New releases today: Clásico/Ska

Review: One of Bob Marley's most acclaimed LPs on reissue here, and it's an album that overflows with funk, poise, and defiant overtones. Marley recorded the album in 1977 after surviving an assassination attempt at his home in Jamaica. Following the attack, he left the country and relocated to London, and it's here that the collection was captured. At times a commentary on the political violence that blighted Jamaica during the era, other times joyful celebration, the music is some of the reggae icon's most potent. The hypnotic groove and chanted vocals of the title track are an obvious standout, as are the feel-good flex of 'Jammin' and the heartfelt vulnerability of 'Is This Love'. Presented as a double pack, all the music gets the groove spacing it so richly deserves.

Review: A real favourite ever since its initial 1976 release, Rastaman Vibration sees a welcome return to heavyweight wax here with Tuff?Gong's limited-edition reissue pressed at their Kingston headquarters and hand-numbered. This LP, which was the iconic group's eighth studio album, marked Marley's first US Top Ten entry and delivered enduring hits like 'Roots, Rock, Reggae' and 'War'. These are some of reggae's most enduring tunes and the ones that keep the legacy of The Wailers alive decades on, and with a deluxe booklet and Tuff?Gong stamp, this edition is the most essential of them all and another worthy celebration of Marley's cultural impact.