Back catalogue: Reggae

Review: Tokyo Riddim Vol. 2 looks into the eclectic fusion of reggae and Japanese pop, uncovering a unique musical journey that began when Ryuichi Sakamoto traveled to Kingston in 1978. Collaborating with Jamaican icons like Neville Hinds and Rita Marley, Sakamoto's experience set the stage for a burgeoning connection between Japanese artists and Jamaican reggae. This compilation showcases tracks like Teresa Noda's 'Tropical Love' and 'Yellow Moon', highlighting the innovative blend of dub, electronic, and new wave that emerged in Japan during the late 70s and early 80s. The album features genre-bending contributions from key figures such as Yosui Inoue, Kay Ishiguro, and Tomoko Aran, who reimagined reggae with bold, unconventional styles. Tokyo Riddim Vol. 2 explores the hybridisation of these sounds, demonstrating how the exchange between Tokyo and Kingston birthed a fresh, boundary-defying genre. This collection shows Japan's experimental spirit, weaving together reggae's rhythms with the era's cosmopolitan influences, carving out a place beyond Western musical conventions.

Review: This is an extremely rare roots and dub album first put out in 1978 on Chalwa Records. It features some of the genre's most iconic figures including the likes of King Tubby, Skin Flesh & Bones, Augustus Pablo and Dennis Alcapone. This is said to be a one-off pressing from Hornin' Sounds (who to be fair are known for their reluctance to repress their releases) and is an album that takes you back to a fertile and thrilling time in reggae history. Recorded at King Tubby Studio it's packed with deeply hypnotic rhythms and influential production that has aged to perfection.

Review: Reissued almost ten years on from its first appearance, Soul Jazz's Rastafari compilation resurfaces once more. Famed for its recognition of the religion's influence on the emergence of dub and reggae in the early 1950s through to the 80s, this compilation proves Rastafari's influence and core ideas as inexorable from its sonic expression. Chief among reggae's pioneering players is Oswald Williams, aka. Count Ossie, whose influence is heard here is a sort of orthopaedic sonic stem from which all offshoots follow. Ossie's many posthumous contributions to this compilation, largely with The Mystic Revelation of Rastafari, laid the foundations of reggae as we know it, and are charted from his various nyabinghi chants and drum workouts, and come peppered by those of his sono-spiritual antecedents - the likes of Mutabaruka, Rod Taylor and Bongo Herman.

Review: Jah Upton joins Lloyd Barnes and Prince Douglas at the desk for another must-have Bullwackies dub set, originally released in 1977. The music is drawn from tapes recorded at King Tubby's with the Soul Syndicate band, in 1974-75 (before Wackies' move to New York). Certain tracks were also voiced in JA - like Don Carlos' deadly Prepare Jah Man, available here and nowhere else, over a hallmark rhythm re-run on Wayne Jarrett's Bubble Up album. Other highlights include dubs of Wackies' deep Black Harmony rhythm, Joe Morgan's Basement Session, the Love Joys' I Belong To You (a Barry White homage issued on Versatile 7"), a Chosen Brothers and two great John Clarkes (including a version of In Search Of The Human Race which eclipses the Tafari single); also a dedication to the Chinese restaurant next door in White Plains Road.

Review: With standout tracks from proper legends like Barrington Levy, Delroy Wilson, Dillinger, The Mighty Diamonds, Yellowman and more, Reggae Anthology: The Channel One Story is an essential compilation chronicling one of Jamaica's most influential studios during its most famous golden era. Plenty of historic moments are included such as the country's first 12-inch maxi-single release (The Jays & Ranking Trevor's 'Truly Deejay Mix') and 'Queen Majesty,' a soul-drenched reggae rework of a Curtis Mayfield classic. Also included are extended cuts and rich production which means this anthology celebrates Channel One's lasting impact on reggae history with a little extra insight than you might have already heard.

Review: Little John is a beloved and prolific 80s dancehall artist who began his career while still a child back in 1979, but by the mid-80s he had recorded for every major producer. At just 14, he launched his Romantic label and sporadically dropped what became sought-after 45s up until 1993. This compilation gathers ten of the best of them and takes in rare and overlooked gems. Featuring fresh and youthful artists alongside veterans like Frankie Paul and Early B, the tracks span heavy mid-'80s rhythms, late-80s digital sounds and early-90s uptempo beats. It's pure bliss for even hardcore collectors.

Review: Irie Ites Records delivers a compelling snapshot of reggae's enduring vitality, blending veteran voices with modern interpretations. Junior Dread's 'Leaders' opens with a commanding rhythm and poignant lyricism, while Eek-A-Mouse's 'Musical Ambassador' injects a playful yet inventive energy. Linval Thompson brings depth with 'What Time Is It?', its rootsy bassline evoking reggae's golden era, contrasted by Anthony B's 'Rub-A-Dub,' which brims with contemporary flair. The tracks stand strong individually yet flow cohesively, bridging reggae's rich history with its forward momentum.

Review: Operazione Sole, like the impactful 1967 Peppino Di Capri song, highlights the impact of Jamaican rhythms on Italian pop music from the 60s and 70s. This collection showcases how the upbeat sounds of Kingston influenced Italian artists, especially during the reggae boom in England (1968-1970) and Bob Marley's rise to global fame. Starting with Mina's 1959 Jamaican shuffle 'Nessuno' and evolving through blue-beat and ska by artists like I 4 di Lucca and Peppino Di Capri, Italian musicians embraced these Caribbean-infused sounds. In the late 70s and early 80s, reggae's influence grew, with prominent names like Loredana Berte and Adriano Celentano experimenting with these new rhythms. Operazione Sole focuses on lesser-known artists who adapted popular Italian pop to the prevailing black sounds of the West, ranging from classic reggae to dub-influenced Italo-disco and Neapolitan grooves. This collection is both a scholarly exploration and a joyful celebration of Italy's unique musical journey, capturing a vibrant era where local pop met global trends, resulting in innovative and memorable music.

Review: This album from an Italian-based production outfit on Aloe Vera Records celebrates the label's early years and the unique style of one of the imprint's key acts, The Officinalis's. They were known for classics like 'Si Comme' Si' and for blending Naples and Jamaican musical cultures. Aloe Vera Records skilfully merged these worlds in their output and created a distinctive and recognisable sound that bridges past and present. These are all well-crafted sounds with warm low ends, rich bass and plenty of loved-up melodies that make it a nice escapist listen.

Review: Studio One Power Mix! is a vibrant and essential compilation from Soul Jazz Records that dives deep into the influential sounds of reggae, ska, rocksteady and more, focusing on the late 1970s, 1980s and beyond. This collection captures the essence of Studio One, the legendary Jamaican label founded by Clement 'Sir Coxsone' Dodd, which has been at the forefront of every major development in reggae music since the 1960s. By the late 1970s, Studio One had already established itself as the undisputed leader in the genre, nurturing the careers of icons like Bob Marley & The Wailers, Marcia Griffiths, The Skatalites, and Dennis Brown. During this period, long-standing artists such as Alton Ellis and Jackie Mittoo returned to the label, producing some of their most creatively fulfilling work. Meanwhile, new talents like Sugar Minott, Johnny Osbourne, and Freddie McGregor propelled Studio One into the dancehall era, pushing musical boundaries while honoring the label's roots. The compilation features a dynamic range of tracks that celebrate this golden era, from classic hits to hidden gems. Each song reflects the creativity, innovation, and unmistakable groove that have made Studio One a cornerstone of reggae history. Whether you're a seasoned reggae enthusiast or new to the genre, Studio One Power Mix! offers a great tracklist through the evolution of Jamaican music, celebrating the enduring legacy of one of its most influential labels.

Review: Danish Dub Part 2 comes on double vinyl from the Tribe 84 label and it is a compilation that once again showcases the finest Danish reggae and dub producers. Its aims is to help them reach a broader international and national audience, which is surely will because this is some high-class tackle. It features a diverse range of styles, from traditional reggae with analogue effects to energetic electronic steppers, all fully homegrown, produced, mastered, and manufactured in Copenhagen. What's more, it was recorded on analogue tape for an authentic sound.

Review: Heavenly continues to be one of the strongest forces in the indie label scene, and along with their considerable roster comes the opportunity to commissioned all kinds of fantastic remixes. Keeping in mind their roots in the fertile crossovers of indie and dance music in the early 90s, the label maintains a keen instinct for fresh approaches in the club world, some of which are gathered here on this seventh entry in the Heavenly Remixes series. Pressed up on double 12", you can hear the likes of Hardway Bros and Horse Meat Disco bringing the fierce, disco-infused house they're best known for, while Shy One brings her maverick broken beat to The Orielles and mighty bleep hero Forgemasters make a welcome return remixing Todmorden's Working Men's Club.

Review: It was originally back in 2005 that Soul Jazz managed to somehow outdo even their own good work with the release of Studio One Roots 2: The Original. The first volume in the series was considered something of a classic amongst dub heads but the second volume was easily as good. It's long been hard to find since then - for a good price at least - so it's great news the label has reissued it here in full, and on limited edition green vinyl no less. Reggae doesn't really get much better than this so snap it up, drop the needle on and turn it up loud.

Review: 12th Isle revisits the various artist compilation format with a new release that expands on their 2019 outing 'Inkosi' to deliver a club-focused mixtape across six tracks. Echo Party kicks things off with a dub-heavy extended mix that originally featured on Murray Collier & Hannan Jones's self-released CD-R. Italian newcomer Guizzi offers a thunderous downtempo track with tight conga percussion that meshes well with this label's musical MO and Der Opium Queen delivers a propulsive, video game OST-style dance hit that calls to mind Les Aeroplanes on Jamal Moss's Mathematics label. On Side B, a freak-folk skit by Memotone, motorik beats from Lo Kindre, and bleep-infused dub techno by Toronto-based Raf Reza all bang. .

Review: This Ninjapan Music Vinyl Sampler album from Japanese label Ninjapan Music is a well-assembled dive into the roster of artists they have been working with. It is their first vinyl outing and is a diverse mix of names from across a wide dub spectrum, all of whom reflect the label's commitment to pushing creative boundaries. Each track comes with some innovative production techniques that merge Japanese dub influences with contemporary beats and rhythms. Perfect for a wide range of settings, it features the likes of Any Guppy, Dan Lj, Tikaros, Mifyah and more.

Review: Wackies impress upon us their latest compilation; this time, it's another (sixth) edition added to their Jah Children Invasion series, which charts the critical juncture at which dub reggae shifted from live-drummed beats and into drum-machine led, steppers' embraces. The result was a welcoming of 8-bit themes and pixelations, leading to the infamous coinage, digidub. Jah Children Invasion harks back to this not-so-small step for mankind, compiling scene contributions from such legends as Horace Andy ('Drop Off'), Jackie Mittoo ('Majority Rule'), Milton Henry ('Now You See The Scene'), and Chris Wayne ('Streets Of Africa'). The resulting sound is not one of total fascination with the 'digi' aspect of the sound, but a prototypical, melting-pot point at which the leap into increasingly sequenced progressions lent dub a cruder, but more driven development of the sound. A sonic Faustian bargain with a machinic devil, if you will.

Review: Soul Jazz returns with another of its supremely assembled and vital compilations, and this one focuses on reggae. Down Beat Special offers a thrilling journey through timeless hits carefully selected from Jamaica's revered Studio One Records, the epitome of reggae excellence. From Michigan and Smiley's 'Nice Up The Dance' to Dawn Penn's 'No, No, No' and The Wailers' 'Simmer Down,' this collection pulsates with iconic tracks. Originally a limited edition 7" box set, this remastered edition boasts 18 rare gems, including works by The Skatalites, Bob Marley, and Horace Andy.

Review: Burning Sounds re-issues The Viceroys' original album, complete with comprehensive sleeve notes. Formed in the late 1960s, The Viceroys, featuring Wesley Tinglin, Neville Ingram and Daniel Bernard, became a beloved Jamaican reggae vocal group. This reissue includes contributions from renowned musicians such as bassist Robert 'Robbie' Shakespeare, drummer Carlton 'Carlie' Barrett, and keyboardist Ansel 'Pinkie' Collins. Recorded at Channel One and produced by Phil Pratt, the album features the group's harmonious vocals and catchy melodies. Their hit song 'Heart Made of Stone' gained international acclaim, and their music addressed significant social and political issues of their time. The Viceroys' soulful harmonies and uplifting messages continue to resonate with reggae enthusiasts. This reissue captures the essence of their influential sound.

Review: The Viceroys' legacy in reggae is undeniable, and this re-issue of their original album is a example to their enduring appeal. Comprised of Wesley Tinglin, Neville Ingram, and Daniel Bernard, the group's harmonious vocal style and catchy melodies captivated audiences during the rocksteady and early reggae eras. 'Heart Made of Stone' stands out as one of their timeless hits, showing their ability to blend soulful harmonies with poignant lyrics. Working with esteemed producers like Derrick Morgan, Clement 'Coxsone' Dodd, and Lee 'Scratch' Perry, the Viceroys tackled social and political issues of their time, adding depth to their music. While the original lineup disbanded, Wesley Tinglin's dedication to the Viceroys' name has kept their spirit alive. This re-issue, available on 180 gram vinyl, will certainly excite reggae enthusiasts. With comprehensive sleeve notes, it not only honours the group's legacy but also introduces their music to a new generation of listeners.

Review: Delroy Witter ran the Success Sound System out of Harlesden, North London, becoming one of the key figures in the UK's burgeoning reggae and lovers rock scenes. Pulled from his label D-Roy, this second volume of carefully curated classics get the fresh airing they deserve at a time when appreciation for the importance of lovers rock as a branch of reggae has never been stronger. There's ample sentimental, romantic jams contained within, but plenty of heavyweight riddims too, all remastered and presented with the Rock A Shaka attention to detail.

Review: Yabby You, aka Vivian Jackson, remains one of reggae's most iconic figures, known for crafting some of the genre's most enduring and sought-after roots recordings. This collection showcases his deep influence, bringing together ten of his best productions, with his Prophets vocal group and Michael Prophet leading the charge. The tracks here are enriched with extended mixes and dubs, courtesy of the legendary King Tubby. From the raw energy of the vocal performances to the dubwise arrangements, this release captures the spirit of reggae in its purest, most powerful form. A must-have for any serious reggae collector.

Review: Zero 7's LateNightTales debut, Another Late Night, was first released in 2002, shortly after the electronica duo had been nominated for a Mercury Prize in light of their debut record Simple Things. The inevitable vaunting of their music reached its peak when one well-known pundit described their music as "the Sistine Chapels of music in a sea of affordable accommodation." Unlike their expertly crafted originals in the vein of trip-hop, downtempo and acid jazz, their LateNightTales album is of course a selectors' DJ compilation, which to this day incites its invitees (usually musicians as well as DJs) to select and remix tunes only as though they were sleepwalking through the dream fantasies made up by their own musical influences. Here, Zero 7 share various musical traumata, manifest and latent interpretations of songs, by the likes of The Cinematic Orchestra, Quasimoto, Jim O'Rourke, Serge Gainsbourg, Don Blackman, The Stylistics, Joy Zipper, Slum Village and Da Lata, all of which, as we can patently hear, fed into their relatively unpeggable, interwoven chillout sound.