Back catalogue:

Review: It's time to take a trip back to the legendary 1980 production era of Sly & Robbie's Taxi label. By 1980-81, Taxi's stripped-down, heavyweight drum and bass sound ruled the dubplate scene at Channel 1 and while tracks like 'Heart Made of Stone' and 'Black Uhuru's' saw official releases, others like 'Warrior' and 'Rocks and Mountains' remained elusive and only surfaced decades later. 'Don't You Cry' by The Viceroys is one such raw, haunting roots track from that time with a thunderous drum and bass version also cinder. Straight from the dub room at 29 Maxfield Avenue, this long-lost gem is another special delivery.

Review: 17studio double up as both visual designer and indie label and it's this combination that amounts to the roots-radical sonic spectacle we hear here. 'King Of My Castle' is a regnant lyrical musing, hearing a collaborative work with producer and multi-instrumentalist Bob Vito, and with additional vocals and percussion by the band Riciclette, for an impressive meditation on the nature of power and its perverse enjoyments. First produced in 1998 by Wamdue Project, this fresh reggae cover is best remembered as an era-definer, and this cover and Version extends the monarchy's rule by way of bubbling wahs, boxy fills, and owwing basses; simple, clean, effective instruments of force.

Review: This 2xCD set celebrates Dennis Bovell's exceptional talent during the golden years of reggae, from 1977 to 1981, a time when he was also playing a pivotal role linking punk and post-punk to reggae via collaborating with Orange Juice and producing key records such as The Slits' debut Cut. Featuring a mix of major hits and rare tracks, this collection highlights his brilliance as a producer, arranger and pioneer of roots, dub and lovers rock. Not only was he one of the first to blend disco with reggae but he was also important for fusing the disco standard 12" and using for Lovers Rock artists. His use of the format to create dynamic dub edits is a standout element, cementing his legacy in reggae production. Disc 1 includes Errol Dunkley's title track, Marie Pierre's soulful gems and Janet Kay's classic 'Silly Games', which brought lovers rock to mainstream audiences. Tracks like Errol Campbell's 'African Queen', Angelique's 'Cry' and Africa Stone's 'Choose Me' capture the era's emotional depth and Bovell's masterful touch. Disc 2 delves into 12" extended mixes, showing Bovell's innovative fusion of reggae and disco. A lifetime of great music within just two discs.

Review: Mad Professor (Neil Fraser) is renowned worldwide for his dub recordings, captivating live sets showcasing the creativity of dub sound engineers, and his collaborations with both reggae and non-reggae artists alike such as Lee Scratch Perry, Jah Shaka, Sade, The Orb, Massive Attack and Grace Jones. Above all, he is celebrated for his prolific output in the genres of dub, lovers rock, reggae; now this reissued version of this original 1984 release for Ariwa Sounds is sure to turn just as many heads as his originals do. Known to be the yield of the label's first ever collaborative effort - after Fraser set up his South London studio with no prior experience - 'The Early Session' is one of the purest incarnation of the Mad Professor sound we know today and set the tone for the label thereafter.

Review: Cherry Red's Doctor Bird offshoot continues to trawl through the archives of legendary Jamaican label Observer and its' owner and producer-in-chief, Winston Holness AKA Niney The Observer. Having previously focused on the label's 1970s output, they've now turned their attention to the early, where Holness was influential in defining the formative dancehall sound. The first disc here boasts the vocal sides of singles, with Holness and his in-house bands providing a platform for such undoubted talents as Freddie McGregor, Don Carlos, Third World, Yellowman and Sugar Minott. Disc two, meanwhile, is the one for dub heads: an exhaustive collection of instrumental 'riddims' laid down by the Roots Radics and mixed in true 'version' style by Holness.

Review: Having previously delivered a box set dedicated to the early-to-mid 70s singles produced by legendary Jamaican studio don Niney The Observer, Doctor Bird has now moved on to the next stage of his career. This two-disc set focuses on seven-inch singles he produced and released on his Observer label in 1976 and 1977, supplementing vocal cuts with flipside alternate versions and his own 'riddim'-focused takes. It's a fine collection of often hard-to-find Jamaican reggae gems from a golden period in the country's musical culture, with headline-grabbing contributions from such scene staples as Gregory Isaacs, Horace Andy, Clint Eastwood, I-Roy, Big Youth, Junior Delgado and Bobby Ellis.

Review: Jah Upton joins Lloyd Barnes and Prince Douglas at the desk for another must-have Bullwackies dub set, originally released in 1977. The music is drawn from tapes recorded at King Tubby's with the Soul Syndicate band, in 1974-75 (before Wackies' move to New York). Certain tracks were also voiced in JA - like Don Carlos' deadly Prepare Jah Man, available here and nowhere else, over a hallmark rhythm re-run on Wayne Jarrett's Bubble Up album. Other highlights include dubs of Wackies' deep Black Harmony rhythm, Joe Morgan's Basement Session, the Love Joys' I Belong To You (a Barry White homage issued on Versatile 7"), a Chosen Brothers and two great John Clarkes (including a version of In Search Of The Human Race which eclipses the Tafari single); also a dedication to the Chinese restaurant next door in White Plains Road.

Review: Burning Sounds re-issues The Viceroys' original album, complete with comprehensive sleeve notes. Formed in the late 1960s, The Viceroys, featuring Wesley Tinglin, Neville Ingram and Daniel Bernard, became a beloved Jamaican reggae vocal group. This reissue includes contributions from renowned musicians such as bassist Robert 'Robbie' Shakespeare, drummer Carlton 'Carlie' Barrett, and keyboardist Ansel 'Pinkie' Collins. Recorded at Channel One and produced by Phil Pratt, the album features the group's harmonious vocals and catchy melodies. Their hit song 'Heart Made of Stone' gained international acclaim, and their music addressed significant social and political issues of their time. The Viceroys' soulful harmonies and uplifting messages continue to resonate with reggae enthusiasts. This reissue captures the essence of their influential sound.