Review: Tabou 1 is on a roll right now and their latest offering features reggae icon Johnny Clarke teaming up with the legendary rhythm duo Sly & Robbie. 'Every Knee' is an archetypal roots reggae anthem that has everything you want in a tune. It demands to be played loud and proud and blends Clarke's soulful, spiritual vocals with Sly & Robbie's masterful bass and drum foundation. The rest of the tracks here also have deep grooves and heartfelt lyrics that resonate with themes of devotion and unity and are enhanced by the signature dub-infused production.
Review: Tabou has decided to press this to both 7" and 12" so it's up to you to choose your weapon from Jamaican rhythm legends Sly & Robbie who showcase their unmatched talent for crafting dub soundscapes. 'Ogun Dub' opens with deep, resonant basslines and intricate drum patterns while paying homage to the Yoruba deity Ogun. The track seamlessly blends mysticism and spirituality and on the flip side, 'Rise of Shango' delivers another transformative journey while offering a cathartic and meditative experience that reaffirms Sly & Robbie's legendary status in the game.
Review: Jamaican rhythm section legends Sly & Robbie have an unparalleled ability to craft immersive dub soundscapes. This timeless duo of delights on Tabou shows that once more. 'Ogun Dub' kicks off with deep, resonant basslines and intricate drum patterns and is designed to pay homage to the Yoruba deity Ogun, is blends mystic and spiritual themes with hypnotic grooves. Layers of reverb, echo, and stripped-down instrumentation ankle add to the trip while 'Rise Of Shango' on the flip is another journey deep into the heart of dub that is utterly cathartic.
Review: It's time to take a trip back to the legendary 1980 production era of Sly & Robbie's Taxi label. By 1980-81, Taxi's stripped-down, heavyweight drum and bass sound ruled the dubplate scene at Channel 1 and while tracks like 'Heart Made of Stone' and 'Black Uhuru's' saw official releases, others like 'Warrior' and 'Rocks and Mountains' remained elusive and only surfaced decades later. 'Don't You Cry' by The Viceroys is one such raw, haunting roots track from that time with a thunderous drum and bass version also cinder. Straight from the dub room at 29 Maxfield Avenue, this long-lost gem is another special delivery.
Review: Black Uhuru and Sly & Robbie was a powerhouse collaboration that gifted reggae some of its most vital anthems. Backed up by the toughest rhythm section in the business, Black Uhuru were able to push a new urgency in Jamaican music which has lost none of its power over 40 years later. This compilation on TABOU1 gathers together a treasure trove of A-sides, dub mixes and even especially resotred dubplate specials from Black Uhuru's purple patch between 1977 and 1980, when they were recording almost exclusively for Sly & Robbie's Taxi label. Some of these tunes are beyond the wildest dreams of any reggae devotee who knows their onions, but even for the casual listener there's magic in every riddim.
We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you've provided to them or that they've collected from your use of their services.