Roots/Lovers Rock charts

Review: Noel Phillips aka. Echo Minott opens up the Mango Tree Showcase with a rallying cry to conquer Babylon. Such a claim encapsulates the vibe of this record, one of several to grace and immortalise the Dub Master Clash project: a 2016 concept that saw and heard several dub producers "battle it out", so to speak. A solid friendship was thus born between the Jamaican and the young Clermont-Ferrand producers; and from these so-called "reverb and echo clashes" came the first 12" maxi of the series, 'This World Is Inna Mess'. You don't hear that one here, though: instead, the Dub Shepherds have since met with Echo Minott, who greeted them at the Bat Records studio with a further bagful of dubs and roots from the time - all of which make up the Mango Tree showcase.

Review: The third volume of the Strike Out Series on Bat features Emanuel and the Bionites taking on an Ikadub riddim and delivering an outstanding performance. Following their previous successful releases with Pinnacle Sound, Emanuel again showcases his talent on the dynamic Ikadub riddim and turns out something perfect for playing loud on sound systems everywhere. With 'Rumours,' Marcus I, a prolific songwriter and skilled singer, finds hit potential by crafting a powerful chorus from some new dubs. All five of these cuts have anthem potential and demand to be heard outdoors in the sunshine.