Juno Recommends Reggae Classics: November 2022

Review: Inokashira Rangers are world-renowned for their abilities in covering some of the world's best-known songs in the modes of ska and reggae, with versions of 'Smells Like Teen Spirit', 'Creep' and 'I'm Not In Love', all laid to sweet 7", dominating stores in recent years. Now the Japanese covertones throw a curveball, for once reworking some honoured dance music cuts. 808 State's 'Pacific State' and Derrick May's 'Strings Of Life' get a thorough skinhead reggae re-examining.

Review: Inokashira Rangers are kwon around the world as a legendary group of Hammond-heavy reggae masters with a fine knack for laying down big cover versions. Their take on 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' was recently reissued to great acclaim recently and now we get two more gems. First is Radiohead's 'Creep' which has haunting leads and echoing pads capturing the freaky vibe of the original. There is a more laidback vibe on the flip with 'I'm Not In Love' which has noodling synths and lazy drum loops sinking you in deep.

Review: It's hard to ever fault a compilation Soul Jazz puts out, no matter the subject in question. This one focusses on the women of the legendary reggae studio Studio One and has been hard to find for a while. Now it gets a welcome reissue on CD, cassette and, as here, limited edition and very special translucent yellow vinyl. It features plenty of gorgeous cuts that cover a wide spectrum of reggae nuance and artists such as The Soulettes, Claudette McLean and Marcia Griffiths. Highlights come thick and fast as this one is sure to keep you warm all through winter.

Review: With a storied history stretching right back to the mid-1990s, Reggae Disco Rockers are one of Japan's longest-serving reggae and rocksteady bands. While they're best-known for their original songs, they've delivered some killer cover versions over the years - including 2021's sun-splashed reggae re-imagining of Frankie Knuckles' classic house track 'The Whistle Song'. This seven-inch features another: the band's immersive, loved-up, super-sweet lover's rock-meets-Balearic reggae take on Neil Young classic 'Harvest Moon', featuring some suitably weary, emotive lead vocals from Marter. Flower Records regulars Slowly provide a dreamy and dubbed out take on the flip, as you'd expect given their output in recent times.

Review: This Japanese import on Vortex Records offers a brilliant disco-reggae version of a classic tune by Dean Fraser & Robert "Dubwise" Browne. 'Mister Magic' is a mid-paced chugger with oodles of reverb and bass so funky it will tie you in knots. The acoustic guitar melodies are warm and slide up and down the scale and big horns add flesh and fun. On the flip it is dubbed out to the max, with endless hissing hi-hat tails and mind-melting bass but the same sense of playful and bubbling funk. A real scorcher for sure.

Review: As any record digger will know, the Japanese absolutely love to cover classic British tunes in their own reggae and rocksteady style. There is a number of celebrated acts and labels that do so and see we have A Klass serving up Sticko's version of a legendary tune by Mancunian wonder brothers Oasis. Their take on 'Wonderwall' has freshly reusing lyrics that don't quite have the sneer of the original but they are related. The drums are fleshy, rolling, and lazy. It's just as likely to get a big reaction as the version everyone knows and loves. Flip it over for a fat dub. Mad for it.

Review: Another Studio One classic reissued by Rock A Shaka. Ken Boothe's 'Can't You See' goes hand-in-hand with The Gaylads' 'Let's Fall In Love'. Both are rocksteady rarities to die for, and belong together on this Japanese 45s reissue.

Review: Yet another Studio One classic. Willie Williams was one of many artists to feature on Soul Jazz's 'Studio One Soul' series, which documented the throughline between reggae and soul in Jamaica. 'No One Can Stop Us Now' is a dreamy and wall-of-soundy slice of goodness from the mournful crooner, documenting the Jamaican dub vocalist's master plan. The song is a paean for anti-populist motivation - despite the naysayers who sit and criticise, no-one's gonna stop us now.

Review: Version two in what has now become a series of LPs: 'GBL Sound System' is a full-on dub and reggae re-rendering of soundtrack themes from nearly every Studio Ghibli film - from 'My Neighbour Totoro', to 'Nausicaa', to 'Princess Mononoke' - courtesy of a mysterious troupe known only as GBL Sound System. Production comes courtesy of Dubforce's Ippei Tatsuyama and features vocals from artist Kyoko Abe, making for ear-piquing foray into Japanese dub reworks.

Review: J.J. Johnson became an acclaimed talent after working on several best-selling rock steady and proto-reggae 45s by the likes of Lee 'Scratch' Perry, the Rulers, Carl Dawkins and the Kingstonians. His productions had never before been collected together until this compilation from Trojan Records in 1969. It showed the reggae master's new and fresh take on the tried and tested sound and was dominated by tunes from well-known and frequent hit-makers the Ethiopians. The likes of Roy Shirley and the J.J. All Stars also feature and are taken from 1968 to 1972.