Joe Gibbs Music Vinilo y CD

Review: The classic 'Two Sevens Clash', which Joe Gibbs produced so well, is a timeless reggae outing that gets a welcome reissue here. Anyone of a certain age might remember this as a soundtrack to the years when punk was appropriating reggae sounds. The tune is from an album that was listened to between punk gigs and when not getting beaten up by Teds. The band of course didn't know this would become its fate and in isolation it remains a special listen with some smart mixing desk effects, hissing hi hats and nice dusty and deep low ends.

Review: On this reissue of a Mighty Two instrumental classic, Prince Far I rides the rhythmic hand dealt by 'The Deck Of Cards', making for a dazzling reminder of the collaborative synergies between dub legends Michael Williams, Joe Gibbs and Errol Thompson. Released under Gibbs' contemporary imprint, which lends posterity to his work, 'Deck Of Cards' is a shockingly well-shuffled suit (not skimping on the jokers, either), with many trademark quirks and idiosyncrasies, such as an on-beat trumpet bubble, abounding on the infectious instrumental version. Far I's vocal, which captures our immediate attention, is just as righteous and steadfast as its backbone.

Review: This is a superb reissue of a real bit of top-quality roots and voters rock on 7". It finds singer Ruddy Thomas bringing his own fresh vocal update to Errol Dunkley's Keep The Pressure Down and the results are sublime - there is yearning in his vocal and smooth, warming soul next to libidinous horns that add to the vibes. On the flip is a nice tough dubwise flip which people say might well have been mixed by Ruddy himself because he was known to also work as an engineer alongside Errol Thompson at Gibb's Retirement Crescent.