Back catalogue: All genres

Review: This third volume of instrumentals continues the faultless Isle of Jura label's deep dive into dub versions and beyond. Side one takes in references from UK street soul and reggae and features two late-'80s tracks by Howard Hill with machine-led rhythms, rudeboy reggae skank and soulful pads. Protek's 'I Love to Dance With You' is a proto-house gem featured in a Jura Soundsystem mix and here it gets a loving re-edit by The Nightlark. Side B includes an instrumental-driven track with spacey FX from The Cool Notes' and Ilija Rudman's 'Dub 4 Love' which is a knowing nod to acid house's golden era.

Review: Mastermind Computer Style is a collection of ten unreleased digi riddims from Copenhagen's Maffi crew, reimagined in 3D by Disrupt for 2024. Named after a key Firehouse mixtape series, this album features raw, minimalist tracks created in Propellerhead Reason between 2006 and 2009. Many of these beats were staples of early Jahtari live shows but have never appeared on vinyl before. Highlights include the synth-driven 'Morkt Igen' and 'Another Lara,' a Disco Dub version of Evelyn King's 'I'm in Love,' along with unique tracks like 'Skudduel' and 'Jon Jovi,' a twist on Solo Banton's 'Talk To Me.' This album offers a nostalgic yet futuristic cyber dancehall experience.

Review: This essential reissue presents a rare collection of dub instrumental reggae tracks recorded by Tommy McCook (who you may know as the sax man from super ska outfit The Skatalites) and Bobby Ellis (who played the trumpet for dub legends The Upsetters) in 1977. Originally licensed to Grove Music, this still remarkable album features renowned musicians such as Sly and Robbie, Ansel Collins on organ, Clinton Fearon from The Gladiators on lead guitar, and Bernard Harvey of The Wailers on piano. The recordings took place at Channel One and were mixed at King Tubby Studio and every single tune cuts deep and with great authenticity.

Review: Elijah Minnelli is a noted mixologist and aspiring travel agent but here collaborates with four reggae vocalists to reinterpret traditional and folk songs. Jamaican legend Little Roy brings warmth to the anti-war hymn 'Vine and Fig Tree' then Shumba Youth revives the traditional ballad 'A' Soulin'' by energising it with dancehall rhythms. Roots reggae icon Earl Sixteen infuses a poignant 1959 disaster tale with deep emotion and Bristol's Joe Yorke offers a haunting rendition of Shakespeare's 'The Wind & The Rain.' Each track is paired with a live dub version for fresh instrumental takes on these reimagined classics.

Review: Noel Phillips aka. Echo Minott opens up the Mango Tree Showcase with a rallying cry to conquer Babylon. Such a claim encapsulates the vibe of this record, one of several to grace and immortalise the Dub Master Clash project: a 2016 concept that saw and heard several dub producers "battle it out", so to speak. A solid friendship was thus born between the Jamaican and the young Clermont-Ferrand producers; and from these so-called "reverb and echo clashes" came the first 12" maxi of the series, 'This World Is Inna Mess'. You don't hear that one here, though: instead, the Dub Shepherds have since met with Echo Minott, who greeted them at the Bat Records studio with a further bagful of dubs and roots from the time - all of which make up the Mango Tree showcase.

Review: Junior Murvin's Bad Man Possee is a quintessential early Eighties dub reggae album, originally released in 1982. This reissue, pressed on translucent yellow 180 gram audiophile vinyl, arrives to quench the thirst of rare dub record diggers everywhere clamouring for a copy. Featuring the renowned Dread at the Controls studio musicians, the Roots Radics Band, the album delivers hypnotic tracks that complement the standout title track. 'Guitar' is a haunting homage to Murvin's first guitar, gliding effortlessly over a captivating rhythm. Murvin's versatility shines through as he navigates the poignant 'Never Fall in Love' and the politically charged 'Rebellion,' maintaining a consistently high musical quality. His distinctive doo-wop-inspired falsetto nods to r&b traditions while embracing elements of ska, rocksteady, and dub all of which now come as a limited edition of 750 numbered translucent yellow vinyl.. The album concludes with the remarkable 'Man Is the Fire.'

Review: Label affiliates Mytron and Zongamin make a combined return to the ever-on-point Canadian stable Multi Kulti, delivering an extended selection of typically off-kilter, genre-bending sonic mastery. In what appears to be a match made in the leftfield heavens, the duo join forces to explore dance-ish music's outer reaches, blending tribal motifs with 8-bit sampling and all manner of wonkiness. From the blissful bells of Conjunction With Reality to the bass-heavy throb of GHX, there is unsurprisingly plenty to savour here. Opening cut '08932168' blends enchanting lead melodies with rolling polyrhythms and dubbed-out effects before the equatorial percussion of 'Calliope Omniglot' makes way for the wiggy atmospherics of the collection's title track. Highly recommended.

Review: Youthie and Macca Dread redefine excellence with their latest album Gecko Tones on Youthie Records which builds on previous albums The Roots Explorers and Nomad Skank. This consistency isn't stagnation but a subtle evolution that remains high-caliber. Juliette Bourdeix aka Youthie is classically trained on trumpet and infuses each note with soul while also skilfully integrating flute and accordion. The album's diverse instrumentation, which draws from global influences takes you on a world trip with strong Eastern Europe sounds. Macca Dread's analogue productions deliver dynamic, crisp sounds that defy criticism and make this a wonderful reggae outing.