Prince Alphonso & The Fever - "Malostran-Ska" (2:42)
Junior Dell & The D Lites - "Remember To Forget" (2:51)
Woodfield Rd Allstars - "Beseda Blues" (2:43)
Review: The superb Original Gravity label is back with more OG reggae brilliance and ska classics. This second volume of Ska Fever kicks off with a big stepper from Junior Dell & The D Lites in the form of 'Rude Girl' while Prince Alphonso & The Fever bring big playful brass to 'Malostran-Ska' and Junior Dell & The D Lites then return on the flipside of this 7" with 'Remember To Forget' which picks up the pace and is built on a hardcore rhythm. The legendary Woodfield Rd Allstars shut things down with a more melancholic vibe on 'Beseda Blues.'
Junior Dell & The D-lites - "Just Can't Get Enough" (3:21)
Prince Alphonso & The Fever - "The Prince Of Port Antonio" (2:52)
Review: There are few better combos in reggae than Junior Dell & The D-Lites and Prince Alphonso & The Fever, and they are mainstays of the Original Gravity label. this endless treasure trove of timeless sounds turns up another fine double sider here in which Junior Dell's soulful vocals shine over The D-Lites' rich, vintage ska rhythms and rolling groove 'Just Can't Get Enough'. On the flip side, 'The Prince of Port Antonio' is a lively instrumental blending jazz-infused brass with a deep reggae swing. Both tracks nod to classic Jamaican sounds while keeping things fresh.
Prince Mohammed, Joe Gibbs & The Professionals - "Backway" (2:51)
Review: The fruitful relationship between Town & Country and Studio 16 continues once more here with a brilliant 7" packed with real reggae royalty. This double-sided dancehall release from the legendary 70s producer Joe Gibbs features vocals from the one and only Madoo. He is in singjay style on a-side jam 'Backway Mr Landlord' with deep drums and psyched-out guitars that bring the rhythm to life in a vibrant fashion. On the flip, it is the trio of Prince Mohammed, Joe Gibbs & The Professionals who step up and offer their own melon-twisting dub in the form of 'Backway Mr Landlord'.
Enos McLeod - "Version Aka Last Of Jestering" (2:27)
Review: Augustus Pablo and Enos McLeod were something of a dub dream team back in the heyday of the gene in Jamaica. They produced plenty of great jams together, a few of which are being reissued at the moment. This one is another heavy hitter from the pair. 'Pablo Nuh Jester' pens up with some traditional drum shuffle and natty guitar work. The kicks sit perfectly in the bass while the florid bursts of harmonica are pure vibes. On the B-side, Enos McLeod steps up to rework and further dub out his own rhythmic framework and calls it 'Last Of Jestering.'
Review: Man like Augustus Pablo is revered amongst true dub heads. His ability to lay down killer riddims was second to none back in the day and this one is a classic amongst many. 'Pablo In Red' rides on a tuff rhythm from the mid-seventies that was originally produced by Enos McLeod. It has some enriching harmonics and wobbly low ends. On the flip, McLeod's 'Well Red' is a dubbed-out version with extra sonic spice making it more late night and twisted.
Review: The Pressure Beat crew throw it back to the heyday of roots reggae here with a superb pair of tunes from 1969. One of these in original for will cost you a few quid so it's nice to have good sounding copies on fresh wax available once more. Ken Parker's A-side cut 'It's Alright' is short at under three minutes but boy does it hit a super sweet spot with his delicate falsetto vocal over rickety roots low ends and rolling, warming bass. On the flip, things get more upbeat and energetic with some raw horn work on Johnny Moore & The Cobbs's 'One Love' with its off-balance chords.
Review: Dubtastic reinterpretation of the Isaac Hayes' classic of the same name that was itself sampled in Erykah Badu's gem 'Bag Lady'..... B/W "Electric Boogie" a toe tappin' nod to 80's dancehall destined to brighten the smokiest of rooms. Originally released back in 2010 and now repressed due to public demand...
Review: "Better Herring" has become a big money tune from the Pioneers and it was last available as part of the mega-comp "The Story Of Trojan Records". Before that, the title tune had only been released in England on 7" on Attack in 1970 under the Soul Directions alias but thanks to Boss Records, this lo-fi bit of ska and retro soul is now available to DJs and dancers once more. "Mama Look Deh" on the flip is a much more laid back tune, with a happier outlook, gorgeous guitar riffs that seem to grow ever quicker and tight drum playing to get you moving.
Review: Jamaican reggae / rocksteady vocal trio The Pioneers hear two classics of theirs reissued: 'Some Having A Bawl' and 'Whip Them'. First released in 1968 by Joe Gibbs' Amalgamated Records, the tracks are raw, melodic social anthems, with the A-sider musing: "no time for fun, 'cos we're on the run", deliberating on the tearful unjust plight of some, and the unfair delight of others (note the clever entendre "having a bawl"). The B, meanwhile, iroincally likens singer-songwriting to coercive power; "left and right... I'm gonna whip them with my songs".
Review: When it comes to digging deep into the vast reserves of dub and reggae the world has amassed since the 60s and 70s, few labels do it with a more knowing and cultured ear than Original Gravity. This time they look to The Pioneers and Prince Deadly for another crucial pair of riddims. There is a ska twist to The Pioneers' original 'Jump Up!' thanks to its bold brass, woody back beats and plucked guitar riffs, all topped off with a loved up vocal. Deadly steps up on the backside to dub things out to perfection.
Review: The Pioneers return here on this Amalgamated Jamaica reissue alongside Hugh Malcolm and between them they are renowned for their popularity and numerous hits produced by Joe Gibbs and Leslie Kong. With approximately 40 recordings under Gibbs alone, this track embodies the classic elements synonymous with their collaborations and comes complete with a distinctive penny whistle. Bursting with energetic vibes and trademark topical lyrics characteristic of the Pioneers, this song resonates with the musical essence that defines their legacy.
Back Together Again (feat Rachel Wallace - Rachel Wallace remix) (4:22)
Back Dubbing Again (4:24)
Review: Bump 'n Grind Wax's latest limited edition is another juicy drop for those red hot summer days. It's a fine 7" from Mr Reggae Roast himself aka Adam Prescott who has been rolling out the tunes on Backative, Moonshine and 4Weed for a couple of years now. Rachel Wallace provides the super sweet and soulful vocal (as well as remixing) on this one which rolls like a laidback Tam Tam Club beat with sunny pads and tropical dub beats. On the flip is a dub that is beefed up with extra effects and heady twisting synth work.
Review: Caught in a Prince Buster fever, Rock-A-Shacka complement an eagerly awaited release - the third album from the legend so named, offering 12 tracks spanning Jamaican funk to rocksteady to early reggae - with a promotional 7", bolstering the full-length's legitimacy with an as-it-was 45. Here 'Funky Jamaica' and 'Clap Your Hands' coincide. The first is an early dancehall phenotype, its strong tresillo matching a heady array of audio-mancer's chants; instructive shouts from Buster himself. Then the B-side follows, a brilliant James-Browned toasting of an uptempo pre-ska progression, put together against a rhythmic cage of swift, proficient drums.
Review: As well as navigating the realms of dub and reggae, infusing each track with his signature vintage sound and infectious grooves, Prince Fatty is well known for taking famous songs and flipping them into reggae territory, a wonderful mix of the familiar and the unepxected that usually works wonders on the dancefloor. With the fantastic 'Black Rabbit,' dub don Prince Fatty masterfully tackles Jefferson Airplane's 60s anthem 'White Rabbit', which took its inspiration from Lewis Carroll's surreal story Alice In Wonderland but hooked those references up to the drug experiences of those countercultural rtimes. The A-side is graced by with the vocals of regular Fatty collaborator Shniece, whose performance does more than simply ape Grace Slick's, adding lines and heaps of her own personality, while rich basslines, swirling echoes and soulful melodies all showcase some exceptional production skills. Naturally, there's a dub version on the B-side, and all in all this a testament to Prince Fatty's enduring influence in the contemporary reggae scene.
Review: Prince Fatty's 'Mercedes Benz' with Shniece and Horseman is a rub-a-dub version of a 1970s hit from Janis Joplin that now gets a very special pressing courtesy of Lovedub Limited. The A-side kicks off with the spine-tingling and epic original vocal before disappearing into a world of reverb. At that point the dubby low end arrives and brings a different vibe to the stunning vocals but one that really makes a mark next to new bars from Horseman, police sirens and funky riffs. It's a tough sound system groove that is backed with a fine version and has been a firm fixture of Prince Fatty's record box for a while now.
Review: Prince Istari presents Riddim Dub School 1st Grade is a brilliant new 7" packed with computerised acid and dub sounds. This one is packed with authentic flavours for fans of machine-made riddims and steppers and is perfect for space exploration and bass enthusiasts. 'Cellphone Love (Acid Bass In Your Face)' kicks off with endlessly echoing hits and clean digital lines over fat low ends and then 'I'll Never Let You Dub (Answer On Me Bass)' is a more slow-motion and stoned dub sound with plenty of smart effects and studio mixing board tricks.
Everlasting Dub (Thunder & Light version 3) (4:17)
Ebb & Flow (Drum & Bass Is The Place) (3:57)
Review: Rarely do we hear much in the way of fresh contemporary dub and/or steppers from Germany. Whilst most of our dub catalogue today consists in reissues, we're warmed by the news of this new portmanteau of tracks from Prince Istari. Istari is one of the many aliases of Felix Raeithel, best known by the name Istari Lasterfahrer. Whereas jungle, breakbeat and hardcore is the usual name of his game, it's his one-off aliases that lend a more distinctive mottling to his overall output. "Made on Earth with love", the 'Everlasting Dub' and its 'Ebb & Flow' version are nonetheless two cosmically minded dub dishings-out, replete with sunbeaten melodica and sudden spring reverbs, as per.
The Regulators - "Don't Look Back In Anger" (Re-mixed & Re-mastered) (4:55)
Prince Deadly - "Dub Look Back In Anger" (4:47)
Review: You can't beat a good cover of a classic tune and they don't come much better than this version of Oasis's masterpiece 'Don't Look Back In Anger' by The Regulators. Original Gravity come through with it on 7" in its 'Re-mixed & Re-mastered' form. The lead melodies come from big fat horns, while the lazy drums sway to and fro and bring an all-new kind of energy. Prince Deadly then gets to work on the studio dials to dub it out to perfection on 'Dub Look Back In Anger'. Two doozies.
Review: Given that Neil Anderson's Original Gravity label is an unashamed tribute to the 1960s ska and rocksteady sounds he loves (with occasional diversions into rhythm & blues and reggae), it's little surprise to see the imprint's house band, Woodfield Road Allstars, take on 'Shank I Sheck', a much-loved 'riddim' that was written, and first recorded, by Baba Brooks way back in 1964. The Woodfield Road Allstars version is a hazy, head-nodding rocksteady treat rich in heady Hammond organ licks, languid trumpet solos and jazz guitars aplenty. Over on the flip, Prince Deadly (likely an alias for Anderson) provides a lightly rewritten riff on the same core ingredients, naturally pushing the trumpet to the fore while reaching for dub-style effects and other 'versioning' studio tricks.
Review: The Dutchess label continues to establish itself in its early life with third outing that delves deep into some ageless reggae and ska sounds. It is The Paragons who are behind this one with 'Blackbirds Singing' opens up with some gorgeous vocal harmonies android back grooves topped with nice natty guitars. It's brilliantly sunny, laidback music for slowed down sessions and will sound best played through a serious system nice and loud. What music isn't, though? 'Memories By The Score' on the flip is a heavyweight sound with a fat bottom and some great spoken word vocal and backing harmonics for a nice lush sound.
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