Hip-Hop News

Wairunga finds the Freddy juggernaut digging deep to debut five songs and revisit two classics captured in an outdoor performance sans audience but with wild weather elements playing an important creative role in producing this unique live album.

Recorded in Wairunga, high above Waimarama Beach in New Zealand, it is place etched into the DNA of Fat Freddy’s Drop who’ve roamed here for over 20 years; to party, relax between tours, make a song Wairunga Blues in its honour and even to get married. Farmed by the Parker family for a century, Wairunga is an oasis of green pasture and native tree filled valleys that fall away to the ocean below.

In inimitable Freddy's fashion the new tunes run a gamut of genre busting styles. Coffee Black is layered with cosmic hot buttered soul and cinematic wigged out psyche-blues while Shady continues Freddy's Afro-Acid adventures with Fitchie’s beat-making tapping into a South African township brand of techno Freddys experienced on tour.

Bush Telegraph is a reggae classic featuring MC Slave aka Mark Williams on the mic with freshly minted yum char spiced rhymes of hope. The other new tracks Leave Your Window Open and Dig Deep are loose rhythmic experiments that the band have been working on for a long time. Versions were developed, rehearsed, but then set aside – dismissed, demonised - only to be revived with new energy in some future moment of creative cohesion. The results are loose-limbed; broken and bruised beats smashing into subterranean bass and twisted up melodies.

Bones and Wairunga Blues are the two classics from Freddy's vast back catalogue. Off the Blackbird album, Bones has aged beautifully - like a fine wine - the song’s component parts matured and melded together in harmony and balance. DJ Fitchie rates this 2021 vintage superior to the 2013 original. Wairunga Blues has been a work-in-progress since it was released on Bays in 2015. Kuki dials up some appropriately off-kilter keys to match the wonky-funk laid down by Fitchie’s bass line and the horns. It’s a mighty comeback – and a fitting tribute to this magical place.

* A welcome reissue of a deep digital bass-rumbling excursion from the Sounds `n’ Pressure crew with 3 mixes of `Once Inna Dubtime’.
* Highly sought-after UK dub, originally released on the Sounds `n’ Pressure label in 1996.

* A welcome reissue of The Disciples set `Infinite Density of Dub’.
* A cosmic trip into raw spacey dub territory with heavy rumbling, pulsating bass-lines
* Originally surfacing on the Dubhead label in 1999.
* Mixed and produced by Russ D.
* Limited to 500 copies only.

Mysticisms presents Dubplate, a series of (sporadic) releases to showcase the blurring of genres between breaks, house and dub, even techno, wrapped around and within that oft-misunderstood take on digital reggae, the sound of Digidub.

To begin, label favourite Persian acts as selector, with 5 rare archive cuts that typify the producer and sound of the series. From the digital dubbing of Dunya - here in a previously unreleased Extended Mix - to the warped groove and monster bass of D Dub Retwist, this unique link between rave, breaks and sound system culture is clear.

As always Persian aka Peter Reilly, moves across styles with ease, offering the warm roots vibrations of Jacob Dub and Augustus, alongside title cut, Space Within Art - here in Dubplate Mix - a street soul breakbeat and sampledelic mash up, all touched with the heavy hand of dub.

An open expression within a loose framework, Dubplate #1 acts as guide and educator. Where cultures clash, morph and grow, embracing the diaspora through music; Arabic melody meets Jamaica riddim meets English hedonism in a Soundclash.

Digi the Mystery.

Newdubhall is an experimental dub label from Japan. Welcoming as their third release is a ten inch from Babe Roots hailing from Turin, Italy along with experimental dub duo Undefined and Japanese legendary dub trumpeter Kazufumi Kodama.

Babe Roots welcomes their ally Baba Ras in Steat of Mind, a deep yet minimal dub piece that toned down the BPM to the extreme.

Extent features Stefano Cocon’s trumpet, echoing into the beatless space of ambience.

REPRESS
Two dub edits "Bad" and "Badder" deconstructed from the track "Badman" with DRS, from legendary Mark Ernestus and exclusively released via his Hardwax Record store on 29th January and via Bandcamp on Feb 12th. "Getting to work with Mark Ernestus is a real honour, I collected his and Maurizio Von Oswald's work for many years and still do," he remarks. "It's hard to avoid the influence of these guys in electronic music across genres and so it is a real pleasure to have Mark do his thing with the Badman tune which I think sounds closely related."

Two titans in UK breakbeat culture, Loxy & Ink were both present at the inception of the birth of UK dance music and continue to be torchbearers. With ‘Manifested Visions’ the duo does exactly what the title suggests; transcending the boundaries of genre, roots dub meets hip hop and in-your-face drum and bass to create a five-track EP that will make you submit, revel, rave and float.

Rough Signal Records featured talented Italian female MC/Singer of Marina P.
As the backing and solo horn , her name is HAYAMI from ORESKABAND who is working as Japanese female ska band “ORESKABAND”.

* A UK Dub outing from 1996 from The Rootsman, originally appearing on his debut album on Third Eye Music - `In Dub We Trust’.
* A mid-paced steppers piece with more than enough weight to cause distress at any sound system gathering.
* This is the first time `African Style’ has been unleashed as a single.

The third release on Sufferah’s Choice sees Bristol’s Dub Invasion meeting the legendary Earl 16 for a heavyweight sound system killer!

Limited to 300 copies!

"The 11th single on Riddim Chango imprint features Kingston Dub Poet, Nazamba, who dropped his debut single on The Bug's Pressure label and an LP on Dubquake Records (O.B.F.). The riddim track on this one produced by Element, co-founder
of Riddim Chango records.

-sideA, Nazamba's earth-shattering vexed poetry tells a true story of oppressed black people's
history and the minimal tech-stepper riddim accelerates the power of the dub-poet.

On the flip side, “Xpander” is instrumental stepper track influenced by 90s UK militant digital dub. It is
build by layered Oberheim's classic synth sounds with solid drums and bass. low-end focused part2
has lesser elements with greater energy in a classic dubwise manner.

The 3 tracks on the 12” has been soundsystem approved for promised bass weight and balance."

Probably the most respected and sought-after producer of the European reggae scene of the last ten years, Spanish genius Roberto Sánchez (Willi Williams, Earl Zero, Alpheus, Keith & Tex, Milton Henry,...) takes place behind the microphone to deliver a new album as a singer under his pseudonym LONE ARK. Soberly titled Showcase Vol. 1, this album is a collaboration between Sánchez and the Swiss band THE 18TH PARALLEL, whose playing is well known to reggae fans, since its musicians have recently played and produced some remarkable records, including I've Seen by Oku Onuora, Roots I Vision by Micah Shemaiah or Wonderland of Green by The Silvertones and Burro Banton.

Faithful to the Jamaican roots reggae tradition, Showcase Vol. 1 offers six vocal tracks followed by their dub counterparts where all the creativity of the sound engineer and the musicians is freely expressed. On instrumentals at the same time heavy and irresistibly dancing, with a modern production but deeply rooted in the roots reggae sound, Lone Ark and The 18th Parallel push their listeners to critical reflection. A strong message + powerful music = a must-have album!

BEATCONDUCTOR offers up a cool laid back 7” inch dub mix of “GOOD VIBES"—different version that the 12”. Dreamy reverb drenched vocals accompany soulful rocksteady vibrations with uplifting rhythms. Get it today!

The mighty Lee Perry was the producer many have said, that enticed the best work, both socially, politically and lest we forget musically from Bob Marley and the Wailers Band. This was in no short terms aided by the excellent musicians that would mutate from Lee Perry's own studio band The Upsetters into what would become The Wailers band itself.

This set of musicians originally grew out of a group called The Hippy Boys. The core of which consisted of Glenroy Adams on keyboards, Alva 'Reggie' Lewis on guitar and brothers Carlton and Aston 'Familyman' Barrett on drums and bass respectively. This quartet played on most of the Lee Perry produced Wailers material recorded between 1970 and 1971. When in 1972 Bob Marley needed to put together a touring band to promote his work in Europe the Barrett brothers left and became an integral part of the Wailers band.

So, this link between The Upsetters and the Wailers band would under the guidance of Lee Perry produce an outstanding body of music. Recorded at Randy's Studio 17, as at the time Lee Perry did not have a studio of his own, but on checking out the various studio's available, opted for Studio 17, liking the vibes it transmitted.

We have unearthed from this selection of work some rare dubs featuring the fabulous melodica playing of Mr Augustus Pablo, playing over these classic rhythms and adding a haunting additional feel to these already iconic tunes. On their initial release Lee Perry recognising the strength of the rhythm tracks, planned to release the vocal cuts as one album and the instrumental versions as another release. We at Jamaican Recordings believing in all thing’s rhythm, also think that these cuts in their dubbed form, with the additional flavour of some fine melodica playing, deserved to be listened to in their own right.

Respect Jah Floyd.

The mighty Lee Perry was the producer many have said, that enticed the best work, both socially, politically and lest we forget musically from Bob Marley and the Wailers Band. This was in no short terms aided by the excellent musicians that would mutate from Lee Perry's own studio band The Upsetters into what would become The Wailers band itself.

This set of musicians originally grew out of a group called The Hippy Boys. The core of which consisted of Glenroy Adams on keyboards, Alva 'Reggie' Lewis on guitar and brothers Carlton and Aston 'Familyman' Barrett on drums and bass respectively. This quartet played on most of the Lee Perry produced Wailers material recorded between 1970 and 1971. When in 1972 Bob Marley needed to put together a touring band to promote his work in Europe the Barrett brothers left and became an integral part of the Wailers band.

So, this link between The Upsetters and the Wailers band would under the guidance of Lee Perry produce an outstanding body of music. Recorded at Randy's Studio 17, as at the time Lee Perry did not have a studio of his own, but on checking out the various studio's available, opted for Studio 17, liking the vibes it transmitted.

We have unearthed from this selection of work some rare dubs featuring the fabulous melodica playing of Mr Augustus Pablo, playing over these classic rhythms and adding a haunting additional feel to these already iconic tunes. On their initial release Lee Perry recognising the strength of the rhythm tracks, planned to release the vocal cuts as one album and the instrumental versions as another release. We at Jamaican Recordings believing in all thing’s rhythm, also think that these cuts in their dubbed form, with the additional flavour of some fine melodica playing, deserved to be listened to in their own right.

Respect Jah Floyd.

UK Dub pioneers Alpha & Omega (Greensleeves / A&O Records) represent the foundation of soundsystem culture and bass music migration from Jamaica, via the UK, to the world. Formed in the 1980’s and with over 30 studio albums to their name. Finally, for the first time in three decades Steppas Records has launched the A&O full LP reissue series. The latest in the series is 'Overstanding' a timeless and much sought after album originally released in 1992 currently only available at sky high prices if at all! Lovingly re-mastered and presented in the original sleeve featuring the iconic A&O artwork. Overstanding is another genre-defining album and a true piece of musical history.

After years of anticipation, here are the Iration Steppa “90s CLASSIC CUTZ”, an exclusive re- edition of five seminal UK Dub tracks that revolutionised reggae & electronic music in the 90s!

Including: Reminiscence, Kilimanjaro, What's Wrong, Lightning Dub & High Rise Vibrations

After years of anticipation, here are the Iration Steppa “90s CLASSIC CUTZ”, an exclusive re- edition of five seminal UK Dub tracks that revolutionised reggae & electronic music in the 90s!

Including: Reminiscence, Kilimanjaro, What's Wrong, Lightning Dub & High Rise Vibrations

After years of anticipation, here are the Iration Steppa “90s CLASSIC CUTZ”, an exclusive re- edition of five seminal UK Dub tracks that revolutionised reggae & electronic music in the 90s!

Including: Reminiscence, Kilimanjaro, What's Wrong, Lightning Dub & High Rise Vibrations

After years of anticipation, here are the Iration Steppa “90s CLASSIC CUTZ”, an exclusive re- edition of five seminal UK Dub tracks that revolutionised reggae & electronic music in the 90s!

Including: Reminiscence, Kilimanjaro, What's Wrong, Lightning Dub & High Rise Vibrations

A real Black Ark flavoured recording, even though recorded in London at Ariwa by Mad Professor.

Supernatural finds our hero in a very good mood on a very spooky recording. “I escaped from the mud hut” Classic!!!

Coupled with Psychopath, a recording from the same session, with the same intensity as Supernatural Taken from “Lost Tapes from the 80’s”

Introducing a brand new 45 from Soul Revivers entitled Look No Further / Further Dub. For Look No Further, Soul Revivers enlisted the trumpet talents of Ms Maurice, bandleader of Afro-Jazz ensemble Kokoroko and member of jazz septet Nérija.

Echoing classic Glenn Brown horns cuts of the 70s, Look No Further drops heavy with plenty of skank. A swampy clavinet cuts in and out over rhythm king Adrian McKenzie’s super-tight drumming, setting the stage for Ms Maurice’s glorious, soaring solos. Flip the 45 over for Further Dub, which is, as the title suggests, a heavier, live-on-the-mixing-board dub from Soul Revivers’ Nick Manasseh.

Orange Marbled Vinyl

Producer Delta Nine unleashes a deep and majestic melodica led 'steppers' style instrumental. Equipped with layers of rhythmic percussion, vintage drum machine shots and a driving analogue synth bassline designed to ruff up any sound system session!
Stripping the rhythm back to it's raw elements on the flip side for 'Raise the Dub', as the drum and bass take centre stage, the melodica and synth lines returning only briefly before cascading back through his echo chamber.

DENNIS BOVELL, from Barbados, based in London, England, is a legend - a bass player legend (band leader of the legendary Linton Kwesi Johnson Band) - a producer legend (THE SLITS, Fela Kuti, Bananarama, Madness, Joss Stone, a.o.). He produced the soundtrack for the critically highly acclaimed movie Babylon and the hit song "Silly Games" by Janet Kay. In recent years his works regained interest, also due to the recent rerelease of the 80's movie Babylon and his participation in Steve Mc Queens drama series Small Axe about the real-life experiences of London's West Indian community, set btw 1969-82. In 2019 Vienna's Dubblestandart produced a limited selection of reworks of reggae classics of Dennis Bovell's 1980's band Matumbi, Steel Pulse, Burning Spear, Twinkle Brothers, Culture a.o. , focusing on works that have been pivotal for the inspiration of Dubblestandart's bandleader Paul Zasky. Nicolai Beverungen, dub reggae label headman of ECHO BEACH outta Hamburg/Germany, invited DENNIS BOVELL to "REPULSE" the album at Robbie Ost's GoEAST Studio. Dennis felt inspired, loved the idea, re-voiced the songs, added a couple of guitar lines and also re-dubbed the album. "Repulse" Reggae Classics features DENNIS BOVELL on vocals and as a dub producer in co-operation with Robbie Ost from Dubblestandart, mixing on a legendary E - 6000 solid state mixing board (taken over from TEARS FOR FEARS studio in London), using selected vintage outboard Analog equipment, developing a distinctive dub reggae sound for this coming up 2021 release. What do songs like "I'm No Robot", "Babylon The Bandit" or Matumbi's "Hypocrite" have in common? All of them were written during the 1980's of the last century, but never lost their contemporary accuracy, still perfectly criticizing and analysing the "pulse" todays political leaderships and societies controversial points of view, have, while entering the digital age. Re- Pulse 21!

ZamZam 84 marks the return of J.Sparrow, one of the true stalwarts of UK sound system music. Producing dubstep & bass masterpieces for over 15 years, and running Navy Cut, with seminal releases on labels including Deep Medi & Tectonic, it would be difficult to overstate Ryan Wild's place in this culture. His second ZamZam carves out a new sonic world of dubwise power and beauty alongside close friend & sparring partner, the Microphone Controller called Sun of Selah.

We met Bukkah in winter 2019 on a session with the Basskateers in Jena. Soon it was clear that we gonna work together on a record release for BCSM. Bukkah is well known for his lush bass music productions and soon came up with a heavy steppers riddim. Instantly we imagined some upfront vocals on this one so we called none other than microphone matador Longfingah to ride on the riddim. Longfingah loved the tune and brought some nice lyrics in his style and fashion to the production. Still Reppin' is made for soundsystem dances, shakin' up everything with his heavy bass and gives a big shoutout to all crews and veterans.