Back catalogue: Dancehall/Ragga

Review: Bugle's fifth studio album is a powerful and introspective offering that reveals his growth as an artist and his unwavering commitment to conscious lyricism. The Jamaican reggae luminary fearlessly navigates a diverse landscape of themes, from love and life to faith and social issues, with a depth and honesty that resonates deeply. Bugle's evocative vocals, reminiscent of reggae greats like Garnett Silk and Luciano, soar over intricate rhythms and soulful melodies, drawing the listener into a world of introspection and conscious reflection. Collaborations with reggae giants like Buju Banton and Damian Marley on 'Thank You Lord' add a powerful dimension to the album, highlighting the unity and strength of the reggae community. 'Hopes (Small World)', featuring Capleton, is a fiery call to action, a sonic embodiment of the genre's ability to address social injustices and inspire change. Tracks like 'Patience, God & Time' and 'Heads Up' offer moments of quiet contemplation and encouragement, while 'Inside Warm' and 'Love Story' explore the complexities of love and relationships with a raw honesty that is both refreshing and relatable. An exploration of the human experience, a tapestry woven with threads of love, loss, faith and resilience.

Review: The iconic Late Night Tales series scored a real doozy when they managed to lock in Don Letts for for his instalment. The British film director, DJ and musician is a vital part of the UK's musical fabric from his days making videos for The Clash and Elvis Costello to his work with the Big Audio Dynamite band he co-founded. All that history is distilled into this sublime selection of sounds across four vital sounds fo wax. There's reggae, dub, ska, a cover of Joy Division, head twisting goodness from Gentleman's Dub Club and plenty of exclusives. It's an essential listen, basically.

Review: Little Lion Sound's journey in the world of music reached a significant milestone with the release of their iconic album, Kingston Journey. The album stands as a testament to the group's unwavering dedication to reggae & dancehall, taking us on a mesmerizing odyssey into the heart and soul of Jamaican music. With each track, the album pays homage to the rich heritage of each genre, foregrounding an unparalleled ability to blend and curate both with finesse. Emerging talents such as Eesah, Jae Prynse, and Mr. Bertus lend their voices, resulting in a profound fusion of experience and contemporary creativity. As Kingston Journey resounds, it captures the evolving essence of Little Lion Sounds' sound.

Review: Fiery new cross-Channel digital dancehall, emerging from the collaborative efforts of French producer Manudigital, who has here invoked the many voices of various UK greats - the likes of Brother Culture, Demolition Man, Daddy Freddy, Falle Nioke and Liam Bailey. A star-studded cast of a-capella GOATs accompany the French maestro, across eight heaters all designed on a simple Casio keyboard in the latter's keep. We're not quite sure how Manudigital has managed to track down these ledges - save for speculating that he's simply well-connected - but regardless, these are maximised, optimised 'hall heaters; handsy digital' hallmarks only the deftest of fingers can handle dialling in and/or wheeling up, lest the plates get too hot.

Review: Originally released in 1982 and produced by Donovan Germain, this rare roots DJ album by Lee Van Cleef offered a pre-digital glimpse into the future of reggae. Recorded with The Roots Radics and The Taxi Gang at Channel One and Harry J's studios, the album captured a distinct era of Jamaican music. Featuring hard-to-find tracks and period-appropriate artwork, this release on Germain's Revolutionary Sounds label stands out as a classic example of early dancehall styles. Lee Van Cleef's unique voice and the album's historical significance make it a prized piece for fans of vintage reggae.

Review: Soul Jazz Records marks the 18th anniversary of this seminal album with a stunning limited-edition red vinyl reissue for Record Store Day 2025. Fully remastered and expanded with new tracks, the compilation dives deep into the early '90s roots of jungle, ragga and drum & bass and coms on strong from the off with enre-defining anthems like General Levy's 'Incredible,' Cutty Ranks' 'Limb By Limb' and Congo Natty's take on 'Under Me Sensi'. They all make it a high-energy trip through a revolutionary moment in UK music and this version comes with extensive liner notes, interviews and rare photos making it both a crucial historical document and an essential listen.

Review: They might be juvenile but you can't beat a nice loud ganja anthem on a hefty system in the sun. Which makes this new collection of such things from Greensleeves - on nice translucent green wax, no less - utterly unmissable. It features plenty of rootsy tooting-anthems and stoner classics from the dub swagger of 'Pass The Kutchie' to Wayne Smith's darker and more paranoid 'Under The Sleng Teng.' John Holt's 'Police In Helicopter' will always be well received by any crowd and Billy Boyo's 'One Spliff A Day' is a great tune a well as being advice to live by.

Review: Burning Sounds pay tribute to some of reggae's most crucial DJs with this new album The Magnificent 7. It is packed with artists inspired by the fundamental elements of Rastafarianism and they all speak loudly of the virtues of "living upright in those dread times." Jah Walton - later known as Joseph Cotton - kicks off with the positive vibrations of 'The Seed You Sow' before Big Youth gets deeper and darker. A brace of I-Roy jams roll on fat bass lines and King Sighta also appears twice with his natty vocals and percussive rhythms amongst a bunch of other superb sounds from the likes of Natty Love and Sister Sheron.

Review: The Park Heights series is back with another one of its tasteful collections and this one, JA to BK: Dancehall from Park Heights 1987-1988, is another all-killer no filler long player. Featuring ten tunes from Park Height's productive late '80s period. Many of these jams are by Francis who had a great influence on the early digital reggae sound both in Jamaica and New York. Eight of these have never before been reissued and two have never been realised at all. Some are sweet rolling cuts with rat-a-tat-tat snare work like 'Want The Dollar,' some ride on vamping chords with low-end wobble like 'Settle Them A Settle' and some are hot steppers.

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: Phillip "Fatis" Burrell was a visionary producer who discovered and nurtured many of Jamaica's top reggae artists, including Luciano, Sizzla, and Capleton. A devout Rastafarian, Fatis demanded integrity from his artists and held them to high standards. He founded the Xterminator label, known for its tough yet soulful music and worked with legendary musicians like Sly & Robbie. Fatis formed a strong partnership and friendship with many reggae greats and collaborated on albums that shaped reggae's international presence. His sudden death at 59 left a deep void, but his legacy lives on through his music and his children, no least with this great compilation.