Back catalogue: Reggae

Review: This third volume of instrumentals continues the faultless Isle of Jura label's deep dive into dub versions and beyond. Side one takes in references from UK street soul and reggae and features two late-'80s tracks by Howard Hill with machine-led rhythms, rudeboy reggae skank and soulful pads. Protek's 'I Love to Dance With You' is a proto-house gem featured in a Jura Soundsystem mix and here it gets a loving re-edit by The Nightlark. Side B includes an instrumental-driven track with spacey FX from The Cool Notes' and Ilija Rudman's 'Dub 4 Love' which is a knowing nod to acid house's golden era.

Review: The Wackie label has been hard at work of late digging deep into the archives and turning out some crucial reissues. They have all been tasteful done with the 80s original stampers with blank Wackie's labels, all hand written and numbered and limited to just 300 copies. First up here is 'That's Not All' which comes in two parts across the A-side and is a spaced out and head twisting dub with some great studio effects, wispy melodies and freaky effects. 'Sing A Song' us a more traditional roots cut with low slung drums and 'Never Could Love This Way' is drenched in soul.

Review: Marking Indica Dubs' 100th release in serious style, 'When Jah Come' by Danman takes the form of a powerful tribute to the late Jah Shaka, whose influence shaped generations of dub and roots sounds and musicians. This long-anticipated dubplate was famously championed by Shaka himself and comes laden with deep, earth-shattering basslines, spiritual vocals that touch your inner psyche and militant rhythms with unmistakable reverence. It is a celebration and a memorial that honours Shaka's legacy while showcasing Danman's ever-commanding voice and Indica Dubs' unrivalled production strength.

Review: Zam Zam Sounds keep up the pressure with their fifth transmission so far this year (and 20th overall) and welcome Berlin-based soldiers Dub War and Infra into the fold with If It's Not The Police. Formerly a duo consisting of Benny Ill and Bill Robin, this 7" is the first release with the latter working solo under the guise and also his first collaboration with Marius Braun aka Infra. As with previous Zam Zam drops, the roots of dub culture are retained with If It's Not The Policea with a vocal cut backed by a dub rendition. Deep studio science and sound design paired with classic dub aesthetics, dubstep bass-weight, and halftime garage swing are very much in effect here and we hope this is the first of many collabs between the pair.

Review: Fresh new 7" action from Tad Jamaica here with a signature tune from Icho Candy. 'Captain Selassie I was first released on the Jwyanza label back in 1983 and ever since then its legacy and popularity have grown so that it is now a hugely sought-after cut. The deeply compelling original with its moody horns and odes to the Rasta legend invites you to sink right into the earth drums and bass. On the flip, the cult Roots Radics Band serves up their own dub version with some mad studio deck trickery, melon-melting reverb and more playful horns.

Review: Intrusions's double 12" on legendary Detroit label Echosapce is a stone-cold classic of the techno genre. It has been heavily related upon by the likes of Marcel Dettman, Richie Hawtin and Francois K over the years, and has been out of print for just as long. This super limited reissue comes on virgin 150g vinyl for extra clarity, with a custom chrome sticker and "midnight blue" transparent coloured vinyl which captures the mood of the music within. That's the way it is bottomlessly deep, hugely deft and deliciously dubbed out techno with frosty synths, dusty drums and foggy atmospheres that are all about hypnotising the head as much as your heels.

Review: Prince Chamba joins forces for a superb new roots cut here with Slimmah Sound and Ital Horns. Their 'Secret Light' is a smoky and seductive sound with wobbling low ends and impassioned vocals delivered with a heart-aching twist as the melanotic horns fly up top and rousing chords add some hope. Slimmah Sound & Ital Horns then add their own heavily reverbed dub version and Slimmah Sound offers 'Melody Of Light' which is full of hypnotic harmonica leads. A second dub version once again reworks it into a stoner's delight that will sink you deep into the sofa.

Review: Room In The Sky's latest limited edition release showcases The Inn House Crew and delivers some heavyweight roots rockers dubs featuring an impressive lineup of musicians from Jamaica and the UK. The collection includes performances by legends like Sly Dunbar, Flabba Holt, Vin Gordon, and Robbie Lyn, alongside talents such as Ben Bell, Horseman, and Jerry Lionz. Recorded at renowned studios like Tuff Gong in Jamaica and Ariwa, this is a record that is steeped in authentic roots vibes. The DIY-inspired artwork, featuring eco-friendly, inside-out sleeves, complements the music's raw and organic feel and makes it a must-cop for roots dub enthusiasts, especially as this pressing comes in a lovely scree-printed jacket so beautifully celebrates some deft craftsmanship and real heritage.

Review: Iration is a reggae-pop outfit hailing from Santa Barbara, California. All members are from Hawaii and are one of the leading bands in the genre of 'sunshine reggae'. Around this time last year, the band released their seventh long player titled Coastin', which now receives a collection of remixes by some of the most exciting names in dub. Long Beach-based Josh Cardinali aka Stoney Eye Studios is the most featured artist here, with his standout rendition being the tropical dream riddims heard on 'Zen Island' and just wait for that reprise - woah wipeout! In addition, Jamaican legend The Scientist appears with two impressive versions of 'Right Here Right Now' (feat Eric Rachmany & Stick Figure) in the tradition of his mentor King Tubby.

Review: The legendary Iration Steppas reissue their second studio album Dubz From De Higher Regionz which is originally from 2004. Active for a quarter of a century now, the Leeds institutions pioneered a digital dub sound that transitioned the scene out of the militant jah stepper period into the future. This album perfectly embodies that with its sleek drums and contemporary studio effects, clean bass sounds and sheet metal hits. Plenty of hefty dubs make it a timeless collection and the inlay includes full discography and liner notes.

Review: It's a bold, bold statement to claim that a record was "recorded across decades". We all know genius can take time, and geniuses can be easy to distract, but there's slow and then there's starting a project in one aeon and ending it in another. In truth, Jon Iverson Meets Prins Emanuel, Golden Ivy, Inre Kretsen Grupp is that, and then not that. A collaborative project that sees some incredible minds meeting in the middle while never actually meeting. Starting with Iverson's original 1980 American home studio recordings, Seance Centre's Brandon Hocura took unfinished sonic sketches from the master musician and set to inviting 21st Century practitioners to complete the work. Looking to Malmo, Emanuel Sundin (Prins Emanuel), Ivar Lantz (Golden Ivy) and Martin Blomberg (Inre Kretsen Grupp) were drafted for that duty, and the result is this slow burn album somewhere between atmospheric badlands and kosmische.