Review: One of the emblem-bearers of reggae digging in Japan, Ninjapan now turn their hands to two of the foremost Jamaican originators of the genre, Scientist and General TK. Extremely difficult to track down, 'How We Love Reggae Music So' and its corresponding B-side might as well have never before seen a release, only having cropped up in a handful of DJ mixes and unofficial tapes so far. Produced lovingly by the legend Hopeton Brown aka. Scientist on the version, TK's vocals glide with determined confidence over staunch horns and echoic effects, producing only the best of hypnotic effects on this new 7".
Review: CASQUIAT's ability to balance heavy, floor-filling beats with thoughtful, experimental layers is on full show in this new 7" from DATUM. The two cuts push the boundaries of hip-hop and bring in a raw electronic edge. 'The Stopper' is a high-energy cut that collides skittering percussion and intricate rhythms to make for an intense yet hypnotic club vibe. In contrast, OG Ranks takes a deeper, more introspective route with moody undertones, spacious production, and a sharp focus on atmospheric tension. They make for a fine yin and yang and cannot fail to make their mark in the club.
Review: An eagerly awaited repress of DJ Shepdog's 2006 mashup of Damian Marley's 'Welcome To Jamrock' with Dead Prez's 'It's Bigger Than Hip Hop', effortlessly juxtaposing one of contemporary dancehall's most iconic vocals with undeniably one of the fattest basslines ever laid. This iconic pairing is flanked by ultra fun cut 'Sleng Hop' uniting the original Dead Prez acapella with another of the world's most famous basslines- Prince Jammy's Casiotone MT-40 'rock & roll' rhythm... You do the math!
Review: South London reggae mainstay Keith Lawrence dropped duties one back in the early 2020s and it soon became a mini classic on the circuit, which is why it now reappears on a nice coloured 45rpm. 'Dem Too Bad Mind' features vocals from Tippa Irie and rides on a classically-inclined reggae low end with natty chords bringing the colour. On the flip is 'Lion From Brixton Riddim' which rolls a little more smooth but has plenty of vinyl crackle and lo-fi aesthetics adding and aged an authentic feel to the dub.
Review: After his silky-smooth vocal feature on Eva Lazarus' Light As Feather, it was inevitable that Mungo's Hi Fi would pursue a project with London-based pure sing-jay Kiko Bun. Ms. Burnett is an ode to a lady friend of distinction, atop a dreamy major key rhythm whose bass-heavy clarity could have come out of Jamaica's Channel One studio in its glory days.
Dean Fraser & Robert "Dubwise" Browne - "Mister Magic" (4:28)
Review: Here's a proper genre fusion for the dancehall heads. On his latest reissue, Robert 'Dubwise' Browne testifies to over 20 years of hitmaking with a standalone 7" edition of his remix of Ramsey Lewis' 'Sun Goddess', first released on Vortex in 2023. Whereas Lewis' original 70s funk version is a sweet and sunkissed headboard-licker with a simple backbeat, Browne prefers to cant things dubwise, swapping the aforementioned out for a phat dotted stomp. Clock the new pairing with Browne's version of Grover Washington's jazz-funk classic 'Mister Magic'.
Review: 'Born With It' by Mungo's Hi Fi, featuring Aziza Jaye, Gardna, and Eva Lazarus, is a high-energy anthem blending UK Garage and 90s rave vibes with a powerful dose of Drum n Bass. Aziza Jaye's searing vocals, Gardna's dynamic delivery, and Eva Lazarus's fierce dancehall attitude create an explosive party track. On Side-2 'Back in the Dayz', adds nostalgia with a deft rap over rave-infused breaks, sure to evoke memories of old-school rave scenes. This 2024 12" vinyl, eco-friendly and pressed in Scotland, includes unreleased instrumental versions and a dub mix of 'Back in the Dayz', making it essential for summer festivals, clubs and sound system parties.
Review: The still-aptly entitled 'Money Run Tings' is a sought-after classic from East London's King General and Bush Chemists that was originally released in 1996. The original Conscious Sounds 7" has been out of print for nearly 30 years but is now getting a much-anticipated reissue. This version comes with a previously unreleased dub version that offers a fresh take on the standout London dancehall track. Produced by The Bush Chemists in the mid-'90s, it remains a top-tier example of the genre with its stepping beats and stylised vocals still sounding futuristic 30 years on.
Review: Footsie is widely thought of as one of grime's most legendary voices and a legend of the game. From his early collaborations with D Double E as part of Newham Generals to his solo work, his roots in sound system culture run deep having grown up as the son of a system operator. Footsie was heavily influenced by reggae and dub and now runs his father's renowned King Original Sound. Returning to the label is Nottingham's Adam Prescott, who provides a heavy, dubwise riddim for Footsie to showcase his distinctive flow.
Review: The figurative "battle weapon" is a kind of warring sonic heuristic; a dirty, up-your-sleeve musical "tool" made expressly for the MVP DJ to use in times of soundclash-y trouble. The Battle Weapons label know this all too well, and here they welcome new trainee assailant DJ Maars to demo his skills in the colosseum, bridging a fine line of recognisability and productive sample-flippage. 'A Nah Gun Nah Heat' brews Snoop Dogg's 'Drop It Like It's Hot' and Doug E. Fresh's 'La-Di-Da-Di' to delicious acapella effect, whilst 'Feel Like Standing' smashes Ludacris and Marcia Griffiths in an almost fated blend. Why didn't anyone else think of these before?
Review: After racking up millions of streams for hits like 'Jump Up Pon It' and 'Heal Them', Brother Culture is now a reggae and dub icon having been a key figure in the UK scene for decades. His powerful voice and conscious lyrics have earned him a deserving global recognition and now he teams up with Swiss reggae masters The 18th Parallel for 'Ghetto Man,' a hard-hitting anthem of resilience and justice. Their deep roots sound, combined with Brother Culture's commanding delivery, makes for an electrifying track and on the flip, Paolo Baldini DubFiles adds his signature dub touch, making this a sound system anthem that speaks to struggles and strength worldwide.
Review: Polish dub home-brewers Moonshine Recordings have commissioned an exceptional new release here from Bukkha, Dubbing Sun and Burro Banton; 'A1 Sound' really is more than worthy of its pronounced place at the top of the list, thanks to its unique fusion of heavyweight steppers dub production and a hardcore, doubletime beat worthy of any warehouse rave. The track bares an unusual push-pull, and it seamlessly introduces the A3 jungle mix too, whose tempo and pace matches the first two versions' dragged weightiness. But here it's all three artists' productive synergies that shine, the original mix flaunting a restlessly fickle fencing between hardcore techno, brusque rap-jaying and nu system dub, never totally settling on either sound.
Review: Irie Ites is a French label that is back with two more reggae heavyweights and frequent musical sparring partners in the form of Eek-A-Mouse and King Kong. They tackle a relic of the 'Murderer/Hot Milk' rhythm, a production that will take you back to the 80s reggae sound in an instant. 'Musical Ambassador' comes first and is a happy-go-lucky sound with some slow, dubby drums and lazy hits as well as stylised vocals, while the flip from King Kong, 'Money Could A Buy' fleshes it out with more reverb and natty guitar riffs that hang in the air above the cavernous low end.
Review: French label Irie Ites has been busy of late and has put together a great bunch of new versions of classic reggae rhythms and pressed them all up to 45 rpm. This one takes the form of a brand new roots vocal cut over the classic 'Murderer/Hot Milk' rhythm with an instrumental version on the flip from the legendary backing band The Roots Radics. Their take is a more heady and carefully reduced one that allows the rich drums and bass to roll endlessly and hypnotise as they go.
Yeyo Perez - "King Inna Di Ring" (riddim version) (2:44)
Yeyo Perez & Coronel Brown - "Burning In Flames" (3:55)
Yeyo Perez & Coronel Brown - "King Inna Di Ring" (Sax Versiion) (3:32)
Yeyo Perez & Coronel Brown - "King Inna Di Ring" (riddim version) (3:55)
Review: Cool Up Records's latest 12" maxi single features Spanish vocalist Yeyo Perez on two dynamic tracks, each presented in dual versions. 'King inna di Ring' and 'Burning in Flames' is fresh digital reggae that pays homage to traditional Jamaican MCs while infusing authentic new school style. The A-side showcases Perez's commanding vocals over a bass-driven groove, which is reminiscent of classic reggae clashes. Powered by the Casio MT-40 keyboard, it embodies the signature digital-dub sound and on the B-side, 'Burning in Flames' introduces Coronel Brown's smooth chorus, blending lovers' rock with Perez's rugged delivery. Crafted with dub and riddim variations, alongside rich instrumentation, this release exemplifies Cool Up's production prowess.
Review: This all-time classic mid-80s dancehall delight from Tenor Saw is now available on a loud and crisp 12" vinyl. The A-side features the iconic track 'Golden Hen' with its bright synth work and driving rhythms, while the B-side boasts a wicked dub version from Goran Played. In their hands the bassline's truly powerful and deadly impact is turned up to 11 and demands to be played nice and loud on a proper system. This certified banger is a must-have for any dancehall lover and it very much captures the essence of the era.
Review: They might be juvenile but you can't beat a nice loud ganja anthem on a hefty system in the sun. Which makes this new collection of such things from Greensleeves - on nice translucent green wax, no less - utterly unmissable. It features plenty of rootsy tooting-anthems and stoner classics from the dub swagger of 'Pass The Kutchie' to Wayne Smith's darker and more paranoid 'Under The Sleng Teng.' John Holt's 'Police In Helicopter' will always be well received by any crowd and Billy Boyo's 'One Spliff A Day' is a great tune a well as being advice to live by.
La Marimba Del Monte (feat Absalon & Afropacifico) (3:21)
Piel De Piedra (3:44)
Pedacito De Coco (feat La Perla) (3:28)
Negra Soy (feat Monica Castillo & Mary Grueso) (3:20)
Guajiralta (2:59)
Recogela (feat La Perla & Troy Berkley) (3:59)
Viche, Tumbacatre Y Arrechon (feat Absalon Y Afropacifico - version) (4:01)
La Gaita De Las Aves (3:31)
El Mexicano (3:09)
Mariposafro (4:19)
Review: Jungle master Krak In Dub pays homage to Colombia and the rich array of music in the country with his new album, Catleya, which was recorded fully in Bogota. It features a red hot list of all the best current musical talents to be playing in the city and is a wild fusion of beats and Latin-American traditional rhythms and instruments, with elements of reggae, hip-hop, breaks and house sitting pretty next to cumbia and afrobeat, ska and bullerengue. It's a funky, playful and upbeat ride through the world's rhythms and is soaked with plenty of soul and sun.
Review: Given the weight of these cuts, Dubquake is the perfect label for them. They find OBF and Junior Roy link up for some hefty and dancehall inspired dub sounds. The drums are steel plated and marching, the melodic leads are florid and the vocals from Roy are uplifting. The whole of 'Dub Club' has a raw, textural feel then 'Club Dub' gets a little more smoothed out into a traditional warm and pillowy dub sound. Together they make for a high impact 7" designed for loud deployment on big systems.
Review: The Polish-born Dreadsquad is something of a legendary party rocker and reggae mash-up king. He makes a debut here on the Uluru label with a cover and a remix. The A-side is his reggae and ska take on the classic 'Satisfaction' which has the vocals re-sung and the rhythm totally rebuilt with big horns, razor-sharp hi-hats and fat drums. On the flipside is Grammy-nominated Koffee who has brought plenty of her deep cultural roots to her music, specifically on last year's standout album. 'Toast' becomes a swagger ska tune with the original vocals loud and proud.
Review: The newly formed Dreadlionsmusic label out of Austria debuts here with a fresh EP featuring the eponymous producer Dreadlionsmusic. They take charge of two tunes - the first features the mic work of Fitta Warri on 'Full Control' which has fleshy drums wobbling backwards and forwards and natty dub vocals with some fresh and futuristic synth work next to classic chords. Dreadlionsmusic then offers up a dub take, as they also do of the second tune 'Heart & Soul'. The original is another bit of well-made dub steeped in tradition but with fresh production bringing it right up to date.
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