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'.
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.
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: Is there a more celebrated combination in all of reggae than Lee Perry & The Upsetters? The master producer and his iconic backing band laid down many of the genre's most vital sounds and helped subtly evolve it across the seventies and beyond. This single 'Jungle Lion' came right in the midst of that in 1974. An original 7" will cost you upwards of 500 quid, and that's if you can find one. Here it gets reissued on the young but already well-formed Skank & Groove label and is backed with a version by The Upsetters named 'Freak Out Skank' that gets even more warm, cavernous and dubby.
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: 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: Blowing With The Wind is the second August Pablo album to get the reissue treatment this month following on from 1986's Rising Sun. This one came in 1990 when the legendary dubber had fully updated his original sound with more modern aesthetics and digital techniques. It picked up rave reviews and proved to be one of the artists' most successful records since the seventies. It is defined by a mix of nyahbinghi drumming and hardcore steppers that was fully embraced by the sound system culture of the tie and took Pablo to new heights in the Far East, culminating with a tour of Japan.
Review: Meets Kelly Ranks At Channel One is one of those classic dub albums that is very much deserving of this reissue on nice heavyweight wax. Michael Palmer is the man who did the meeting per the title and he is a leading Jamaican reggae and dancehall artist who has helped shaped the culture no end. This record fuses togther elements of both of those foundations sounds with nice lead horns and swaggering rhythms topped with carefree vocals full of soul but also carrying great messages.
Review: Scratch Came Scratch Saw Scratch Conquered is the 2008 album by Lee 'Scratch' Perry, legendary Jamaican producer, composer and singer known for his innovative studio techniques and pioneering contributions to dub music. From his Black Ark Studio in Kingston, Perry produced for artists like Bob Marley and the Wailers, Junior Murvin, and The Congos. Relocating to Switzerland later in his career, Perry continued to innovate, collaborating with The Beastie Boys, The Clash, and George Clinton. This album is the second in a trilogy created with English musician and producer Steve Marshall, also known as John Saxon. Featuring guest appearances by George Clinton and Keith Richards, Scratch Came Scratch Saw Scratch Conquered showcases Perry's enduring influence and creativity. The 2LP limited edition is pressed on translucent green vinyl and housed in a gatefold sleeve, with only 1500 individually numbered copies available. This release is ideal for fans of Perry's groundbreaking work in dub and beyond.
Jah People In Blue Sky (feat Greentea Peng) (3:56)
Future Of My Music (feat Tricky & Marta) (3:59)
Goodbye (3:41)
Review: Being the prolific maverick he was known and loved for, we're still catching up with the output of the mighty Lee Scratch Perry long after his passing. Amongst the posthumous releases coming to light of late is this album on Tricky's False Idols label, in which Perry linked up with UK producer Daniel Boyle for a follow-up to their double hits of Back At The Controls and Black Album. It's a wide-ranging affair taking the dub approach to many different genres, with some noticeable contributions from artists like Greentea Peng, Shaun Ryder and Tricky himself. It's another fine reminder of what a gift of inspiration Perry was to the world of music, restlessly creative well into his later years.
Review: Lee "Scratch" Perry, a Jamaican record producer, singer, and songwriter, is largely acclaimed for his innovative and experimental production techniques. His Black Ark Studio, established in the mid-1970s, became a renowned hub for reggae music production, fostering the talents of numerous artists. Perry's Black Ark studio was not merely a recording space but an alchemic laboratory where he conjured sonic masterpieces. With his use of tape loops, heavy reverb, and other unorthodox techniques, Perry created a distinct and hypnotic sound that transcended conventional reggae boundaries. Artists such as Bob Marley, the Wailers, and Max Romeo flocked to Black Ark to collaborate with Perry. In his studio, Perry's intuitive approach to music making blurred the lines between producer and artist. He considered himself a "musical doctor" whose role was to guide and inspire the musicians. The Black Ark became a sanctuary for musical experimentation, where artists were encouraged to explore their creativity freely. This vinyl has been out of print and completely unavailable until now.
Review: London's Prince Fatty is a determined dub solo artist ready to take on the world and his mission is more than well reiterated on his latest expansion in the US realm of Seattle. Dub Battle For Seattle brings a further eight dub dramatics to the fold; the tracks were conceived many moons ago on the south coast of England, and in response to Little Roy's eponymous 2021 album of the same name, which took after the 1999 anti-World Trade Organization protests in Seattle, whilst also making for eight dub reggae cover versions of Nirvana's greatest hits. Little Roy's originals are well deglazed as Nirvanic versions by Fatty, whose bulbous productions serve to enliven and trip them out.
We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you've provided to them or that they've collected from your use of their services.