Hip-Hop News

1982 tune for the first time officially authorised for 7-Inch single release produced by Henry "Junjo" Lawes. Recorded with the Roots Radics Band (including horn section by Deadly Headley and Nambo Robinson) at Channel One studio. The second side presents the wicked dub version "Dangerous Match Two" mixed by Overton "Scientist" Brown at King Tubby's studio.

We present to you our last release of this bizarre year, thirteenth release on 7” format, a new collaboration between Ojah and Nik Torp, keyboard player from The Specials.

The A side contains the track “Notting Hill”, a tribute to the famous carnival (greatly missed this year) featuring sounds of the vintage and rare Yamaha SK-20 organ played by Nik over a riddim formed by 80’s & 90’s synths and drum machines. Underlying the whole riddim is the recording of a baby’s heartbeat in the womb.

On the B side we find a dub version as is customary, sparse and full of fx, reminiscent of those open air dub sessions at Notting Hill Carnival, mixed live by Ojah on his analog console.

Limited edition of 350 copies, hand-stamped and hand-numbered, served in a thick custom reversed kraftliner sleeve.
Produced by Ojah, recorded at Alchemy Dubs Studio, London.
Organ by Nik Torp, recorded at Eastcote Studio 4, London.
Mixed & mastered by Oscar Pablos “Ojah" at Alchemy Dubs Studio, London, 2020.
Graphic design by Victor Castro.

all rights reserved

Gaudi follows up his critically acclaimed album “100 Years of Theremin (The Dub Chapter)” with a cover of Lee Perry's classic 'Bird in Hand' production.

Leroy Smart the self-proclaimed ‘Don’, carries much respect in the Jamaican musical community. His attacking vocal style gives his lyrics and tunes that extra meaningfulness.

Born in Jamaica and orphaned as a young child, Leroy was sent to Maxfield Park children's home and educated at the famed Alpha Boys School. The school was run by nuns who encouraged musical talent and would provide the world with the cream of Jamaica’s artistic talent. Such legends as Don Drummond, Tommy McCook, Johnny’ Dizzy’ Moore, to name but a few, all learnt their musical trade in this strict environment.

Leroy worked with many Jamaican producers, but seemed to find his feet working with Bunny ’Striker’ Lee. With whom he cut many of his greatest tunes. It is from this period that we have compiled this album. Featuring lost to now dubs to many of his classic tunes, like ' Wreck up my Life’, featured here as ’Dub Wrecker’. ’God Helps the Man’ Help yourself to Dub, Pride and Ambition If I should Dub. Fittest of the Fittest Dub for the Fittest and the title track of this selection his self-affirming Mr Smart Mr Smart in Dub.

These work alongside less known cuts that he also puts his musical stamp on .’No Love’ No Love In Dub. which sees him working over the ‘Zion Gate’ rhythm, made famous by Mr Horace Andy. The ‘My Conversation’ rhythm originally cut by Slim Smith but made into Leroy’s own ‘Jah Jah Forgive them’ For They Know What They Dub. All portrayed in his enviable style.

Such was Mr Leroy Smart’s stature in his homeland Jamaica, that when the ‘One Love’ peace concert line-up was put together for the 22nd of April 1978. The best of Jamaica’s Reggae stars was picked to play alongside Bob Marley & the Wailers. Such greats as Dennis Brown, The Mighty Diamonds, Peter Tosh and Inner Circle were chosen alongside the Don himself, Mr Smart. Whose stage shows were always colourful and to say the least eventful..

Mr Smart has continued to release music during the 80’s & 90’s, most notably with ‘She Just a Draw Card’ & ‘I’m the Don’. But as a set we feel this stands up with the best of them. Hope you enjoy the ride...

Respect Jah Floyd.

Jah Is My Light / Version

Raw Roots Reggae Featuring Reality Lyrics From One Of Jamaica's Finest, Sizzla Kalonji. Uk Based Foundation Sound Present This Vocal And Dubwise Set, Released On The King 45 Record Label.

Nikki Burt (recorded At Tads Studio, Jamaica) Sings Backing Vocals And Gav Fullness Plays Drums. The Horns Section Features Leroy Horns On Sax, Laura Impallomeni On Trombone And Mikey Ball On Trumpet. Producer King Sammy Plays Guitar, Bass And Keys. Mixed By Ed Foundation & King Sammy At Foundation Sound, Mastered By Nick Manasseh. Vocal Licence Courtesy Of King Dubbist.

Two dope Island Boogie tracks by Experience, an Afro Reggae group hailing from Germany. - Very nice steeldrumming in these tunes..

Experience’s “Share It With You” and “Happiness” can both be found on the private LP release “Oh! What A Feeling” from 1982. The group consisted of Anthony Flaverney from Trinidad, Curvin Murchant from Jamaica, Daniel Kofi Jefferson from Ghana and John Innies from Trinidad and was founded in Hamburg.

Anythony Flaverney, the lead singer on both songs, was active as songwriter and musician in Germany since the mid-1970s, most notably appearing on the Peter Herbolzheimer arranged “Caribbean Rock“ album by Malcolm's Locks (be sure to check their funk version of Bob Marley’s “Get Up Stand Up”!). Curvin Merchant, a highly respected drummer from Jamaica, settled in Germany around the same time. Before forming Experience, he was a member in several groups, including highly successful pop acts like Boney M. Later he became known as "Germany’s Grandfather of Roots Rock Reggae", among other things buildung up the "Reggae Center" in Hamburg. Flaverney and Merchant are joined by Daniel Jefferson on bass and John Innies on steel pan. The band existed for about 2 years, touring in Germany and Europe, unfortunately recording only one album which features a unique mix of Reggae and Funk.

The first track “Share It With You”, should give any serious music lover goose bumps. It was written by Flaverney and features a deep groove, steel drum solos and fantastic soulful vocals. It’s that type of tune you will play in a DJ set and people will come up to you and ask what it is. The single version is slightly edited.
Side B continues with Happiness, an equally great track with positive vibe and attitude, written by Flaverney and Jefferson. Again, the steel pan sounds give it that special compelling “Island” vibe from Trinidad.

The single is limited to 300 copies and comes in a beautiful picture sleeve showing part of the original artwork from the “Oh! What A Feeling” album.

"The first record release of the dub music platform Ace Tone includes three contemporary outsider dub explorations by a Germany-based group called ABDUL, who approach the genre from diverse influences. The tracks on this record are a selection of private sessions recorded live at the premises of Can Ömür Surpan, as well as a live recording of their concert at *Galerie Bohai* in Hannover 2019."

Berlin mavens Funkycan and Max Graef = Abdul. Their new 7" cooks up a cosmic stew of digital dub - the follow up to their acclaimed EP on Tax Free Records last year.

The second release from Sufferah’s Choice is a one-riddim collaboration 12” EP between Dubkasm and Ashanti Selah, the son of the great Aba Shanti-I, and a huge talent in his own right. It opens with a rare guest vocal by the legendary Keety Roots. A conscious mystic who is renowned for 90s gems like his legendary vocal ‘African Blood’, and for his heavyweight productions on his own Black Legacy label.

2x12"

Parisian label Another Moon are pleased to announce the imminent release of the second collaborative album by Scott Monteith aka Deadbeat and Paul St Hilaire aka Tikiman entitled 4 Quarters of Love and Modern Lash. When asked about about the album's motivations and production process, Monteith had the following to say: “I first heard Paul's voice back in 1996 when I stumbled upon the first Burial Mix 10 inch in a local shop, and it would be no exaggeration to say it has echoed in my mind ever since. We began working together in 2008, and it's fair to say the experience of performing and learning from him has left an indelible mark on my artistic process and my outlook on life in general. He is possessed of a truly electrifying spirit. I’ve had a folder on my hard drive called “For Tiki” for 14 years now, for those more often than not late night studio moments when I stumble upon a rhythmic or musical phrase and hear that unmistakable voice bubbling up in my mind. When that folder fills up with enough of those little magic moments I know it's time to call him, though strangely enough, he more often than not ends up calling me around those times. Such is his deep universal awareness.” “I wrote the initial sketches for what would eventually become this new album over the course of last year to a large extent as a way of trying to process what I perceived as a creeping darkness and sickness in both my own life and the world in general that desperately needed exorcising. When I received his initial responses I nearly fell off my chair. It goes without saying that Paul is a lyricist and poet second to none, and anyone familiar with his enormous body of work can attest to that. And yet, there was something in these latest pieces that hammered the proverbial nail clean through the wood. They perfectly captured this sense of rising tension, of a world that was getting almost psychedelically weirder and darker by the day, and both held a mirror up to this and offered some much needed release. Little did we know, nor could we possibly have imagined, that by the time the record actually hit the shelves, things would get exponentially weirder and darker still.” “It is my great hope that at some point in the coming months we will be able to get back on the road and share these new pieces with people in a live setting, as performing with Tiki is truly one of my greatest joys, and I think it’s where the fire in our work together truly burns brightest. In the meantime, it is my great hope that these 4 long form meditations might provide a little solace for people in their isolation, be it quietly, eyes closed lying on the coach, or cranked up, full on raving in their living rooms.”

A black hole full of early UK Hardcore intensity, the minimalism of MF Doom's beatmaking and the imaginative dancehall productions of Steely & Clevie.

Soul Jazz Records are releasing this latest Studio One compilation which features non-step 100% stone-cold classic Studio One killers! Spanning 40 years of the legendary label, this album is a fitting tribute to Clement "Sir Coxsone" Dodd and is a who's who of Jamaicaan Reggae.

Studio One Rocksteady is the fantastic new instalment in Soul Jazz Records' journey through the mighty vaults of Studio One, reggae's number one record company and its legendary pioneering producer Clement Sir Coxsone Dodd.

With excellent sleevenotes by Lloyd Bradley (author of the classic book Bass Culture - When Reggae Was King (Penguin)) this album is dedicated to rocksteady at Studio One as well as covering reggae soul and the birth of reggae. Featuring an all-star selection of artists: Ken Boothe, Marcia Griffiths, Jackie Mittoo, The Heptones, John Holt, Alton Ellis, Dennis Brown and more.

Soul Jazz Records' Studio One Rocksteady is released in CD- jewel case, 16-page booklet with card slipcase, as well as a heavyweight double-vinyl edition in deluxe strong gatefold sleeve (with full sleeve notes and free download code).

Superb EP, exmploring various kind of Dub possibilities... from the Ska dub-tel to Cumbia Ragga, and through the Electro Dub in a High Tone instrumental style.This is FAT !

Second remix 12'' of the Firecamp Stories Nettle's album. Enjoy ! Last copies ever !

As we keep exploring the outer wilds of dubwise music, we're happy to welcome Jah Schulz with a very special release on the basscomesaveme label.

With more than a handful of releases on Railroad Records, the german dub producer already made himself a name in the soundsystem scene. Legends like Jah Shaka playing his tunes regulary on their sessions. His heavyweight basslines and powerful drums are shakin' up every dance.

* Version excursion on Partial's rootsy `Free Again' rhythm, featuring Amelia Harmony, Jah Marnyah - both based in the UK, Berlin-based rising star Saralène and Partial Crew aka Liam Partial.
* As well as the three vocal cuts, the 12' includes three dub versions.
* Produced by Liam Partial, and mixed by Dougie Wardrop at Conscious Sounds studio, London.
* Other cuts on the `Free Again' rhythm appeared on the 7' (PRTL7064) - Ital Horns - `Remains Of The Day'.

Digital roots production by Murray Man from 2015. Played extensively by Chalice Soundsystem and Aba Shanti. Proper sound system anthem for the first time on vinyl 7".

For over two decades, Glasgow’s Mungo’s Hi Fi and their label Scotch Bonnet have spread their fun, forward-thinking reggae music around the world. And this ethos is triple-distilled into their now eagerly- awaited Puffer’s Choice compilations.

The latest, third edition in the series collects some the last few years' top collaborative highlights onto one LP. With its cover bearing the MacLeod of Lewis tartan, Puffer’s Choice 3 is a celebration of both the label’s Scottish heritage and their global family tree of links with sound systems, artists and producers who share the same spirit.

Fatal digital dub with a bloody Flip with "The groove" featuring Linval thompson ! Must have !

Heavy Roots dub ! LOUD sound !

We present to you our twelfth release on 7” format, a collaboration between Ojah, Chazbo & Yuuri Bamboo.

The A side contains the track “Resilience”, a melodica version over a 90’s inspired steppers riddim. The first verse is played by UK Dub legend Chazbo, while the second verse is played by Japanese melodica player Yuuri Bamboo, bringing to the table two unique and different yet complementary melodica styles.
On the B side we find a hypnotic and adventurous stripped-down dub version, reminiscent of those early morning dubs at a Shaka session, mixed live in analog by Ojah at his studio.

Limited edition of 350 copies, hand-stamped and hand-numbered, served in a thick custom reversed kraftliner sleeve.
Produced by Ojah, recorded at Alchemy Dubs Studio, London.
Melodica by Chazbo & Yuuri Bamboo, recorded at Roots Temple Studio, Japan.
Mixed & mastered by Oscar Pablos “Ojah" at Alchemy Dubs Studio, London, 2020.
Graphic design by Victor Castro.

all rights reserved

2x10" - A tribute to da Rastafari Elders

“Play On Mr Music” by the Upsetter Revue featuring The Heptones, The Congos and Junior Murvin, had long been the Holy Grail for roots reggae connoisseurs, until Rocka Shacka issued it on a 10-inch EP.

The result of an impromptu studio jam - captured on celluloid for Jeremy Marre’ s Roots Rock Reggae documentary in May 1977 - the track celebrates the undeniable pull of Perry’ s musical artistry, with both musicians and onlookers enhanced by the uplifting qualities of a marijuana spliff.

You can also enjoy the unreleased dub mix of the deep rasta tune "Rejoice Jah Jah Children" by The Silvertones, and an irie roots rock version of Curtis Mayfield "People Get Ready" by Junior Murvin, and Jimmy Riley’s soulful vocal on “Give Me A Love”.

Nottingham's Origin One returns with another bass heavy anthem. Traversing roots reggae, hip hop, dub and steppers this is a perfect example of Origin One's style of production, eclectic in influence and heavy on the bottom end. As the title may suggest the track is a tribute to the herb, delivered by Ghanaian born MC/rapper Kweku (K.O.G) who absolutely destroys the track. Already getting spins on some of the UK's biggest soundsystems, this should see some heavy rotation!

A welcome reissue of the second Zion Train album, originally released on Universal Egg in 1993.

* Zion Train were at the forefront of the UK dub scene and took their sound worldwide from continent to continent and from festival to festival.

* `…Sporting Moments’ explores the outer limits of dub electronically and mind-bendingly with ample sub-bass to cause distress to your speakers.

After the warmly received JD Twitch edits on the last 12", A7 Edits Vol 3 is here, and the quality quotient hopefully remains high.

Fast rising "Running Back" bod Shan goes to work on Cameroonian Pasteur Lappe's exhuberant 1979 disco roller "Na Real Sekele Fo'Ya", with a sleek, energised, percussive floor filler the end result. Also on the A-side is the glorious Afro Disco original.

On the flip, Londoner Glowing Palms adds punch and propulsion to Joe Bisso's 1979 slinky disco work out "Mystery With Me". Shan's back to close us out with a more slo mo take on Manus Dibango's cousin Charly Kingson's 1978 trancey - funker "Manyaka" – one for early doors, or late night sessions

REISSUE FOR THIS ERROL THOMPSON- PRODUCED CLASSIC FROM 1980, ORIGINALLY ON THE JOE GIBBS LABEL

Stripped down to the roots, these 13 contemporary new versions of classic Jamaican recordings, originally from the likes of the Trojan and Studio One studios, are triumphantly fresh and channel Jamaica’s rebel music history.
With Rastafari sewn into its sonic seams, Inna De Yard remind us of Jamaica’s vast contribution to popular music around the globe with a cast of golden-generation roots artists whilst introducing a new class of roots-enthused artists from the island.

Following the release of the album is a feature-length Inna De Yard documentary-film directed by Peter Webber (3 Oscar nominations for Girl with a Pearl Earring), set for its UK and international cinema release alongside European tour and summer festival dates including a special beach performance at the music industry Midem Festival in Cannes.

After a sell-out debut tour in France in 2017, the trailblazing quartet of Ken Boothe, Cedric “The Congos” Myton, Kiddus I and Winston McAnuff join forces to front a cross-generational super-group of roots-reggae visionaries, featuring Jamaican vocal trio The Viceroys and Bob Marley backing vocalist and artist Judy Mowatt, as well as Jah9, Var and Derajah, three of Jamaica’s most stirring and spiritually-connected artists on the scene today.

* A UK roots / dub classic produced by Nick Manasseh, with Time Unlimited member Orville Smith on vocals.
* Originally released on the Orville's 'Walking on Tightrope' set in 1996, now on 7” for the first time, backed with first-time-on-vinyl-dub version.
* Crucial steppers fodder with ton-weight Manasseh dub.