Juno Recommends Reggae Classics: April 2022

Review: Over the last couple of years, we've been treated to numerous reissues of classic cover versions by Japanese reggae/rocksteady combo Inokasira Rangers, including takes on Nirvana's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit', Pharrell's 'Happy' and New Order's 'Blue Monday'. Here we're treated to another, as the band's 2017 take on Underworld anthem 'Born Slippy' gets a fresh pressing. It's certainly a revolutionary revision, with Keichi Sokabe's surprisingly Karl Hyde-sounding lead vocal rising above a lusciously languid, sub-heavy reggae groove. Over on the flip they take on 'Groove Tube', a 1991 indie-pop-meets-acid house single from Japanese outfit Flipper's Guitar, reframing it as a baggy, glassy-eyed rocksteady number.

Review: Hardly a week seems to go by without the arrival of another essential collection of sounds form Acid Jazz. This one presents a superb album by Nick Manasseh and David Hill's Soul Revivers which was an always ambitious and passionate coming together between the two. It features musicians form across the ages such as modern jazz trumpeter MS. MAURICE (who famously works with Kokoroko And Nubya Garcia), and vocalist Alexia Coley. The record takes us on a trip thorough the moodier end of the reggae spectrum with progressive sounds and innovative new ideas in each cut.

Review: Robert "Dubwise" Browne is a skilled musician who can lay down perfect basslines, lovely keyboard overdubs and excite drum programming. H does all that and more on this super laidback and heartfelt dub for the Japanese label Vortex. 'Tracks of Love' is the sound of a lazy afternoon walk in the park with a new love, without a care in the world and hearts in your eyes. The Balearic guitar solo that rings out midway through is utterly soul melting. The guitar dub makes even more of that aspect of the original.

Review: Kingston Sounds brings together what they think is a comprehensive overview of the Rock Steady sound on this heavy new long player, and we cannot fault it. It calls upon all the well known lynchpins of this Jamaican sound that was so hot when it emerged in the 60s. They include the likes of Alton Ellis, The Rudies, Junior Sooth, Derick Morgan and countless more. Between them they explore the funky and upbeat, the heavy and stoned and the more melodic and romantic. Highlights include the sunny The Imperials tune 'Young Love' and Bobby Kalphat's aptly titled 'Rhythm & Soul.'

Review: Bobby Melody and Singie Singie's Two Uprising Stars was recorded with the Roots Radics band at Channel One studio. It was a classic as soon as it dropped and it has only got more revered over the years as a superb early dancehall album that lay a foundation for the newly emerging sound after the initial reggae revolution. It is an album that has tracks full of space, which allow the hissing hi hats and rumbling drums plenty of room to make their impact, as well as giving the vocals just as much air. This reissue will save you having to track down and pay large sums for an OG so don't sleep.

Review: The Selectors Choice series is all about bring together classic cuts onto 12" wax. The second volume in the series includes releases, remixes and classics that deserve to be repressed and tunes that have never been pressed to vinyl before now. This one focusses on different versions fo the same rhythm with Rasta anthem 'Picture on the Wall' by the Naturalites providing the source material. It's an airy, carefree sound with vocals up top and have drums. The different versions tweak the mixes to bring different things to the fore and all come correct.