Pirates Press US Vinyl & CDs

Review: The Aggrolites formed in 2002 and brought together two different Los Angeles reggae and ska bands in the Vessels and The Rhythm Doctors. They started as a backing outfit for Derrick Morgan but soon went on to do their own thing, uncoiling this debut album from 2003. It was laid down in just one day, with each track being done in one take and lyrics being dreamt up on the spot. The results are compelling and take in high speed riddims, swaggering dubs and even a cover of a nursery rhyme.

Review: The Liquidators is a streetpunk band from Santa Cruz. Back in the nineties they roamed around the local scene and recorded some tunes that are well worth hearing. This 7" on Pirates Press features two compositions that sit right up there with the best you can expect from this genre. 'Long Time Again' is a lo-fi ska and reggae fusion that swaggers back and forth with 60s guitar riffs and a dusty sense of soul. It's beautiful. 'Soul Steppin' is a much more upbeat and dance floor focussed tune with punchy street soul and another great set of male and female vocals. This particular 45rpm comes with its own comic book to enjoy while you get lost in the music.

Review: New York City ska and reggae institution The Slackers have been doing their do for some 30 odd years now. Their latest release 'Kill You', though, shows no signs of staleness with plenty of fresh and futuristic perspectives. Recorded during the sessions for Don't Let the Sunlight Fool Ya, the A-side here is an epic at over seven minutes, while the B-side features a dub mix of 'Statehouse' from the band's Sunlight long player. It is a tune with a long and winding backstory that first saw it as an updated version of 'Wrongful Suspicion' which the band's frontman Vic Ruggiero co-wrote for Rancid back in the 90s.

Review: Originating in Manhattan in the early nineties, The Slackers have long retained their place as one of the quintessential ska-punk acts, fusing elements of rocksteady, reggae, dub, jazz and punk to incomparable effect. Respected and adored for their highly prolific nature, their 2008 eleventh full-length Self Medication came hot on the heels of the previous year's more faithfully rooted (no pun intended) The Boss Harmony Sessions LP, and re-instilled much of the garage-rocksteady dub-punk inflections that won over listeners more than a decade prior.