Review: For the latest in their series of "giant 45s" - loud 12" pressings of classic cuts from the Studio One vaults - Soul Jazz has decided to offer-up a fresh pressing of Brentford All Stars' 'Greedy G'. Based on James Brown classic 'Get On The Good Foot', the track was famously sampled by Boogie Down Productions on their iconic cut 'Jack of Spades'. It remains a bona fide party classic, adding a bass-heavy, Hammond-heavy reggae spin to Brown's insatiable funk groove. As it did the last time Soul Jazz issued it back in 1988, it comes backed with the deeper and more laidback 'Granny Scratch Scratch', another classic cut from Studio One's in-house backing band.
Review: Legendary reggae partnership Junior Dell and The D Lites are bcc with more of their charming sounds on the one and only Original Gravity label. This latest crucial 7" starts with 'Step On' which is all warm and fuzzy with plenty of vinyl cracking built into the mix. The swaggering drums are topped with horns, fills and some stylish vocals that you will well recognise from a classic of the same name by The Happy Mondays. There is much more florid attitude to the fat horns that very much take centre stage on flip-side sound 'Meanwhile On The 15th Floor', though the Hammond organs are also superb.
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.'
Review: Junior Dell & The D-Lites are one of reggae's most accomplished outfits and they have a vast arsenal of tunes to back that up. This one is one of many delightful dubs - and it now makes its way to us via Original Gravity. 'East Of Hurghada' has a noodling melodic lead and nice dusty drums with a more textured horn eventually taking the main stage. On the flip, Woodfield Rd Allstars step up with 'Lickle Fat Mattress' which is another blend of ska, reggae and dub with some natty keys.
Review: DJ Cat comes through on Scruniversal here as the young label continues to go from strength to strength early in its existence. This time he serves up some re-edits and reworks of old and rare records from Scru's friends' collections. Up first is 'Roots & Culture' which is a languid funk workout with Prince style vocals bring some libidinous vibes up top while sci-fi synths and raw claps and perc all flesh out the groove. 'Possibelle' then cuts loose on a much more laid back and steamy summer vibe with the sort of chords that have you laying back in the park and staring up at a cloudless sky.
Review: UK favourites Dub Pistols are back with the second release in their Version excursion series. The original is a great cover an Edie Brickell classic which brings this outfit's usual blend of ska, 2-tone and dub to the fore. The drums are mid-tempo and have a real swagger while the sub-bass adds serious weight, gentle wood block hits and rim shots pepper the mix and the lovely vocal from Prince Fatty regular Shniece brings seductive and smoky soul. On their 'What I Am Manasseh Dub' things get more laden with echo and reverb and mixing desk effects twist the low ends into perfect stoner territory.
Dub Specialist - "Feel Like Jumping" (part 2) (3:45)
Review: Stone cold classic alert! First released on Studio One back in the late 1970s and a guaranteed reggae floor-filler ever since, 'Feel Like Jumping' is not only one of Coxsone Dodd's most potent productions, but also one of Marcia Griffiths' greatest moments. Now available again on a heavyweight vinyl pressing with extra bass-weight, the track us built around an infectious rhythm, dancing horn riffs, sweet backing vocals and a life-affirming lead vocal from Griffiths' celebrating the sheer joy of dancing. The flipside Dub Specialist revision is superb too - a genuinely bone-shaking, sub-heavy dancefloor dub that places echoing snippets of Griffiths' lead vocal and reverberating horns at the heart of the action.
Ranking Joe - "Rasta Skank Aka Rootsman Skank" (3:53)
Dub Creator - "Hornsman Skank" (3:50)
Dub Creator - "Dub It Ina Rasta Style" (3:49)
Teddy Dan - "Lie Dem A Tell" (4:08)
Dub Creator - "Lie Pon Rasta Dub" (4:11)
Dub Creator - "Tell The Truth Dub" (4:08)
Review: This tasty 12" features three standout tracks that shine a light on three different talents, all of whom have their own way of blending reggae, dub and roots influences. There is just enough reverence for the traditional sounds here to make them feel utterly authentic while also looking to the future and subtle new variations on the foundations. With a powerful lyrical delivery and reggae roots style, Ranking Joe sets the tone with his smooth yet commanding presence and the dub version of the track is a signature display of Dub Creator's skill with heavy basslines and echoing effects. Teddy Dan adds his touch with his deep, soulful voice and conscious lyrics and more dub goodness seals the deal.
Review: The brilliant Death Is Not The End has always done a great job of digging into niche scenes and serving up great albums that document them. Here the label presents a mixtape-style collection featuring live recordings from London's Notting Hill Carnival, spanning 1984 to 1988. Originally aired on NTS Radio in August 2018, this release marks a milestone in their 10th-anniversary series and it now comes on cassette. Highlights include sounds from renowned systems like Jamdown Rockers, Saxon, Java Nuclear Power, Killerwatt Turbotronic, Stereograph, Sir Coxsone, and Volcano Express. The audio, meticulously curated by the Who Cork The Dance crew, features contributions from Jayman, Ruff House, Keimo, Omar, Gee Wizz and Jah Humble.
Review: Shanty Town was the debut album by the legends in the making of the reggae world that are Desmond Dekker and his Aces aka Wilson James and Easton Barrington Howard. It of course induces the title track which was the first to make them stars on the international stage and even managed to hit the heady heights of #14 on the UK charts. It's an album that shows how ska from the mid-60s had an influence on the rocksteady sound and as well as the 'Spanky Town' classic you'll hear gems like 'Israelites' from 1968 and 'It Miek' from 1969.
Review: If you like your reggae true to the original sound then this one is likely already long on your want list. It's a stone-cold classic from Dillinger that was one of the great DJ albums for Studio One back in the mid-1970s. It is packed with classic rhythms that were all produced with the expert guidance of Clement Dodd. Ready Natty Dreadie features non-stop highlights such as 'Pretty Looks' and 'Ten to One', the weighty low end of 'Full Up' and the magical top lines of 'Creation Rebel'. A crucial reissue.
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