Back in stock: Reggae

Review: Stockholm-based multi-instrumentalist and composer Art Longo impresses here with Echowah Island, a new album sure to wind its way into your affections. It was crafted over years in his home studio and is "psychotropical pop" drawing deep inspiration from late 80s music and dub. The album's lush soundscape evokes orange sunsets and ocean breezes and is layered with spring reverb, space echo and wah-wah effects that smooth out the edges as the steady pulse of vintage drum machines moves things on down low. A standout feature is Claudio Jonas, whose ethereal vocals recall classic French femme fatale singers of the 60s. Her poetic, kaleidoscopic lyrics add to a nostalgic dream world that gently bends reality and makes his both escapist and thought-provoking.

Review: Jamaican rocksteady grandstander Keeling Beckford enjoyed a near three-decade hiatus after the release of his second album Stay Tuned, which would have seemed to round out his LPs game for good (though his usual remit of 7"s would carry on strong). So it of course came as a surprise that he might release a brand new record as recently as 2019, on the very same New York reggae and early hip-hop label 12 Star, which Beckford helped found way back in 1978. The label was also graced by Horace Andy and Delroy Wilson over the years. Try Me now hears a reissue through his own Keeling Records sublabel: here, Beckford's stylistic rocksteady rollicks take the form of loving lullabies, where all the tracks seem dedicated to the smitten-sounding voice heard through the wire in the opening sequence. Angelic, intumescent, cloud nine rocksteady, from a real and enduring Kingston great.

Review: An attention-evader even for the most ardent dub reggae fan, Black Jade's Contempo remains a mystery decades after its release. In the act of reissuing the LP, Solid Roots still only partly lift the veil: first set to tape between 1975 and 1976, the album was recorded by a still shadowy cadre of Notting Hill residents, who are said to have freely distributed it during Carnival. Their continued anonymity may form part of a decided effort to mythologise, though it almost certainly also reflects a niche facet of deeper-shades dub. Authenticity abounds: we hear preemptions of the hiss-floored undulations of Chain Reaction in this record as much as we do the busy instrumental imbroglios of Horace Andy, with the manly bass-charges of 'Virulence' polarising the sensitive subby coos of 'Love, Love, Love'.

Review: During last year's lockdown in Italy, contemporary dub producer Paolo Baldini was invited by Pressure Sounds to work on Bunny Lee's archive of recordings he made with singer Barry Brown during the mid-to-late 1970s. The results can now be heard on Praises, a set which adds a little more dub-wise spice to classic roots reggae cuts while retaining much of Lee's production and instrumentation. Brown's vocals - effortlessly soulful, hugely evocative and partially improvised - are simply superb, while Baldini's handling of Lee's riddims and musical arrangements is masterful. As a result, the assembled dubs, versions and vocal reworks sound faithful to the period in which they were recorded while adding subtle new touches and 21st century-ready low-end weight.

Review: For Those Who Understand is a collection of raw dubs as played on the Boom Shacka Lacka Sound System between 1991 and 1995. Eight of the best have been collated for this hard hitting long player which is often spoken about as something of a classic of the genre. Each of the tracks has been twisted, tweaked and laden with plenty of effects so that synths squeal and you can really feel the bass in your chest. Some rumble on like a weighty elephant, others strike you over the head like a hammer, but the impact either way is inedible.

Review: This genuinely organic album, Godtet, recorded live in Studios 301, Alexandria, Sydney in 2016 is repressed for the first time in six years on the La Sape label. It celebrates the meditative potency of the (just over or under) two-minute track that begins, like 'Arp' or 'Hahahhaha', as ambient exploratory rhythmical waves leading into sounds to come. Like 'Hekkaz' where Tully Ryan and Dominic Kirk's percussive poundings and slappings pleasurably alert the listener to the more luxurious melodic mixture of Andrew Bruce's keys with Godrigues' lamenting guitar, playing harmonious echoey expressive beats. Here, one of the many stand out tracks 'Ensueo' is only matched by the even more groovy and halting 'Comedy', bassline by Jan Bangma. Recorded and produced by Godriguez and Jack Prest who also mixed and mastered this conceptual adventure into the world of rhythm and reverb where John Martyn meets Alfa Mist, Godtet lovingly foregrounds each band member's singularity, culminating in the exceptional self-titled final piece. A must for those who love a late-night listening session over and over again.

Review: King Tubby's Rastafari Dub was mixed at the celebrated studio wizard's own famous self-titled studio and finds him working on tunes by the Striker Lee-produced likes of Wayne Jarret's 'Satta Dread', several tunes from Johnny Clarkes such as 'Crazy Baldhead' and 'Peace & Love In The Ghetto' as well as Leroy Smart's 'No Love' and 'Trying To Wreck Up My Life'. Add in further gold such as Black Uhuru's 'Sun Is Shining' and you have one of the many crucial and essential albums from King Tubby that needs to be in your collection.

Review: At just 21 years old, Koffee has already made an impressive mark and set the re cord for being the youngest ever artists to win a Grammy for Best Reggae Album. The trailblazing reggae and dance hall artists now makes another step up with an album that transcends genre with plenty of fresh and innovative sounds that will resonate far and wide. Lead single 'Pull Up' has already been played har don the Radio with Clara Amalfo making it her Hottest Record of the Week. It is one of many gems here next to musical messages of hope, positivity and authenticity.

Review: Twelve originals from Lone Ranger aka. Anthony Waldron, the Jamaican reggae DJ, first released in 1982. His sixth album, but nonetheless his first to be released on the reggae label Studio One (now reissued on the same label), this is a star piece of early Afrofuturist dub, equivocating badness behind the mics and tape delays with a Cold War-style space race. From 'Automatic' to 'Three Mile Shank', Lone Ranger guides us into the great cosmic vacuum for a meticulous blastoff.

Review: 'You've Changed' was a transcontinental creation that was first released in 1986 on the Sally B label. It melds Jamaican roots with Canadian electronic enhancements at the legendary Channel One Recording Studio. Jamaican reggae don Horace Martin drew inspiration from greats like Dennis Brown, and Horace Andy, and comedy legends like Richard Pryor and Charlie Chaplin and has an eclectic career spans albums like Watermelon Man from 1985 and this one, the avant-garde gem that arrives now on Arabusta. It's a busy and digitally infused reggae sound with elements of dance hall and plenty of catchy rhythms which all lead to international success, performances across 24 countries and having more than 400 songs aired on 9000 radio stations around the world.

Review: FatCat Records' acquisition of Breadminster County Council's 'Partnership of the Perpetual Musket' songbook brings forth a fantastic fusion of dub reggae and traditional folk in 'Perpetual Musket.' Under the guidance of Elijah Minnelli, the project boasts stellar performances by reggae luminaries like Little Roy, Shumba Youth, Earl Sixteen, and Joe Yorke. Each track breathes new life into classic folk songs, with standout renditions like Little Roy's emotive take on 'Vine & Fig Tree' and Shumba Youth's energetic interpretation of 'A Soulin'.' Earl Sixteen's poignant delivery on 'Lifeboat Mona' and Joe Yorke's haunting falsetto on 'The Wind & The Rain' further elevate the album's emotional depth. The accompanying live dub versions add another layer of intrigue, showcasing Minnelli's skillful production. With its seamless blend of genres and thought-provoking themes, Perpetual Musket is a great example to the power of music in storytelling and cultural expression.

Review: Melodica maestro Augustus Pablo released a number of influential albums during a golden period in the 1970s, though little quite as ground-breaking and far-sighted as 1976's "King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown". Mixed by King Tubby, it was one of the first great dub albums and is still one of the finest examples of the stripped-back, rhythm-heavy style around. If you don't already own a copy, we'd heartily recommend picking up this reissue. Musically, the tracks sound as warm, weighty and spacious as ever - all heavy Robbie Shakespear/Family Man Barrett bass, idiosyncratic drumming and killer melodica/Clavinet/organ action from Pablo - while the screen-printed artwork is a delight.

Review: Back in 1995, Lee "Scratch" Perry swung by Mad Professor's Ariwa Sounds studio in South East London to add his vocals to a fresh batch of raw, sub-heavy jungle riddims by Dougie Digital and Juggler. The results were released, alongside a quartet of more traditional dub versions built by Mad Professor using the same vocals, on an album called "Super Ape Inna Jungle". As this reissue proves, it was a potent set. Mad Professor's dubs are of course as weighty, echo-laden and inspired as ever, but it's the quality of the crunchy, razor-sharp jungle cuts that most impresses. These may not be considered jungle classics, but in our eyes, they should be considered as such.

Review: From a young age, Delroy Wilson's exceptional talent was evident, blending the styles of US soul singers like Bill Withers into the Jamaican rocksteady and lovers rock scenes. His classic Studio 1 album, originally released in 1969, is brimming with soulful reggae tunes, including a funky rendition of 'Broadway.' This album perfectly captures the feel-good essence of ska, rocksteady, and bluebeat, infused with soul and heart. The seamless connection between swing, soul, and traditional island rhythms is palpable, making every song a heartfelt sing-along experience. As Delroy Wilson transitioned smoothly from ska into rocksteady, this album showcases his growth as one of reggae's most celebrated vocalists from the early 60s through the 90s. Highlights include 'Can't Stand It,' 'I Love the Way You Walk', 'Money Love', 'Your Love is Amazing' and the timeless 'Don't Know.' Despite the chaotic nature of his discography, this album stands out for fans of soulful, funky rhythms, offering a concise glimpse into Wilson's enduring musical legacy.

Review: Amy Winehouse had many talents even beyond the jazz sounds she was so famous for. The troubled soul had a live magnetism like few others and tapped into the greats while adding her own smoky style to whatever she sang. Next to her well-known albums such as Back to Black, she also took part in several recording sessions in which she covered some of her favourite ska and reggae tracks. Now a selection of them have been put together for this new album The Ska & Reggae Collection: Studio on 2Tone. The likes of Alton Ellis and Jools Holland feature and help make this a great reminder of what a talent she was.