Andy breathes new life into classics like Stevie Wonder's 'Superstition' and The Beatles' 'Come Together', while also revisiting his own iconic tracks like 'Skylarking' and 'Natty Dread A Weh She Want.' Wobble, former PiL bassist, Orb collaborator as well as a solo artist of some renown, blends reggae, modern dub and world music to create a rich sonic landscape that perfectly complements Andy's distinctive voice. The album stands out not only for its reinterpretation of well-known songs but also for its innovative production, which maintains the essence of roots reggae while introducing contemporary elements.
Wobble's deep bass grooves provide a solid foundation, allowing Andy's vocals to soar, particularly on new takes of his classics. This collaboration is a seamless fusion of two musical worlds, making Timeless Roots one of the standout reggae albums of the yearia true match made in musical heaven.
Dennis Bovell Dub Band - "Suffrah Dub" (Sufferer Sound Disco 45)
Pebbles - "Positive Vibrations"
Cosmic Idren - "Compelled"
Dennis Curtis - "Come With Me"
Matumbi - "Dub Planet"
Afrcian Stone - "Run Rasta Run"
Matumbi - "Fire Dub"
Errol Campbell - "Jah Man"
Young Lions - "Take Dub"
Dennis Bovell & Janet Kay - "Game Of Dubs"
Afrcian Stone - "Dub Choice"
Angelique - "Cry"
DB At The Controls - "Crying"
Review: Dennis Bovell's Sufferer Sounds compilation highlights a pivotal period in his prolific and diverse career, focusing on his work from 1976 to 1980. Best known for traversing reggae, dub, lovers rock, post-punk and disco, Bovell's production genius is evident throughout the album. Featuring deep cuts and lesser-known versions, the compilation includes works from his time with the Jah Sufferer Sound System, showcasing Bovell's ability to craft dynamic, emotionally resonant music. The CD version offers 15 tracks, including a rare dub mix of Janet Kay's iconic hit 'Silly Games', lovingly restored and remastered at Dubplates & Mastering in Berlin. This version features Bovell's intricate arrangements with a pristine sound, allowing the listener to fully appreciate the depth of his production. Accompanied by track-by-track notes written by Bovell himself, Sufferer Sounds offers fascinating insights into the creation of these tracks, bringing listeners closer to the mind of a reggae pioneer. This carefully sequenced collection showcases Bovell's versatility across reggae, dub, and lovers rock, making it an essential listen.
Review: Hollie Cook's 2022 album Happy Hour was widely hailed as a standout entry in the UK singer's accomplished career to date, and now she's doubled down on her dub instincts by going back in with producer Ben McKone for a proper echo chamber revision which lets different ingredients in the album shine in a whole new, delay-soaked light. As well as stripping down some of the tracks and reworking the fundamentals, there's also space for some new ingredients from Rosie Turton on 'Golden Dub', Josh Skints and Jah9 on 'Kush Dub' and Kiko Bun on 'Dubbing On'.
Know Yourself (CD2: Clsoe Encounters Of The Third World (1978))
Conspiring
Beware
Dangerous & Deadly
Shouldn’t Do That
Creation Fever
Natty Conscience Free
Joyful Noise
Rebel Vibration (CD3: Rebel Vibrations (1979))
Jungle Affair
Hunger & Strife
Ian Smith Rock (dub)
Diverse Doctor
Mountain Melody
Black Lion Dub
Doctor’s Remedy
Starship Africa (Section 1 - CD4: Starship Africa (1980))
Starship Africa (Section 2)
Starship Africa (Section 3)
Starship Africa (Section 4)
Starship Africa (Section 5)
Space Movement (Section 1)
Space Movement (Section 2)
Space Movement (Section 3)
Space Movement (Section 4)
Creation Rock
Give Me Power
Original Power
The Dope (CD5: Psychotic Jonkanoo (1981))
African Space
Chatti Mouth/Threat To Creation
Highest Degree
Mother Don’t Cry
Yuk Up
Drum Talk
Independent Man
Creation Rebel
Monkey Grinds The Organ
Swiftly (The Right One) (CD6: Hostile Environment (2023))
Stonebridge Warrior
Under Pressure
That’s More Like It
Jubilee Clock
This Thinking Feeling
Whatever It Takes
Salutation Gardens
Crown Hill Road
The Peoples’ Sound (Tribute To Daddy Vego)
Off The Spectrum
Review: A comprehensive reissue campaign of the key albums by Creation Rebel, the original On-U Sound house band. The series encompasses out of print and much in demand UK dub reggae albums from the late 1970s and early 1980s, all highlighting crucial early production work from the mixing desk of Adrian Sherwood. The band's post-reformation, 2023 album Hostile Environment, is thrown in for good measure. This mammoth 6xCD edition houses five dozen tracks of indelibly experimental dub and reggae tracks, many of which tend towards the spacier and more cosmically-intoned ends of the dub tradition, which was above alive and kicking at the height of the genre's fame from the late 1970s onwards, and spearheaded by none other than group members Clifton Morrison, Eric 'Fish' Clarke and more.
Burning Drums (CD2: Fire Burning Charmers In dub 1973-1976)
Mother Mary
Brand New Version
Question Sign
Now You Can See Me Again
I'm A Changed Man
Let Go (instrumental)
Last Date Version
Gathering Version
I'm Falling In Love With You Dub
Long Dub
Honey Version
After Midnight
Dub Waiting
Dub Slave
Dub Don't Cry
Roots Of Africa
My Rhythm
Just A Dream Version
Natural Thing
Love For Dub
Devoted Skank
Review: Dadawah aka. Lloyd Charmers was one of Jamaica's boldest and most resourceful record producers, testament to which was his standout LP Peace & Love. Originally released as an EP of just four tracks, drawing on the rhythmic hallmarks of the Nyabinghi gatherings of Rastafari, Charmers is heard commanding an ensemble cast of virtuosi, including Willie Lindo on guitar. With its multi-layered, weighty and patriotic breathtakers such as 'Zion Land' and 'Know How You Stand', which blow away with their adept command of space and reverb, the tracks now come backed a whopping 21 dub versions also produced by the man himself - 19 of which have never been before released on CD - the best of his dub output since the mid-1970s.
Review: Japan's Dub Store label has put together this superb reproduction of the highly sought-after 1969 reggae album The Sensational Derrick Harriott Sings Jamaica Reggae. Arriving on CD with an obi-strip, the popular record comes with ten now proven to be timeless tracks that feature plenty of the most renowned Jamaican session musicians. These include the likes of Val Bennett, Winston Wright, and Gladstone Anderson, who all put in fine performances and traverse plenty of heavy rolling reggae sounds, horn-led ska cuts and plenty in between in organic and enthralling fashion.
Review: Following their relocation to the United States in the early 1980s, roots reggae pioneers Israel Vibration found a home on Real Authentic Sound, the label helmed by Washington D.C-based entrepreneur and producer Doctor Dread (real name Gary Himelfarb). He took over behind the desk, producing and mixing a string of albums in the late 80s and '90s - including this freshly remastered gem from 1995. In keeping with the reggae style of the time, the sound blends digital and acoustic instrumentation - synths, drum machines, guitar and bass, basically - with the band's effortlessly soulful vocals sitting atop. Highlights are plentiful, from sun-soaked opener 'Mr Consular Man' and the organ-splashed shuffler 'Rebel For Real', to fan favourite 'Rude Boy Shufflin' and the conscious 'Struggling Youth'.
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.
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