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.
Review: Anita Ward's 'Ring My Bell' was itself a restir of an intended teenybopper hit. However, it found much better palatability as a disco number, saved for later and unveiled at the right time. Now, again, the original Frederick Knight penning hears an instrumental vivifying, but this time it assumes reissued dub reggae form under the 2002 aegis of the Blood Sisters, the three of whom duly vampirise the song, resurrecting it in a compellingly plodding take. Very little about The Blood Sisters is known; and this shapeshifting mystique is only compounded by the fact that this record and its dub version were produced by the much more prominent band One Blood, suggesting an offshoot project of a mystical nature. The track was also included in the game GTA: San Andreas; probably a keystone moment in its proliferation as a well-known and popular rendition.
Review: During last year's lockdown in Italy, contemporary dub producer Paolo Baldini was invited by Pressure Sounds to work on Bunny Lee's archive of recordings he made with singer Barry Brown during the mid-to-late 1970s. The results can now be heard on Praises, a set which adds a little more dub-wise spice to classic roots reggae cuts while retaining much of Lee's production and instrumentation. Brown's vocals - effortlessly soulful, hugely evocative and partially improvised - are simply superb, while Baldini's handling of Lee's riddims and musical arrangements is masterful. As a result, the assembled dubs, versions and vocal reworks sound faithful to the period in which they were recorded while adding subtle new touches and 21st century-ready low-end weight.
Review: We may not all have Common Ground between us, but we can certainly agree on many things when we look back on our vernal roots. This fresh 7" by the UK label homes in on one of the greatest lights to brave the Caribbean sonic Sea, Al Campbell. 'When Spring Is Around' was put out again by the label only last year alongside Ansel Collins on the B, but now a properly labelled version also materialises through their sublabel Jah Fingers. Campbell's canny song is a crackly breeze, detailing the lush renewal of love in the earliest months of the year. Keep your frog's hunkers coiled for this one, so that you can spring on it when Spring springs!
Review: Israel Vibrations' Strength of My Life marks a triumphant return for the trio, following a hiatus that saw them regroup and rediscover their musical strengths. Produced in collaboration with Doctor Dread and backed by the formidable Roots Radics, the album showcases a newfound voice and power. From the uplifting 'Cool and Calm' to the introspective 'Live and Give,' each track is imbued with its own distinct style, complemented by the Radics' masterful instrumentation. The Vibes' vocal performances are stellar, conveying heartfelt religious devotion, social commentary, and personal reflections with conviction. With contributions from reggae luminaries like Augustus Pablo and Dwight Pinkney, Strength of My Life exudes quality. Against all odds, Strength of My Life turned out to be a triumph, the beginning of the group's partnership with the Roots Radics.
Junior Dell & The D-lites - "Just Can't Get Enough" (3:21)
Prince Alphonso & The Fever - "The Prince Of Port Antonio" (2:52)
Review: There are few better combos in reggae than Junior Dell & The D-Lites and Prince Alphonso & The Fever, and they are mainstays of the Original Gravity label. this endless treasure trove of timeless sounds turns up another fine double sider here in which Junior Dell's soulful vocals shine over The D-Lites' rich, vintage ska rhythms and rolling groove 'Just Can't Get Enough'. On the flip side, 'The Prince of Port Antonio' is a lively instrumental blending jazz-infused brass with a deep reggae swing. Both tracks nod to classic Jamaican sounds while keeping things fresh.
Review: Ijahman Levi is getting a lot of love from the Jahmani label out of Jamaica as they are reissuing plenty of his pivotal early works. This ultra-rare original version of 'Chariots of Love' was first released on the Organisation label in 1977. While later recordings exist, including a duet with his partner Madge, this remains the definitive take. A sought-after piece of reggae history, it captures the essence of the times with its soulful vocals and deep grooves. This killer track is now available again for the first time in decades so is sure to fly off the shelves and into the bags of those who know best.
Review: Noted 70s reggae vocalist Ijahman Levi dropped plenty of seminal sounds back in his day. They chimed with the sound of the day while adding some hints at where it might in the future. This was his first ever drop back in 1976 (the second has also been reissued, and we have it) and it's a spiritual roots cut that hits deep. His vocal is smoky soul perfection while the instrumental rhythms roll sweet. On the flip is one of the heaviest dub reworks you could care to hear. It's perfect summer music with a serious spiritual edge.
Review: 'John Jones' dropped in 1968 on the Big Shot label after being produced and co-written by Derrick Harriott. It soon became a cult hit on the UK skinhead scene, its relentless rhythm and sharp lyrics making it an obvious anthem that was further cemented by its inclusion in the Tighten Up series. Impersonators then step up on the B-side with the yearning vocal reggae of 'I've Tried Before.' It's a lo-fi sound with hissing hi-hats and bubbling rhythms full of earthy soul. Rarely found in clean 7" copies, this one, so don't sniff at it.
Review: Tarrus Riley is among the crop of Jamaican singer/songwriters that are expanding the boundaries of reggae music today. Son of famed Caribbean vocalist Jimmy Riley releases his first album on VP Records. Songwriting and production collaborations with famed saxophonist Dean Fraser. All star band includes; Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare, Robbie Lyn, Paul 'Scooby' Smith, Glen Browne and others.
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