Juno Recommends Roots / Lovers Rock: July 2022

Review: Hollie Cook's new Happy Hour album has been previewed with lead single 'Full Moon Baby' which came with a great new video hot with her backing band, General Roots. It is a lush and soulful roots sound that is indicative of the wider albums sound overall. It is lyrically inspired by new life, the moon, friends who have recently had babies and lots of love and hope. As such it has a tender feel, with airy and uplifting vocals that warm you right to your core. This album reasserts Hollie as a queen of modern day lovers rock with her lushly harmonic sound.

Review: Sax player Prince Lincoln Thompson and his Royal Rasses - Keith Perkins (aka Cap) and Clinton Hall (aka Johnny Kool) - joined forces for this one in 1979. It's a definitive roots and reggae album with perfectly horizontal sound and deep cut grooves into which you can sink over and over again. The lyrics touch on standard reggae fair - love, jah, pain - and are effortlessly smooth and seductive over the organic, jumbled rhythms, The reissue has extensive sleeve notes and comes on yellow vinyl with engineering and mixing at Harry J. Studio.

Review: Pressure Sounds latest essential reissue breathes new life into Yabby You and the Prophets' brilliant 1975 album Conquering Lion, an early roots reggae gem that has long been a favourite of knowledgeable reggae heads. The first record naturally showcases the original EP, offering us a chance to savour such classics as 'Run Come Rally', the intoxicating and pitched-down brilliance of 'Conquering Lion' and the shoulder-swinging skank of 'Jah Love'. The second record, meanwhile, gathers together rare dubs, versions and alternate takes not featured on the original LP. It's almost worth buying the reissue for this alone; 'Tubby's Vengeance', 'Anti Christ Rock' and 'Warning (Dub)', in particular, are spectacularly good.

Review: Hollie Cook's superb new album Happy Hour sees the modern day lovers rock star really mature her sound and come good on everything she has promised before now. She has a happy, feel good and lush singing style that has, since the 70s, become a British reggae signature and it is laid bare here for all to enjoy. Her lyrics are also hugely personal and really invite you in deep to her world with her General Roots band members Ben Mckone and Luke Allwood, and executive producer Youth, all in fine form.

Review: Much loved roots and dub outfit The Congos are often first come to via this seminal album, Heart of the Congos. It's one all collectors have on their racks and that's why it keeps on getting reissued. It's a brilliantly organic and authentic sound with the opening tune 'Fisherman' amongst the best - the falsetto vocals, the lush harmonies, the rolling rhythms - they are irresistible on a warm day. The rest of the record remains just as high on quality, with, of course, the brilliant drums and congas at the heart of each track, but the lyrical work not far behind.

Review: The Happy People label has been grafting hard this year on some crucial reissues. After an edit of Joy Division's most iconic and enduring hit, 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' comes this limited edition pressing of Joe Yorke & The Eastonian Singers 'Judgement Tree' backed with Eeyun Purkins's 'Drayman's Special.' The a-side is a hypnotic and exotic snake-charming dub with lay grooves and lush organ sounds. The flip is a slow, stoned and zoned out dub with plenty of head noodling effects. Super stuff.