New releases last eight weeks: Roots/Lovers Rock

Review: Over the last four years, Idren Natural's Dubolution-produced 'Jah Garden' - a steppers-powered roots/digi-dub fusion cut featuring a superb lead vocal - has been a dubplate special in Inidica Dubs' DJ sets. It's fitting then that they've finally decided to release it on their own label, with the killer original mix being joined by a trio of tasty dubs. Dubolution's own dub-style version is faithfully weighty and skeletal, while wisely emphasizing his own jazzy guitar licks, while Indica Dubs' flipside revisions are equally as potent. The 'Garden Dubplate Mix' is a punchy, full-throttle dancefloor dub workout, while the 'Raw Dub Mix' sounds like one of Mad Professor's wilder, heavier offerings.

Review: Back in May 2021, Edinburgh's Athens Of The North served up the first volume of this immediately classic series. That one sold out in quick fashion - like, to be honest, most of the stuff this label puts out - and bow comes a second volume which is just as hot. Once again the focus is on pulling together the lovers rock covers the label has put out previously. It kicks off with a super take on the stone cold classic that is 'Just The Two Of Us' while Sylvia Tella's 'You Might Need Somebody' is another standout with its Balearic guitars and slow and sensuous grooves.