Review to follow shortly…

Sweetly mystical steppers dubs of Om's 'Adviatic Songs' from Alpha & Omega. Spectral traces of the original vocal and guitar licks are propelled by massively swollen subs in two heaving dub version, one vocal, one strickly in dub.

**Class 14-track collection documenting Lee Perry's influential times at West Indies Records Limited** "This period at WIRL saw some inspired work from Perry. 'Run For Cover' was another musical blow to a previous employer, Coxonne Dodd and featured the Sensations on backing vocals and Lynn Taitt's guitar picking skills. 'People Funny Boy' was a massive hit for Perry going on to sell over 60,000 copies. Joe Gibbs would be at the end of this musical attack. Perry had felt Joe Gibbs had turned his back on him, after he had provided hits for groups like, The Pioneers amongst others. The song w… Read more

"Limited edition pressing of classic King Tubby recordings from the vaults of Tamoki-Wambesi-Dove. Written arranged and produced by Roy Anthony Cousins and recorded between 1966 and 1979. Features a who's who of Reggae greats including Aston "Family Man" Barrett, Sly and Robbie, Ansell Collins, Earl Lindo, Tommy McCook, Prince Far I, I Roy and The Royals amongst many others. Tracklist: Water House Road Block / The Roots Prophet And The Mix / Balmagie Jam Rock / From Channel 1 To King Tubbys Studio / Curfew In Tower Hill / Pen Wood Road Gang War / Valrie Crown The King / Saturday Dub Cut … Read more

Reissue of party-ready dancehall dub case produced by Chris Cracknell and Henry "Junjo" Lawes. Features the digi-infected dread dub of 'Can't Take Another World War'.

"Niney the Observer's first dub album 'Dubbing With The Observer' was cut at King Tubby's Studio with Tubby himself reworking Niney's rhythms and adding his magic as only he could do. Niney The Observer (b. Winston Holness, 1951 Montego Bay, Jamaica) by the early 70's had forged a successful working partnership with singer Dennis Brown cutting some of his best songs adding a more rootsy element to his singers sound. Songs like 'Westbound Train', 'No More Will I Roam', 'I Am the Conqueror' to name but a few. Also cutting a hit for Ken Boothe 'Silver Words' and two other si… Read more

A super dapper Barrington Levy adorns the cover of this fine compilation spanning his early, golden years. 'Sweet Reggae Music' collects some all time classics including a grip of Henry 'Junjo' Lawes produce including 'Bounty Hunter', 21 Girls Salute' and 'Hammer', 'longside George Phang production, 'Praise His Name', and Barrington's own digital riddim 'Pon Your Toe', the natty synth licks of 'Mini Bus' by calabash, and the legendary 'Here I Come' by Jah Screw.

**Class collection of sun-blessed early ska reggae** "The Ethiopians are one of the great vocal groups to come out of Jamaica. Singing songs of life and times as they found them, themes that resonated with the people of the Island that made them such a treasured group. Lenard Dillon, the founding member of the Ethiopians, began his singing career at Clement ‘Coxonne’ Dodd’s Studio One. Initially he recorded under the name of Jack Sparrow, and backed by the Wailers, cutting ‘Ice Water’ and ‘Suffering In The Land’. Under The Wailers encouragement, he went on to form his own vocal group. Re… Read more

Wrongtom and Mr. Benn rework Cutty Ranks and General Levy for the party. Following his work with Roots Manuva, Wrongtom dubs out General Levy's anthemic 'Incredible', and Mr. Benn give Cutty Ranks 'As You See It' a tropical, melodica infused bashment rework.

All-time rocksteady reggae classic and lesser known version. 'Blood and Fire' on the front face, 'Brimstone and Fire' on the back!

Review to follow shortly…

**18 rarities circa '60s and '70s drawn from Studio One's offshoot label, Ironside, starring Prince Jazzbo, Don Drummond, Dennis Alcapone, Johnny Osbourne, Cornel Campbell and more beside. Heavyweight double-vinyl edition in deluxe gatefold sleeve with full sleeve notes** "Soul Jazz Records continues to dig deeper into the vaults of the mighty Studio One, the most important record label in the history of Reggae music. Founded by legendary producer Clement 'Sir Coxsone' Dodd and famously dubbed 'the university of Reggae' by Chris Blackwell, Studio One is the Reggae equivalent of… Read more

**Numbered edition of 500 pressed to 180g vinyl** 'Militant Dread' is a 1977 roots reggae rarity produced and arranged by Bunny "Striker" Lee. This faithful reissue features all the original cuts - classic Striker riddims voiced by Ras Murray - including the killer styles of 'Natty Dread Ital Rocker', the pendulous bass and lungful vibes of 'Love Jah Jah Children' and the devotional 'Glory To The Holy One Creation'. 

**Ace compilation with some killah early and classic Niney vocals** "‘Blood and Fire’was originally a 200 copy release on his Destroyer label, but switched to his Observer label, where it would go on to sell over 30,000 copies in Jamaica and be named song of the year in 1971. Alongside this classic and our opening track on this compilation, are other killer cuts by the Observer. ‘Message To The Ungodly’cut at Randy’s Studio 17 in 1972 featured not only Lloyd Charmers and Dobby Dobson on harmonies but the great Ken Boothe. ‘Bring The Couchie Come’ had Mr Dennis Brown on backing… Read more

**Classic 1981 Lovers Rock album reissued on double vinyl with original artwork and download code redeemable from the label** "Louisa 'Markswoman' Mark's debut album, Breakout, is a landmark in the history of reggae music and British Lovers Rock. In 1978, Mark was voted top female vocalist in the influential Black Echoes magazine. A few years earlier, her debut single, 'Caught You In A Lie', produced by legendary UK soundsystem operator Lloyd Coxsone, and featuring music by the great DEnnis Bovell launched a new style of reggae in Britain, Lovers Rock. Her debut album brought together some … Read more

**Heavyweight 7 x 7" boxset with art insert and download code redeemable from the label. Includes 14 tracks produced by Clive Chin at Randy's for The Wailers Band, Augustus Pablo, Black Uhuru, Hortense Ellis, and more** "From its original inception in 1967, Randy's Studio rapidly turned into the primary destination for a host of Jamaica's upcoming producers and musicians. The unique combination of vision and skill shared by the studio's resident producer-engineers Clive Chin and Errol Thompson, assisted by a small group of peerless house musicians, encouraged the creation of aud… Read more

The man also operating as DJ Sole turns Jazzanova's 'I Human' starring Detroit's Paul Randolph into a laid-back, horn-filled Dub number.

"Mungo's Hi Fi come again with the "Don't Let Them" riddim on three 7-inch slates of 45rpm power. Kenny Knots returns with the title track ‘Don't Let Them’ on the re-licked instrumental. Studio One veteran Earl Sixteen passes through, calling for oneness and unity in ‘People’, with Wild Life on the flip taunting Babylon to ‘Poze Up’. Omar Perry brings the teachings with his ‘Guidency’ vocal and Marina P cuts through with her soulful reflection in ‘Troubles And Worries’"

**Original, previously unreleased Bristol reggae with hints of jazz from 1980** "An influential figure on the Bristol reggae scene since the 1970s, Bunny Marrett has been shamefully neglected on record with just two tracks on the A side of a 1981 Shoc Wave 12" his sole output, although his compositions have fared somewhat better having been recorded and released by both Black Roots and Delroy Ogilvie. Bristol Archive Record's June 18th release of Bunny's 1986 recorded album "I'm Free," should go some way to making up for that oversight. As a bonus, Bunny is accompanied by legendary Bristol ban… Read more

"Soul Jazz continue their journey into the vaults of the mighty Studio One with this next instalment, featuring everything from classic ska and rocksteady to the deepest roots, heaviest dub and dancehall. As ever, the album includes incredible reggae artists such as The Heptones, Ken Boothe, The Skatalites, Johnny Osbourne and Wailing Souls, all of whom launched their careers at Studio One, 13 Brentford Road, under the guidance of Clement 'Sir Coxsone' Dodd. This album features some of the most in-demand and collectible Studio One tracks over the years, all digitally remastered. Th… Read more

"To celebrate Jamaica’s 50 Years of Independance 1962-2012, Kingston Sounds have put together a set of releases that cover the musical styles that reggae mutated into through it’s history. Roots Reggae looks at a period in Reggae history that followed the two year supremacy of Rocksteady, that began to tail off around the end of 1968. The Reggae sound many say did not come initially from the chop of the gui- tar but from the stabs from the Keyboard/Organ that produced that jeggae/jerking feel. The Roots element can be heard in the heartfelt lyrics and the stories told in the songs. So sit back and enjoy some Roots Reggae straight from the heart of Jamaica….."

**Soul Jazz strike summer gold with an expertly-curated primer on the quintessentially UK sound of lovers rock reggae. Volume 1 features evergreens such as Winston Curtis' 'Be Thankful For What You've Got' and Sandra Reid's 'Don't Tell Me Tell Her' among 13 cherry picked goodies. Double gatefold LP with 24-page colour booklet jammed with archival photos, interviews and features on leading lights such as Carroll Thompson, Dennis Bovell and Louisa Mark** "Harmony, Melody and Style tells the story of lovers rock - from its… Read more

**Soul Jazz strike summer gold with an expertly-curated primer on the quintessentially UK sound of lovers rock reggae. Volume 2 stars twelve cherry-picked goodies from Christine White, Jean Adebambo, Full Wood, Trevor Hartley, Blood Sisters, Yvonne Archer, The Cool Notes, Legato, Candy Mckenzie Wendy Walker, The Sadonians** "Harmony, Melody and Style tells the story of lovers rock - from its soundsystem beginnings, its commercial explosion at the start of the 1980s and its underground continuance into the next decade as… Read more

Cool Digi-Dub business from Bristol. A-side Rudey Lee rides squashed bass with 'Emotion', backed by an 'Energetic Version'. B-side catches Solo Banton on 'Are You Ready' backed with instrumental.

"Towards the end of 1965, some say due to the extreme heatwave that was hitting the Island, the people that followed the Sound System Dances demanded a slower beat so they could still move and groove to the all night musical affairs. So the jerky SKA swing was slowed down to a steady beat that also allowed the songs cut at this time to shine through. So sit back and enjoy the tunes that rocked the Island between 1966-1968 the ROCK- STEADY Sound that hit the town...... To celebrate Jamaica's 50 Years of Independance 1962-2012. We have put together a set of releases that cover the musical styles that reggae mutated into through it's history..."

Reissue of seminal, definitive UK Roots plate starring the mellifluous Sister Rasheda on productions by Jah Shaka Music's The Disciples. Originally released in 1992 'Only Jah Worthy' balances Rasheda's poignant, spiritual vocal against rippling drums, real and synthesized, with flashing stabs and finely tuned bass excitement. Flipside's 'Give Jah Praise' is more driving, under pressure of ricocheting snares and stepping subs, but again with those celestial vocals and sweetened pipes. Both dubs are immense, too. Not to be missed!

Smoked-out version excursion for one of JA's most righteous and long-standing vocal groups. It's the Dub partner to Kingston Sounds' 2006 CD 'Feast', rendering 12 tracks from the original alongside three bonus CD tracks. Unfortunately it appears to be a secret who's on mixing duties, but nevertheless, they've resulted in one fine set of stripped-down and spacious Dub with nuff horns and choice vocal snippets. Check for the steppin' overhaul of 'The River Beng Come Down' here as 'Beng Come Down Dub', the spiritual headiness of 'Citizien Of The World' or 'Citizen Dub', and the heavy, heavy praise of ''Heaven Rejoice' transformed as 'Heaven Dub'.

Back with a 3rd volume, Bristol Archive Records compile 8 sweet treats from their home city's famed and deeply rooted Reggae scene circa '80s. 7 of those tracks are previously unreleased, and all together provide a great overview of the diversity of ideas and styles that were bubbling away in 1980s Bristol. Highlights have to be Bunny Marrett's bluesy jazz ace 'I'm Free', Joshua Moses' casio-starring stepper 'Stick It Up', a rocksteady digit-dub from Popsy Curious called 'Chant Down Bobby Rome' and Cool Runnings' blue bayside ace 'Playhouse'.

Kingston Sound document the roots of Dancehall through the productions of Black Solidarity aka producer Ossie Thomas. An early adopter of the drum machine, Ossie worked with a stack of names such as Triston Palmer, Robert French, Papa Levi, Puddy Roots, Early B, Tony Tuff and Josey Wales on his signature slow and heavy style. Some killer early digi nuggets to be found here like Michael Palmer's 'String Up The Sound System', Ashanti Waugh's 'Crime Act' and Josey Wales' steppin' ace 'Let Go The Rhythm'.

The magical, mystical sound of Augustus Pablo on a fine collection of riddims cut at Duke Reid's Treasure Isle studio. Wielding his legendary melodica, Pablo lends his transporting style to fourteen (nineteen on CD) smoky, downbeat dubs with classic style and pattern.