Back catalogue: Roots/Lovers Rock

Review: Doncaster-based reggae producer (you don't read that often, do you?) Lewis Bennett teams up with veteran vocalist Donovan Kingjay for this new single, which is a heavyweight slice of spiritual roots and steppers. 'Jail House' delivers deep basslines, militant rhythms and conscious lyrics in classic sound system style. Kingjay's commanding vocal presence brings a timeless message of justice and resistance, while Bennett's production strikes a perfect balance between movement and meditative depth. This is a powerful, no-frills release for true roots heads, designed for the dubwise dance and built to shake speaker boxes.

Review: Studio 16 continues its vital reissue work with this roots gem from Tony Brevett & The Israelites. Originally released in the golden age of roots reggae, 'Star Light' is a luminous lovers' rock anthem guided by Brevett's warm, yearning vocals and deeply spiritual intent. The flip features a classic dubbed-out version which lets the rhythm breathe in all its analogue glory. With an endlessly engaging groove and heartfelt delivery, this 7" captures a glowing slice of reggae history that still shines brightly. Also, the louder the better with this one.

Review: Jamaican singer Dennis Brown's 1984 cut 'Right Fight' finally lands on 7", joined here by a dubwise version from the in-house We The People Band. Originally buried on the Love's Gotta Hold On Me LP and a now-scarce 12", it's one of those righteous, rootsy calls to arms that Brown delivered so effortlessly at his peak. His vocal glides over a tense but propulsive groove, bolstered by horns and a chugging rhythm section, while the lyrics advocate moral clarity in the face of pressure. Flip it and the band's instrumental version runs wild: militant and heavyweight, full of reverb-splashed snares, spectral brass and stripped-back pressure. Produced by The Mighty Two (Joe Gibbs and Errol Thompson), this pairing reflects a moment in mid-80s Jamaican production where the energy of roots still collided with dancefloor sensibility. Essential for selectors with a deeper box.

Review: More than than a decade of growth and exploration fed UK reggae and soul singer Hollie Cook's newest Mr Bongo release; an unmissable reggae-pop fusion taking form as 'Night Night', which also marks a homecoming and a fresh chapter for the singer and aritst. With General Roots as her backing band and Ben McKone handling production and dub duties at Crosstown Studios, the single pairs strident guitar licks and glowing keys with a system-scalding bassline. Hollie's sericin-soft delivery is matched by the fire of Horseman - this his first studio link-up with her since that debut - resulting in a track that pulses with affective lift. A dubbed-out B-side rounds out the 7", spacious, packed with entelechy and flair.

Review: This heavyweight 12" delivers fresh French-produced roots reggae straight out of the unlikely region of Brittany in the North West. It unites the talents of producers William Spring and Arthur Dub Dealer with sought-after Jamaican vocalist Aza Lineage and results in 'Give Thanks For Life,' a spiritually charged anthem carried by Aza's commanding, conscious delivery over a deep, meditative rhythm. William Spring serves up his own riddim, and the B-side offers a delicious dub version from Dub Dealing that strips the rhythm back and recooks it with echo-drenched finesse. Benyah's 'Badman Horns' is tipped with some ska-adjacent brass to make for a meeting of modern roots energy with enduring messages of uplift.

Review: Dubstoned Records is back with more fresh wax and heavyweight Rub-a-Dub rhythms, this time straight from Seville. Produced, mixed and dubbed by Variedub, 'Give Dem' features the powerful vocals of Tenor Mario, who is also part of Cool Up Records, and whose energetic delivery always cuts through. Rafael Arcos brings his signature guitar flair while The Sherlock Horns light up the groove with tight brass from Toni Martin on trombone, Pedro Caballero on sax and Mr Monkeyface on trumpet. Anchoring it all is Agustin Paris on bass. It's a deep, dynamic cut that blends roots tradition with local talent and comes with a flip dub for extra low-end heft.

Review: What time is it? It's Skankoclock. The label is small but already well-formed and this sixth outing offers up a fresh roots reggae gem from Rapha Pico, whose 'Treat You Wrong' delivers rich vocal vibes over a heavyweight riddim. It is then Far East's smooth melodica version that take sober and lulls you into more deepness that mixes classic energy with modern warmth. Guru Pope and Handyman round out the lineup with deep instrumental contributions that add more layers of rich musicality, all of which gets pressed in a vibrant full-colour skanking sleeve for superb toots with soul, melody, and pure sound system flavours.

Review: UK dub artist, singer, producer and self-taught musician Prince Jamo delivers a wonderfully heartfelt vocal on this new track, which means it cannot help but inspire resilience and notions of never giving up. Recorded during the COVID era, the song rides a live roots riddim crafted by the Zulu Vibes riddim section and expertly mixed by Zulu Vibes to embody a fresh Roots & Culture 2025 vibe. This record blends its soulful messages and authentic live instrumentation to tap right into the true-school and make it perfect for anyone seeking uplifting roots reggae with a classic touch.

Review: Spanish musician Bass Lee delivers a strong debut instrumental album with Roots across 10 tracks of deep roots rockers led by his signature melodica. The collection was produced alongside Roberto Sanchez at A-Lone Ark Muzik Studio and features standout tracks like the uplifting 'Enlightenment' and the meditative nyahbinghi-inspired 'East African Rift.' The album was developed during a studio session that also birthed albums by Clive Matthews and Lone Ark Riddim Force and completes a trilogy focused on timeless reggae foundations that are rich in analogue warmth and melodic finesse. All of this affirms Bass Lee's place in the new wave of roots reggae musicians pushing the genre forward.

Review: The scale is staggering, but the result is as focused and spiritual as any great dub record should be. Helmed by Swiss producer and keyboardist Mathias Liengme, this set draws together dozens of Jamaican session players from the 70s to todayithink Sly Dunbar, Vin Gordon, Ernest Ranglinion nine instrumental dubs cut and sculpted by Roberto Sanchez. '1000 Light Years DUB' opens with spacey textures and a tightly coiled rhythm section, easing into the skanking horns of 'In The Shadow DUB'. 'Whitewater DUB' flows warm and steady, while 'Memories of Old DUB' evokes roots nostalgia without drifting into pastiche. 'Rose Hall's Birds DUB' stands out for its bright brass interplay; 'Squirrel Inna Barrel DUB' rides a darker groove, led by echo-laden percussion. 'Under The Cotton Tree DUB' softens the tempo with flute and keys, followed by the spacious bass work of '45 Charles Street DUB'. The closer, 'Everlasting Love DUB', arranged around Errol Kong's melody, feels like both a send-off and an embraceiglowing, open, eternal.

Review: Marking 20 years of fresh dub experimentation, Jahtarian Dubbers's latest volume revives the Jahtari compilation series after a decade-long pause. This latest entry features a fresh wave of outsider dub, circuit-bent dancehall and cosmic low-end adventures with heavyweight jams coming thick and fast. Highlights include KingLMan's gritty opener 'The Loop Jerk,' Kiki Hitomi's sultry 'Red Mustang' and Kris Kemist's retro gem 'Casio HipHop.' El Fata brings vibes on 'Boom Sound' while Jura Soundsystem channels Sly & Robbie. Side B flows from Pupajim's extended 'Tidal Wave' to Legowelt and Mystica Tribe's tape-warped 'Cabal of Puppeteers' before finishing with Tiiu Helina's haunting 'Muuri' dub. This is a rich, twisted celebration of dub's outer limits.