Juno Recommends Reggae Classics: May 2024

Review: Before I Die have been putting out some high-grade leftfield delights from respected operators like Bernardino Femminelli, Tungusku and most recently Sewell & The Gong. Now it's the turn of Klangkollektor, indulging a collection of hazy dub excursions which sit somewhere near Balearic splendour, piano-charged melancholy and isolation tank meditation. In the dub tradition the approach is consistent and evenly paced, but it's certainly not aiming for any kind of typical Jamaican sound. Instead, there's a gentle introspection to the melodic content which gels perfectly with the spacious approach to mixing, unfurling across four sides of wax for an album you can just melt into.

Review: Donnoya Drake's rendition of 'Be My Baby' beautifully captures the essence of the classic by Ronnie Spectre and The Ronettes, infusing it with soulful vocals and a pop sensibility that pays homage to the original while adding her own flair. Her rendition is a classy interpretation that showcases her great singing skills. On the flip side, the Woodfield Rd Allstars deliver a ska classic with 'Mash Down De Bamboo Bed.' Released under the UK label run by Neil Anderson, known for his love of various music genres including soul, funk, blues, r&b, Latin and ska, this track exudes authenticity and skillful musicianship. Anderson's dedication to recreating the sound and vibe of the original era shines through, making it a standout release on his label.

Review: Dub & Sound International returns for a third time and this one welcomes legendary Jamaican trombonist Vin Gordon who is rightly 'Digging The Vibes.' The title track kicks off and pairs his playful patterns with a Dubsetters rhythm and some nice sunny and soothing melodies from Trommie aka Don Drummond Jr.. After the horn-led, organic and unhurried instrumental comes a dub that is fleshed out with a little more echo and is a sublime bit of roots. A second version adds another perspective to the original and we already look forward to hearing more from this project.

Review: Here comes a 2024 repress of this superb dub excursion on nice 140g vinyl with all-new sleeve art. The original compilation marked the debut of the series that delves into instrumental dub versions of elusive and out-of-print gems from reggae, disco, boogie, and house. Kicking off with Glen Adams & Finesse's Island Disco rendition of Marvin Gaye's timeless hit, the A2 spotlights a rare UK boogie and Brit-funk mix of Tippa Irie's 'Panic Panic', with Tippa's personal involvement securing the license. Belgium's Special Occasion brings the '80s vibe with 'Yes I Do' to close the A-side. On the B side, Carol Williams presents the Special Club Dub mix of 'Can't Get Away', originally a limited promo from 1983, while Jura Soundsystem offers a Dubby Edit of La Palace De Beaute's 'Sin', emphasising delay over vocals.

Review: In a landscape of musical innovation, Leisure Dub emerges as a collaborative force led by Alex Storrer and Paul Byrne. Their inaugural release, Weekend Waiting, showcases the fusion of forward-thinking r&b and dubby electronics. Featuring the vocals of Kat and guitar of Simo from the London-based collective Armanious, the A-side exudes soulful melodies and ethereal soundscapes. Contrasting this, the B-side presents a 'jeep beat remix' that delves into the realm of dub and chill, creating an introspective and atmospheric sonic experience. With the promise of future collaborations, Leisure Dub establishes itself as a project poised to explore the boundaries of contemporary electronic music.

Review: While Craig Bratley might be better known for his housier, disco-tinged output on labels like Tsuba, Instruments of Rapture and Futureboogie, on this release for new label Ashigaru he's indulging his love of digi-dub and dancehall by laying down the tuffest of riddims. 'Rocker' is a beast all by itself on the B-side 'Ashigaru Dub', but the deejay turn from Brother Culture on the mic for the full-fat version is what you want for a proper dose of dancehall swagger. True to the culture but also giving it a modern lick, it's a soundsystem heavyweight with one eye on carnival season.

Review: This is an essential drop for dub lovers this Record Store Day. 'Dubbing At King Tubby's Vol. 1 comes on nice red vinyl and has been fully remastered as well as being resequenced for this release. It is packed with 22 jams that made it one of the bestselling compilations of the 1990s. It showcases the already well-revered talents of King Tubby, Prince Jammy, Scientist, Phillip Smart, and Pat Kelly, all of whom work their magic at the mixing desk on a series of iconic dubs. Each one is rooted in the works of Bunny Lee and they all bring the drum and bass to the fore and show why the studio has such an impact on Jamaican music history.

Review: This comprehensive selection brings fourteen bangers (no small fort-tune!) from L'Entourloop to our ears. This duo of hip-hop beatmakers and DJs has boasted an original and unifying sound from day dot, combining two musical confluent cousins we know work all two well: hip-hop and reggae. Now bringing several of their classics as well as a crock of original gems to an unusual but, for that reason, welcome 4x7" bundle for your listening pleasure, that's slated, in the artists' own words, to transform your evenings into a 'cheerful mess'.

Review: From Then 'Til Now marks Roots Architects' debut full-length album, a monumental project bringing together over 50 of Jamaica's most iconic session musicians. Spanning from the birth of reggae in the late 1960s to the present day, the album is a celebration of the unsung heroes of reggae music: the rhythm builders or Roots Architects. Conceived by Swiss keyboardist and producer Mathias Liengme, the album is the culmination of years of dedication to honoring Jamaica's musical legacy. Liengme's journey began in 2013 with "The Inspirators" project, leading to his immersion in Kingston's studio scene and the eventual formation of Roots Architects. Recorded in Kingston studios over February and March 2017, the album features a stellar lineup of veteran musicians aged 60 to 85, including legends like Robbie Lyn, Fil Callender, and Dalton Browne. Together, these Roots Architects revive the spirit of reggae, creating nine instrumental tracks that pay homage to their enduring legacy and timeless artistry.

Review: Original Gravity rediscover a classic by Woodfield Rd. Allstars, who again prove their mastery over the art of stylistic emulation via this 7" record, 'Hippy Boys Shuffle'. The so far exclusively Original Gravity-releasing band (and/or production outfit led by one Neil Anderson) here lay down two new soul/reggae/bossa nova cuts. 'Hippy Boys Shuffle' is an 'as retro as it' gets womper of a track replete with Hammonds, saturated twang-strums and tremolo'ing hooks, all amounting to a fruitful yet bodily mod stew. B-side 'Twenty-Four-Seven' opens with a "can't you feel the music getting hotter?" sample - we sure can - before launching into a divine reinterpretation for the ages.

Review: Jamaican reggae supergroup Black Uhuru, captured at the height of their powers. 1982 was a fertile but latent moment for reggae; allegedly, only three radio stations dedicated to the genre existed in the US: Doug Wendt in San Francisco, Roger Steffens in LA, and Lance Linares in Santa Cruz. Perhaps it was this relative lack of attention that spurred the lattermost radio host to facilitate a Black Uhuru live show at Soledad Prison, SC, owing to his desire to help inmates acquire professional skills that could be used after release. It's striking, really, as it's almost unheard of to imagine music existing among the occupations that inmates might consider nowadays - but such were the ways back then. To Lance's surprise, his idea was enthusiastically accepted and the group performed in front of a full house at Soledad Prison. Ending on the rivetingly percussive 'Sensimilla' - the video-recorded version can be seen online - this is a worthy historical record of a timeless, inspiring and empathic performance.

Review: On limited 7" comes the latest one from Jah Free, 'Rod Of Correction', a reissued version of the 7" deep cut first released on Deep Root in 1998. This time coming through with an entirely different dub version on the B, we're nonetheless still thrown straight back into Free's inimitable wall of sound, echoic toastings and phaseout snares, as we are smote by Free's sceptre of justice once again, almost 15 years later.

Review: This cult roots reggae album first came back in 1979 on the crucial Ital Music label and later laden don CD in 1998 via RAS. It is one of the many gems of its era that was recorded at the legendary Channel One and was mixed at King Tubby studios by Scientist himself. It features the now iconic and original Roots Radics band with Flabba Holt on bass, Style Scott on drums, Bingi Bunny and Jah Sowell Tempo on guitar, Winston Wright on keyboards, Bongo Herman on percussion, Glaston Anderson on piano, and, of course, Peter Broggs on vocals. This magical combination of engineers and musicians made for one of the best roots records you could ever wish to hear and this reissue of it is hugely welcome, especially as it has been remastered, and presented on 180g vinyl.

Review: Fresh new 7" action from Tad Jamaica here with a signature tune from Icho Candy. 'Captain Selassie I was first released on the Jwyanza label back in 1983 and ever since then its legacy and popularity have grown so that it is now a hugely sought-after cut. The deeply compelling original with its moody horns and odes to the Rasta legend invites you to sink right into the earth drums and bass. On the flip, the cult Roots Radics Band serves up their own dub version with some mad studio deck trickery, melon-melting reverb and more playful horns.