Albert "Alchemist" Thompson - "Promise Land Version" (3:34)
Review: Albert "Alchemist" Thompson's Promise Land comes courtesy of Freestyle Records and has great appearances on the mic from reggae and dancehall greats Frankie Paul, Joseph Cotton, Prince Malachi and Anthony John. It has never before been released and has had a long maturation period over the last 30 years. Albert Thompson was chief engineer at I&I Sound Recording Studio once it left LA and head to Jamaica and he saw work with greats like Dennis Brown, Bunny Wailer and Gregory Isaacs. He laid down these rhythms in 1991 during some downtime and then added the vocals 16 years later in London when working with talented local and touring Jamaican artists.
Review: The genesis of this album was three soundsmiths getting together in Brother Sound Studio in March 2024. It's a room full of synths and instruments and mics and in there they set about their work with Martin Dread responsible for the composition. What results is a bunch of proper chunky dubs with a very modern production edge. Synths have a clean digital shine that brings a future feel, the toasting though is traditional so brings authenticity and the melodies are perfect for getting lost in after a hefty toke.
Review: The Satta Dub crew have assembled another superb platter and pressed it up to translucent green marbled vinyl and included an insert for good measure. It's a spit that opens up with Daweh Congo's 'Holy Place' which rides on tumbling drums with scattered hits. Yearning vocals up top and natty keys are paired with sultry trumpet notes. A dub dials it all back into the low ends, then Prince Alla's 'Rose' is a work of the same rhythm, by the sounds of it, with soulful vocals and playful horns. Another dub closes out this one in heady fashion.
Prince Alphonso & The Fever - "Malostran-Ska" (2:42)
Junior Dell & The D Lites - "Remember To Forget" (2:51)
Woodfield Rd Allstars - "Beseda Blues" (2:43)
Review: The superb Original Gravity label is back with more OG reggae brilliance and ska classics. This second volume of Ska Fever kicks off with a big stepper from Junior Dell & The D Lites in the form of 'Rude Girl' while Prince Alphonso & The Fever bring big playful brass to 'Malostran-Ska' and Junior Dell & The D Lites then return on the flipside of this 7" with 'Remember To Forget' which picks up the pace and is built on a hardcore rhythm. The legendary Woodfield Rd Allstars shut things down with a more melancholic vibe on 'Beseda Blues.'
Review: The all new Motive label is serving up its second 7" here and it comes in the form of a brand new tune from the great singer and musician Jerry Harris. He is best known for his famous association with the legendary Wackies label and studio and here appearing with a slightly older, more smoky tone than back in the day, he sure knows how to lay down a top line over a nice rumbling dub rhythm. Some twinkling synths add colour and on the flip the whole thing is pulled apart, slowed down and dubbed out with some mad effects.
Paul Maiden & Manwel T - "Unconditional Style" (3:46)
Review: Yi Mas Gan is back with a new and timeless roots 7" that will keep the summer vibes alive even as Autumn begins to bite. On the a-side, this one features J.A. singer Clive Hylton who was recorded by French producer Manwel T as he did his thing on 'Show Some Love.' Empowering warrior leads rise up out of the mix as the trad reggae rhythms roll down low and his impassioned vocals ring out. Flip this one over and you will find Paul Maiden & Manwel T flipping it into a version they call 'Unconditional Style.'
Review: Abendigo introduces a rising star from Jamaica, Abka Kaba, with this powerful new 12". His tune 'Mighty People,' pairs bold, fat-bottomed drums with some classic harmonicas and sleek synths. It is accompanied by two dub mixes from Hermit Dubz and on the flip side, legendary artist Prince Alla presents 'Backstabber,' marking his sixth collaboration with Abendigo Records. This special release includes two dub mixes and is limited to 300 copies on 12" vinyl.
Review: American label Deep Bow makes a notable vinyl debut with this heavyweight 10" featuring King Stanley and Prince Jamo, both voicing over a thunderous riddim crafted by producer Dub Sev?. This roots-driven slab stars with King Stanley's passionate cries over sleek drums with shiny digital synths and neat guitar licks. It stays true to the deep, meditative spirit of sound system culture and becomes much more roomy and spaced out in the hands of Dub Seva. Prince Jamo's 'Joke' has a cleaner vocal and some natty keys, and also gets dubbed out by Dub Seva. A strong introduction from Deep Bow that showcases talent from both sides of the Atlantic.
Prince Mohammed, Joe Gibbs & The Professionals - "Backway" (2:51)
Review: The fruitful relationship between Town & Country and Studio 16 continues once more here with a brilliant 7" packed with real reggae royalty. This double-sided dancehall release from the legendary 70s producer Joe Gibbs features vocals from the one and only Madoo. He is in singjay style on a-side jam 'Backway Mr Landlord' with deep drums and psyched-out guitars that bring the rhythm to life in a vibrant fashion. On the flip, it is the trio of Prince Mohammed, Joe Gibbs & The Professionals who step up and offer their own melon-twisting dub in the form of 'Backway Mr Landlord'.
Review: This laid-back dub 45 offers a seamless blend of positive vibes and deep rhythms. Side-1 features a classic reggae track with a powerful, uplifting message of unity. Mundell's smooth vocals are complemented by a steady, groovy rhythm that captures the essence of roots reggae. Side-2 takes the message to a more instrumental and dub-infused space, with the track being heavily dubbed out, showcasing intricate rhythms, echo effects and atmospheric layers. The dub version allows the music to breathe, emphasizing its meditative and expansive qualities. A perfect pairing for dub and reggae enthusiasts.
Enos McLeod - "Version Aka Last Of Jestering" (2:27)
Review: Augustus Pablo and Enos McLeod were something of a dub dream team back in the heyday of the gene in Jamaica. They produced plenty of great jams together, a few of which are being reissued at the moment. This one is another heavy hitter from the pair. 'Pablo Nuh Jester' pens up with some traditional drum shuffle and natty guitar work. The kicks sit perfectly in the bass while the florid bursts of harmonica are pure vibes. On the B-side, Enos McLeod steps up to rework and further dub out his own rhythmic framework and calls it 'Last Of Jestering.'
Review: Man like Augustus Pablo is revered amongst true dub heads. His ability to lay down killer riddims was second to none back in the day and this one is a classic amongst many. 'Pablo In Red' rides on a tuff rhythm from the mid-seventies that was originally produced by Enos McLeod. It has some enriching harmonics and wobbly low ends. On the flip, McLeod's 'Well Red' is a dubbed-out version with extra sonic spice making it more late night and twisted.
Review: This little 45 is a brilliant dub release that showcases his mastery of the genre. Side-1 features 'Thunder Clapp', a smooth and atmospheric dub version of Bill Withers' 'Ain't No Sunshine'. The track oozes laid-back, reggae-inspired vibes, with Pablo's signature melodica adding depth to the mix. On Side-2, 'Lightning Clapp' takes things up a notch, delivering a tripped-out, raw dub version of the first track. It's a true dub lover's dream, with intricate echo effects, spacey atmospheres and experimental rhythms that push the boundaries of the genre. If you appreciate classic dub experimentation or unique cover versions, check this out.
Review: Sound Of Thunder outta France lands at release number ten here with another gorgeous slice of lovers rock on 45rpm. It features contemporary producers and vocalists Loic Paulin & The SOA offering up A-side single 'Jason White'. At less than three minutes it is the definition of short but sweet but in that time it manages to make its mark with the yearning vocals really hitting home next to nice heat-damaged organ chords and a classic reggae rhythm. On the flip, Mellowmood spins out the sounds via plenty of mixing desk tweaks on his version 'Poor Jason Dub'.
Review: Hope & Faith Records returns with fresh new sounds here featuring the "Standing Tall Riddim," a vital production in an early 70s roots style. This release includes two vocal cuts: 'Love Can Be So Sweet' has swaggering drums and guitar plucks with a lo-fi edge and a raw, pained vocal. 'So Sour Dub' n the flip has some whimsical organic chords and plenty of organic percussion over natty rhythm and tons of echo. Lovely.
Review: Mattias Penselin aka Pensis meets Dub Me Ruff here, a German dub and reggae band made up of Danielle Mommertz, Hauke Wendler, Jan Roper, Markus Grapmeyer and Rolf Saggau. Their work is hugely authentic though and you might not necessarily know this wasn't from the 70s and a legendary suit like the Black Ar. The drums are fulsome and flabby, the hist scattered and the vocals add some crucial spice up top. Both cuts get more contemporary dubs and run through with all manner of percussive twists and turns.
Review: The last album the mighty Lee Scratch Perry recorded before he died was Heaven, freshly released on Burning Sounds and leaving us with a lasting memory of his indelible influence on modern music. To accompany the full-length, the label have picked the versions of two album tracks and given them an airing on a standalone 12", cut nice and loud for the dance. 'Shining Dub' takes up the A side, and 'Shut Up Dub' takes the flip, and both dive deep into the echo chamber style Perry himself helped pioneer so many decades prior.
Lee Scratch Perry - "I Am A Madman" (12" mix) (6:02)
Lee Scratch Perry & Mad Professor - "Madman Dubwise" (6:25)
Review: This limited edition release from the Trojan Records vaults is a true gem for collectors. Featuring Lee 'Scratch' Perry with Mad Professor on the mix, it brings the monumental Madman Dubwise on the B-sideian 80s dub classic that's hard to find. The original Trojan label reproduction adds even more to the allure, making this pressing a must-have for reggae and dub fans. I Am A Madman on the A-side is a perfect showcase of Perry's genius, while the dub version on the flip cements this as a top-tier collector's item.
Review: Is there a more celebrated combination in all of reggae than Lee Perry & The Upsetters? The master producer and his iconic backing band laid down many of the genre's most vital sounds and helped subtly evolve it across the seventies and beyond. This single 'Jungle Lion' came right in the midst of that in 1974. An original 7" will cost you upwards of 500 quid, and that's if you can find one. Here it gets reissued on the young but already well-formed Skank & Groove label and is backed with a version by The Upsetters named 'Freak Out Skank' that gets even more warm, cavernous and dubby.
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