DADAWAH Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Dadawah aka. Lloyd Charmers was one of Jamaica's boldest and most resourceful record producers, testament to which was his standout LP Peace & Love. Originally released as an EP of just four tracks, drawing on the rhythmic hallmarks of the Nyabinghi gatherings of Rastafari, Charmers is heard commanding an ensemble cast of virtuosi, including Willie Lindo on guitar. With its multi-layered, weighty and patriotic breathtakers such as 'Zion Land' and 'Know How You Stand', which blow away with their adept command of space and reverb, the tracks now come backed a whopping 21 dub versions also produced by the man himself - 19 of which have never been before released on CD - the best of his dub output since the mid-1970s.

Review: One of many Studio One-affiliated releases to crop up as of late, Dadawah's 'Peace And Love / Wadadasow' is a rarity few heads can claim to know. A side alias of practising Rastafarian and musician Ras Michael (Michael George Henry), Dadawah ended up his magnum opus despite original intent as a lower-key piece. This one's made up of a weird and wonderful cross-section of styles: wah guitar, plodding bass and the rhythmic chants of his religious music influence of choice, the Nyabhinghi - Rastafarian devotional music combining African drumming and gospel. A classic, reissued whirlwind of laid-back joy.