KEITH HUDSON

Review: The superb 'Still Water' by the dark prince of reggae Keith Hudson is a brilliantly psychedelic and soul-tinged classic. The legendary producer put it out in 1964 and it now gets its first ever standalone release. The flip side dub 'Depth Charge' comes from the same sessions and same album, Pick A Dub. The rhythms were crafted by Lee Scratch Perry's band The Upsetters as well as the Wailers rhythm section, Barrett Brothers, Augustus Pablo and Earl Chinn Smith and make for a fine take on the original by the Four Tops.

Review: First released in the UK by Tottenham-based Atra Records in 1974, The Black Breast Has Produced Her Best Flesh of My Skin Blood By Blood has long been considered one of the edgiest roots albums of the period and a must-have for serious reggae collectors. The album resulted in its creator, the sadly departed Keith Hudson, being dubbed "the dark prince of reggae". Listening back to this welcome reissue, it's easy to see why. For starters, the lyrical content is highly politically charged and righteous, while Hudson's weighty musical arrangements are far more trippy, hazy and dimly lit than those found on most roots reggae records of the period. This edition also includes three additional tracks not found on the original release, plus exhaustive sleeve notes from Hudson biographer Vincent Ellis.

Review: Keith Hudson's Nuh Skin Up is the dub companion to his 1979 vocal album, From One Extreme to Another, and is often talked about in hugely hushed tones. It is well removed from what you might expect of a record record in Jamaican during that time and two lead cuts for it are presented here. Swampy, earthy dub is the order of the day on "Nuh-uh Skin Up" with wiry synths extended off into space. It's futuristic still today, and the flip is an even slower, more spaced out dub with tape hiss, distant pad and gently riffs all taking you to another head space entirely.