Linval Thompson

Review: This double CD set draws together some of the most lauded, late 1970s productions from Linval Thompson, a roots, dub and dancehall stalwart whose music - and the artists he worked for - was championed by Trojan Records. On CD one you'll find two key albums: fine 1977 solo set "I Love Marijuana", whose dub-wise roots rhythms were laid down by a backing band including Wailers member Aston "Family Man" Barrett and Sly & Robbie, and the much more dubbed-out and intoxicatingly heavy "African Princess" (1978) by leading Jamaican toaster Big Joe. Disc two boasts the dub/early dancehall fusion of Trinity's similarly inclined 1979 classic "Rock In The Ghetto" as well as eight rare (and exceptionally good) extended mixes plucked from various Thompson-produced releases.

Review: Linval Thompson is one of the most notable voices and producers of the dub world and now he proudly serves up a set full of his own classic creations that touch on definitive roots sounds across 12 red hot tracks. All the greats feature from their heyday in the 70s and 80s, with Linval appearing next to giants like Horace Silver, Freddie McKay, Junior Delgado, Cedric Myton and more. Linval produced all of these classics himself while two previously unreleased songs by Horace Andy and U Brown, help make this an essential purchase. You don't often get such a cult collection of top artists together on one varied but vital selection, so don't sleep.

Review: On its' original 1981 release, Space Invaders was credited to mixer Scientist, rather than producers Linval Thompson and Mickie 'Roots' Scott. This deluxe, expanded reissue attempts to put the record straight. The first disc offers up a re-mastered version of the original vinyl edition, with the Scientist dubbing out the Channel One Studio recordings of Thompson, Scott, and legendary session players the Roots Radic Band at King Tubby's studio. It remains a near-perfect dub classic, delivering the perfect balance between stripped-back, speaker-shaking riddims and rich Jamaican musicality. Intriguingly, disc two showcases the previously recorded (and released) vocal versions that the Scientist was given to work with.