KING TUBBY Vinyl & CDs

Review: Du men don't come much more legendary or iconic than King Tubby and Horace Andy, so having them together on one album was always going to result in straight fire. And so it proves on The King Tubby Tapes, a double album of deeply affecting roots and lovers rock first issued on Jet Star Records' 'Charm' imprint. It showcases Dubby's audio skills and Andy's distinctive vocal style while including selections from his 1979 album Pure Ranking and a second album of dub remixes. Session men Robbie Shakespeare, Carlton "Santa" Davis, Tony Chin and Bernard "Touter" Harvey all feature this one.

Review: This coming together of two dub and reggae giants might never have been heard had it not been unearthed in some long-forgotten vaults. Originally recorded at some unknown point in the seventies, it follows their debut album Ital Dub, and later King Tubby Meets The Rockers, and is just as vital. Lead by the trademark harmonica expressions of Pablo, with the contagious rhythms of Tubby, it is a free flowing record that explores a number of different moods and grooves from deep and hazy to more life affirming and direct. As a result, it keeps you utterly locked throughout.

Review: Taken from Jah Thomas' Midnight Rock label archives, this series on Radiation Roots explores a treasure trove of unreleased dubs from the mighty King Tubby's studio. These cuts were all mixed by Tubby himself as well as his equally imperious apprentice, Scientist, so you know you're getting the real deal on this heavyweight collection. Pulled from the early 80s and featuring tough rhythms that chime with the shifting sounds at work in Jamaican music at the time, this is a peerless slab of pressure which will stand any serious selector in good stead at the soundclash.