"In these credit crunched times all sorts of financial experts have written about ways to invest wisely with everything from antiques to vintage wine seen as good bets for that rainy day in the future. It’s fair to say that 25 years ago few people would have predicted 1980’s reggae vinyl would one day be worth its weight in gold, yet a number of such tunes have provided a mega return for anyone lucky enough to hold an original and who wants to sell on “the place we do not speak of,” as that well known auction site is referred to on a certain reggae message board. The passage of time, increase in values and emergence of a new audience many of whom were not yet even a twinkle in their parents eyes when these tunes first appeared, have all contributed to the now well established trend for higher priced classic reissues which is the new reality in the reggae business. Two such tunes have led the way in recent months; Dandy Lion’s 1985 one drop classic 'Vives', popularised at the time by Shaka and prior to it’s reissue commanding close to 300 pounds on Ebay, saw a repress on Kulumi seven inch and caused pandemonium amongst buyers with most stores selling out in 24 hours or less. Similarly brisk action was repeated with Little Kirk’s 'Weed Them Out' digital roots classic, this time reissued by French label Livity Reggae on twelve inch. Others to have received the reissue treatment lately, though on a lesser scale of excitement include Sammy Levi’s 'Come Off The Road' on Eclipse Records US import seven inch, 'Sodom & Gomorrah' by Sluggy Ranks a 1991 cut on the Tempo riddim available on Part II seven inch, and Robert Lee’s 'Leader' on Fish Tea seven inch.
And staying with the same financial model, though neither digital nor 1980’s, New York’s Digikiller label are to be commended for the reissue of Freddy McKay’s 1970’s roots opus 'Take My Hand Oh Jah' backed with the equally magnificent sounds of one of reggae’s finest voices Naggo Morris with 'You Want To Get I Out' on Yah Congo twelve inch.
Also on the reissue front, look out for a crisp batch of discomix twelve inch from the late Joe Gibbs own label. Discomix in the true 1970’s sense – each one featuring vocal segued into DJ cut, with dub on the flipside, pick of the roots bunch are Beverly Bailey’s 'I Was In Love' and Prince Far I’s 'Deck Of Cards' on the Satta riddim, Black Uhuru’s 'Rent Man' with Jah Grundy’s 'Resident Area', Naggo Morris with 'Su Su Pan Rasta' plus Prince Far I’s DJ cut 'Heavy Manners', and Sylford Walker’s Burn Babylon' alongside Trinity with 'Don't Trouble Natty Dread'. Joe Gibbs fans will also be pleased with the reissue on Greensleeves of the early 'Dub Serial' album, while another early dub album, 'Pleasure Dub' by Tommy McCook & The Supersonics is available on Pressure Sounds.
Proving that Jamaica isn’t the only place in reggae with a history to reissue, 'Jah Music' from Vivian Jones comes again on White Rum Red Stripe seven inch.
Gideon Jah Rubbaal’s 'Love Rasta' was one of the first ever releases on Greensleeves back in 1977 and is now reissued on Gideon Jah Rubbaal 10 inch, a great piece of Channel One roots rockers well worth checking. A mini album from Prince Alla titled 'Archive Recordings Showcase' is out on Archive Recordings, featuring four vocals with accompanying dubs, all killers including the wicked 'Their Reward','No Love' and 'Youthman In The Ghetto', sourced from a number of different studios. And sticking with Prince Alla, New York’s Black Redemption reissue a triple ten inch pack from Prince Alla on Forward Roots label – three different ten inch featuring all the tracks from Alla’s early 1980’s 'King Of The Road' album produced by Carlton Jackson. Containing killers like 'Jah Morning Son', 'So Much Soul To Save' and 'Don’t Give Up', these tunes hark back to the days when Alla was a youthman singer in his prime.
Also out now on the reissue front are a number of titles from Sir Collins. Packaged in picture sleeves, of most interest to roots fans will be 'Africa' from Unity Stars plus Sir Collins & Big Dread’s 'Blood And Fire', available on Collins Music seven inch and dating from 1976.
Onto the present day now and we’ll start in the UK. Birmingham’s jaw rattling wall of sound King Earthquake continue with their mission to reduce dancegoers ribcages to dust with their latest batch of releases; new singer Jacko Melody instructs the faithful to 'Kneel And Pray' while Izyah Davis declares his opinion of transgressors with 'Bun Dem', each of these tunes coming on twelve inch. Earthquake mainman and selector/operator Errol Arawak takes centre stage on the labels first two seven inch releases, 'Creeper's' and 'Bloodshed', both of which are guaranteed to shake and quake inna dance. Three more seven inches inna similar style have also just emerged from King Earthquake HQ – 'Fashion', 'Trojan' and 'Bonify'. The aforementioned Izyah Davis spreads his name further with two more ten inches – one for Bristol’s Henry & Louis - 'Israe'" and 'Hands Of Jahoviah' on 2Kings label and another for Leicester’s Counteraction Warriors titled 'Look How Long'.
Staying in the midlands, Birmingham’s Murray Man turns in a heavyweight steppers production featuring Ras Tweed on 'Afrikan People', to be found on Mellow Vibes twelve inch.
Cult producer Noel Zebulon takes centre stage on the latest Hands & Hearts twelve inch with some fine digital steppers workouts, while up and coming London sound system King Alpha enlist the aid of Ras Mac Bean for 'Praise The Most High' on their second ten inch release.
The first of a number of summer 2009 releases from Black Legacy Records sees Keety Roots in fine form with 'Faith In Jah' and 'Live And Let Live' on ten inch, which has been quickly followed by the excellent 'Colours of 12' from Creation Stepper and 'Home Sweet Home' from New York based former Studio One crooner Judah Eskender Tafari, while Bradford’s Inspirational Sound team up with Bulgarian folk singer Stephanie on 'Warnin' and 'Sing Jah Praise' for their debut release on ten inch.
Barry Issac’s Reggae On Top label delivers 'Battle Of Adwa', a mostly instrumental stepper heavily laden with FX box dubbery on 12 inch.
Ras Muffet continues his hard working production schedule with a number of releases. His own Roots Injection label now has an American distribution offshoot and from this source comes two instrumental ten inch, 'Triumphant Mix' and 'Blow Mr Hornsman' on one platter and 'Lion Of Judah' and 'Livity Riddim' on another. Also from America but on Ras Kush’s Black Redemption label come further Muffet works with remakes of two roots classics, Johnny Clarke’s 'Play Fool' and Prince Alla’s 'Lot's Wife'.
Original UK dubmaster Mad Professor stays busy with a couple of seven inch releases, 'Caution' featuring Little Roy, plus a revamped early 80’s classic from Aquizim titled 'Africa'. And just in case any dubstep heads may be wondering about the origins of their music, Mad Professor tells them straight with the 'Audio Illusions Of Dub' album, all these releases to be found on his Ariwa label.
At one time The Twinkle Brothers were one of Jamaica’s finest and most militant live groups, recording a series of classic roots anthems, many of which rarely left Jah Shaka’s turntable for years on end. Nowadays the name “Twinkle Brother” would be more accurate since it’s mainman Norman Grant who continues alone with the name, sometimes producing himself and other times singing for other producers. This latter role is the one he takes for the latest album 'Praises To The King' on Barry Isaac’s Reggae On Top label. Coming inna showcase style & recorded like most of the label’s output at Conscious Sounds, this set won’t fail to disappoint fans of the UK steppers style as heavyweight riddims lay the backdrop for Mr Grant’s still effective vocals and heartfelt lyrics.
Conscious Sounds supremo Dougie Wardrop has a history or resurrecting the careers of long forgotten artists. He did it with Kenny Knots, taking him from years of post Unity Sound 'Watch How The People Them Dancing' obscurity to a place firmly in the UK roots spotlight. This time, he’s done it again but with an artist popularised by Conscious Sounds in the first place, King General. Gaining a name via a series of successful singles plus an album with Conscious Sounds in the 90’s, the General delighted countless roots fans with his high pitched yet incisive vocals, only to retire from the business for nearly 15 years afterwards, becoming a cult artist in the process, with a mystique boosted by there being no photos of him in circulation. Earlier this year he linked up with Conscious Sounds again and the first fruits of these sessions are now out with the release of 'Broke Again' on twelve inch. An album is due in the future.
Universal Roots, run by Brixton’s RDK sound system have always gone for quality over quantity release wise. Their latest offering 'Global Warning' featuring RDK mic man Knatty P is mixed by Disciples and comes nicely packaged in a picture sleeve with 6 mixes on twelve inch.
Elsewhere in the UK Glasgow’s Mungo's Hi Fi, known for flirting with different genres including dub, dancehall, dubstep and ska issue two new twelve inch on their Scotch Bonnet label with artists like Ranking Joe & Mc Ishu on the ska/dancehall fusion 'Under Arrest' riddim. New label One In The Spirit release their first tune with a reissue of the 1994 Disciples instrumental 'Faithful Man' along with some previously unreleased mixes. Female singer Naffi - I issues her first album on CD, 'Stand Firm' on Unique Sounds label including productions from King Earthquake, Ras Muffet, Conscious Sounds and sound system amp builder Mark Mostec. Kendrick Andy, also known as Peter Culture issues 'Great Old Men', a tuff one drop tune produced by cosmic rockers Alien Dread on ACL/Phat Dubz ten inch, while Gussie P revamps Barry Boom’s former Shaka dubplate 'The Wicked Shall Fall' for a horns cut extravaganza featuring Matic Horns on 'Ancient Harmonys & Melodies' and 'Delamare Avenue Skank', to be found on Sip A Cup ten inch. Roots chanter and poet Cos Tafari revisits Wayne McArthur’s 'Victory Dance' riddim for 'Beloved Ethiopia', produced by Reggae Remedy from France and out on I Negus Records ten inch. Paul Fox, of whom little has been heard in recent years, comes again with 'Walls Of Jericho', a showcase style CD on Shades Of Black label.
The latest riddim from Necessary Mayhem sees Tristan Palma’s 1981 classic Joker Smoker given the 2009 treatment with two seven inchers featuring UK lyrical wordsmith YT with the topical 'Credit Crunch' alongside Mr. Williamz on 'No Cigarette', plus Ziggi with 'Joker Smoker (Smoke In The Air)'. Quality dancehall roots. YT’s 'Wicked Act', in which he comments on the London tube bombings from a few years ago is reissued on Sativa Records seven inch and worth tracking down for anyone who missed it the first time.
Cause ‘N’ Effect issue three different seven inch including Roger Robin on a relick of Ernest Ranglin’s Studio One classic 'Surfin' plus two titles from Ras Degus, all worth tracking down.
Last but most definitely not least on the UK front comes the eagerly awaited debut album from Dubkasm, 'Transform I' on Sufferah's Choice label. Riding on the critical acclaim of their single releases which culminated in the highly sought after 'From The Foundation' seven inch, and led by producer/musician/hornsman extraordinaire Digistep, Dubkasm weave a rich sound combining live instruments with digital and on this album incorporating elements of percussion from Brazil where Digistep is partially based. With artists including Dub Judah, Afrikan Simba and “Mr Reggae Reggae Sauce” Levi Roots on board, the project succeeds in keeping both roots and music in roots music.
Across the channel, dancehall producer Frenchie stays busy with a number of excellent releases. Delroy Wilson’s 1970’s Channel One classic 'I Know Myself' riddim gets retitled here as 'I Know My Herbs' courtesy of the riddim twins Sly & Robbie, while artists including Luciano, Jah Mason, Alborosie, Burro Banton and Sizzla step up to the mic to deliver a fragrant assortment of herbsman lyrics. Augustus Pablo’s classic '555 Crown Street' gets similar treatment, metamorphosing into the 'Matches Lane Dub' riddim with vocals from Alborosie on 'Can't Take What Is Mine' plus Anthony B & Chezidek on 'Better Haffi Come'. Finally from Maximum Sound comes an original riddim 'Vineyard Town', a really nice slice of modern JA roots ridden by Luciano, Capleton, Fantan Mojah, Peetah Heritage and Lukie D. Whilst on the subject of modern JA roots, check out Alborosie’s 'I Rusalem', one of the few good examples to come out of the island recently and available on Shengen Clan seven inch, along with other Alborosie seven inch offerings on his own Forward Recordings label, 'Can’t Stand It' (featuring Dennis Brown), 'Burnin’ & Lootin’ (featuring Kymani Marley) and the great 'Baltimore' featuring The Tamlins.
French label Inna De Yard issue a tough seven inch with Matthew McAnuff titled 'Be Careful'. Still in France but on the ever expanding French UK roots tip, Hard Drive release a double sided ten inch with Prince Alla titled 'See Me Yah' backed with Loota’s 'Omega Dub'; Livication Corner come inna ten inch style with Weeding Dub ft Sister Charlotte and 'Words Of Life' and Weeding Dub meets MK & Dub Browser on 'Struggle For Creation'; Humble I takes the vocal spotlight with 'Sound of Reality' and 'Guide Me' on Control Tower ten inch, whilst Mafia & Fluxy provide the musical backing for Doniki with 'Word Of My Mouth' on Heavyweight Station ten inch. Stepping back in time to the late 1990’s, French group Universal Love come with their version of the Tyrone Taylor/Observer classic 'Sufferation', recorded twelve years ago at Conscious Sounds with an all live lineup and now released on Deep Roots Music White Label seven inch. And finally from France coming very much inna 1990’s Disciples stylee, check out the debut CD from Jacin, 'Dubwild' on Original Dub Sound label.
Amsterdam’s King Shiloh sound system have always been selective with their releases and their latest batch are no exception – three quality twelve inches featuring Earl Sixteen, Danny Red and Christine Miller with productions from Gussie P, Dubcreator and Slimmah Sound. Just over the border in Belgium Cookie Jar issue a twelve inch inna UK steppers style featuring Carlton Livingstone with 'Who Dem A Fool' backed by Jah Melodie on 'Take I Home', produced by Unlisted Fanatic and mixed at Conscious Sounds.
Onto Switzerland from whence comes the consistently excellent Cultural Warriors, whose latest project comprises modern recuts of four roots classics, each assigned to different engineers for mixing; Cornell Campbell’s Studio One original 'Natty Don't Go', here mixed by Vibronics; Earl Zero’s seminal 'Righteous Works', with Gussie P on the board; Leroy Smart’s Channel One classic 'Jahoviah' on which Cultural Warrior’s mainman Lionpaw takes mixing credits, and Ras Michael’s binghi rootsman anthem 'None Of Jah Jah Children No Cry', given the treatment by Russ Disciples. Highlight of the bunch is the Earl Zero courtesy of some seriously crisp and heavyweight mixing from Gussie P, but all four tunes are worthwhile purchases and the label deserve some praise for getting these veteran and nowadays mostly unheard singers back in the studio, no mean feat in itself.
Croatian artists Radikal Dub Sound link up with Ras Tweed on 'Against It', available on Digitron ten inch; Italian crew Wicked Dub Division team up with King Shasa for their second ten inch, 'Recreation' and 'Culture' out on Wicked Dub Division label. Still in Italy, Lumumba Records issue a couple of excellent rootsy seven inch featuring Paco Ten with 'Dem A No Care' plus Earl Sixteen on 'World Crisis' & Echo Ranks with 'When My Father Come'. Amsterdam’s Slimmah Sound produced a tuff one drop tune with King Shiloh singer Lyrical Benjie titled 'Sit N Wonda' on Roots Tribe seven inch, while Swedish label Mad Mac team up with Rod Taylor on 'Make It Work' and Jah Zebi on 'Power Of The Trinity', released on twelve inch. From Spain, Hotdrop’s 'No Barriers EP' a ten inch on Lafamille Music is worth checking. Finally from Europe, inna year 3000 style comes 'Invasion' from Sweden’s Echo Roots on Downbeat Sounds seven inch.
Across the Atlantic and the debut CD from Rasteo, 'Mystic Morning' on Forward Bound Records is a welcome surprise. Armenian by birth and now California based, Rasteo’s fine vocals are aided on this CD by productions from a number of European sources including Unitone’s Rueben Addis, all of which give the album more of a UK roots feel than most material coming out of the US. Watch out for this talented singer in future. Another US tune worth tracking down is 'Pork Eater' from esteemed New York producer Ticklah featuring Rob Symeonn, with lyrics highlighting the folly of consuming this decidedly not ital fare backed by a solid riddim with a vintage Roots Radics feel, out on Easy Star 7 inch.
Still in a UK style but coming from Japan, Riddim Conference’s 'Hail Him' on Kingston Connexion’s Japanese spinoff label Tokyo Connexion takes Augustus Pabloesque far eastern influences and mixes them with UK influenced steppers riddims to great effect. And continuing the Japanese/Jamaican cultural revolution, DJ Kentaro remixes the mighty Kunte Kinte on Pressure Sounds twelve inch, though I’m still not convinced that the original is, as the label suggests, by The Revolutionaries…."
Jah Warrior
(September 2009)
"As the musical famine experienced during a harsh winter turns into spring, the bass buds are blossoming and hungry roots diners can now find all manner of delicious dubwise dishes to tantalise their tastebuds...
South London masterchef Gussie P's Sip A Cup establishment has been operating to a tried and tested recipe for some years now. The ingredients often involve carefully constructed Mafia & Fluxy laid versions of that classic dish a "Shaka killer," often spiced up with a veteran singer, with the final flourish added in the mixing bowl by Gussie himself. The latest additions to the Sip A Cup menu stay firmly within the house formula - albums from Michael Prophet and the late Junior Delgado inna showcase style, the latter including a new cut of Jux's classic 'Sons Of Slave's, originally devised for eccentric Jamaican chef Lee Perry. But Gussie's restaurant isn't the only South London eaterie to try a new take on Upsetter recipes. Over at Chez Ariwa, head chef Neil 'Mad Professor' Fraser tries his hand at another delicate concoction popularised by Max Romeo known as 'Chase The Devil', liberally peppered with lyrics from Macka B on two new 7" titled 'Ganja' and 'Ariwa Sound'.
Not to be outdone when it comes to Upsetter inspired dishes, Birmingham's G Corp and their co chefs Overproof Sound System whose reputation for an assortment of musical dishes ranges from rootsy dub to more dance oriented techno, issue a dubstep cut of 'Chase The Devil' in tandem with Viennese patisserie experts Dubble Standart on Elephant House Recordings 12". From the same outlet comes two more 12", a reworking of Birmingham sound system Jah Wassifa's 1981 classic dubplate dinner 'King Step' (popularised in recent times from regular consumption by Iration Steppas and itself an answer piece to Jah Tubbys' legendary 'Hooligan 69' dubplate dish), plus a remix of the Michael Rose/Twilight Circus goodie 'No Burial'.
The West London district of Southall, known for it's numerous Asian restaurants is home to Roots Youths headed by esteemed local chef Kullar. No less than five new 12" platters recently appeared on their tasting menu, including two versions of Dandylion's tasty treat "Vives" with Earl Sixteen's Disciples produced 'Rise Up', plus the Conscious Sounds produced 'Hail Jah' from Tony Roots, the former sticking more closely to the original recipe. Disciples also adds his special fine mixing sauce to the main course of Earl Sixteen's 'Trials And Tribulations'. At first sight 'Bangladesh Dub' appears to be a delicacy local to Southall, however this particular dish in fact hails from French dubwise delicatessen Ackboo. The oddity on the menu is the B side of Singer Blue's 'Superstar', called 'Want To Know' by Leah, which despite being mixed by the Michelin starred Nick Manasseh, comes in an R'n'B style which seems at odds with the usual fare served up in the Roots Youths kitchen.
UK veteran Brother Culture tries a taste of dubstep on the Dub Terror produced 'Turn The Tide' 12" from Zion Train's omelette outlet Universal Egg. And where better to find another Brother Culture crisp biscuit than a Cookie Jar, the Belgian label which issues the more rootsy 'Ninja Assassin' on 7 inch.
The Dubateers bring three new 7 inch platters to the table this month. The sound system seafood suppers produced from their Southend coastal café veer more towards the simplicity of fish & chips than the complexities of say a Disciples style lobster mornay or a multi layered Alpha & Omegaesque clam chowder. It has to be said the high pitched falsettos of Carl Meeks are an acquired taste. Now residing in as Dillinger once put it, "a knife a fork a bottle and a cork, that's the way we spell New York", he makes a meal of his vocal on 'Frenemy', while daughter Carliesa Meakes delivers the heavily R'n'B flavoured 'My People'. Dish Of The Day from the Dubateers Diner however comes from Kenny Knots who's going hungry on his excellent vocal for 'Credit Crunch' which includes the line topical not only to this article but the world right now, "credit crunch, can't find no dinner, can't buy no lunch".
Elsewhere from the UK, Russ Disciples cooks up a storm with 'The Rush' on Jah Tubbys 10" while Bongo from Nomadix produces a sizzling hot stepper 'Father Forgive Them' from Sista Beloved on I Negus 10". Bristol's Henry & Louis have a triple decker three remix sandwich of 'Rise Up' featuring Steve Harper to be found on 2Kings 12". Of the three, Dubnophobia's remix is an orthodox stepper but the cold cuts from RSD & Sledgehead explore dubstep and other non reggae territory and may be less palatable to hungry customers longing for more traditional roots food. Vibronics have two more 10" additions to their growing repertoire of masterchef meals, the previously delayed 'Dub In The Valley' souffle on Scoops label plus 'Critical Situation' which also comes with a side dish of Sir Larsie I courtesy of German sauerkraut manufacturer Dub Flash.
The highly regarded dishes devised by Keety Roots created much interest in dub dining circles during the early 1990's. After a lengthy absence, he returned to the kitchen a couple of years ago to relaunch his Black Legacy restaurant, the latest offering coming from long time associate Tena Stelin, the cordon bleu standard 'Richest Continent' 7". Judging by some of the excellent new meals previewed recently during his appearance on DJ Stryda's Roots Recipes show, Keety looks like winning over even the most discerning of dub diners.
There are times when no matter how hard a new chef tries his hand and tinkers with an old favourite, you still long for the original tried and tested recipe. Such is the case with the debut release from Sugar Beat Records out of Norwich, a city known more for Colman's mustard and Delia Smith than dub. Using the basic ingredients from Johnny Clarke's famed 'Jah Give Us The Power' dubplate burger, we get vocals from Ras Zacharri, Dandelion & Stamina Li. The singers are all spicy enough but the original, a simple drum & bass steppers sandwich that's been tasted a zillion times ever since Jah Shaka started serving it thirty years ago, just can't be improved upon, despite the best efforts of Nick Manasseh who mixes a decent enough version in his blender.
Which leads us to the good old fashioned recipes. Big Youth reissues a number of tasty tidbits on Negusa Negast 7" including 'Honesty' on Lloyd Parks 'Slaving' riddim & 'Cool Breeze' on Derrick Harriott's 'Stop That Train' riddim. The 1981 epic appetizer 'Gates Of Zion' from the Mighty Diamonds comes again on Roots 7". Bim Sherman's 'It Must Be A Dream' comes with companion piece 'Run Run' from Junior Delgado on Jah Woosh's Original Music label, whilst the excellent but little heard Gideon Jah Rubbaal's 70's album 'Free Us Now" is out on vinyl & CD on the Gideon Jah Rubbaal label. A word of advice for anyone considering dining out retro style this month - leave room for the icing on the cake: A five course 7" style buffet lunch from Roy Forbes Allen's acclaimed Hawkeye gastropub including a trio of Desi Roots delights in 'Weed Fields', 'He Ain't Coming' and 'Uptown Rebel' (all with dubplate mix dubs). Plus five more examples of rootical haute cuisine produced by Robert Palmer of Negus Roots and issued on Fire House 7". For starters the menu comprises the late Lacksley Castell's 'Jah Is Watching You'; a choice of 2 mouthwatering morsels from Don Carlos for the main course - 'Gimme Gimme' plus a surprisingly different version of 'I Love Jah Jah' to that issued on Negus Roots 12" in 1981; dessert is Bobby Melody's sweet 'True True Loving', and last but not least for coffee and petit fours we get Voice of Progress featuring the young and pre-bobo era Junior Reid on vocal with 'Gun Gun'. These meals from Hawkeye and Fire House are truly original ital food at its finest.
Across the channel In France a whole heap of reggae chefs are trying to demonstrate they know their onions when it comes to roots. Irie Ites give us five cuts on 7" of John Holt's 'Strange Things' riddim including versions from Mr Holt himself, veteran DJ Trinity plus an assortment of artists including Sizzla, Junior Kelly, Lutan Fyah & Chezidek. The most appetizing dish on the menu though comes from the Ghanaian/Hungarian Sena. Currently based in France, this sister can sing for her supper for real. Backed as on most Irie Ites recipes by UK chefs Mafia & Fluxy, it tastes exactly as you'd expect. Strange Things also forms the basis for two superbly seasoned 10" ready meals just out at Markie Lyrics place Universal Roots. Devised by Russ Disciples with an accompaniment of Sandeeno, Ruben De Silva, Peter Roots and Marlene Ammers, these dishes are rich, hearty and bursting with flavour to please all palates.
Sticking with French musical food, new establishment Roots Survival opens it's doors with four versions of the 'Ras' In' riddim with Turbulence, Norris Man, Omar Perry etc. The riddim itself is little different from most of its Jamaican "one drop" jerk chicken shack counterparts nowadays, but the stand out track is Jahmali's 'Serious Questions' which poses some interesting, thought provoking & unusually non clichéd views on the use of herb by Rastas.
Elsewhere from France new cafe Turtle Recordz issue two decent 7" Anglo-French style snacks on the Tell Dem riddim featuring Birmingham's Murray Man along with new singer Slughed; Jam Strong Records similarly release two 7" on an untitled riddim, featuring Lutan Fyah, Sena, Lorenzo & grill chef Sizzla Kalonji who just in case anybody needs reminding of his fall from gastronomic grace, declares that he "Don't Give A F**k" inna junk food style. And to think this is the same chef who once regularly excited diners the world over with culinary masterpieces like 'Praise Ye Jah'. While No More Babylon's new 'Propoganda' dessert comes with a choice of sauce anglaise a la Kenny Knots on the other side, served on a 10" Echowise plate.
Just as Italian cuisine has never received the acclaim of its French counterparts, so too the newly emerging Italian reggae scene has yet to develop the sophisticated flavours of some French equivalents and is more akin to a full English breakfast circa 1994 than the nouvelle roots cuisine which makes London 2009 the dubwise dining capital of the world. Most notable of the new Italian pasta masters is Dan I, whose latest release 'Like A Seed' can be found on Moa Anbessa 10" thin crust pizza. Hailing from Venice, the Moa Anbessa crew are living proof of roots food's emergence in the most unlikely of gastronomic places.
Equally unlikely only a few years ago would have been the notion of heavy steppers dishes emerging from Greek restaurants, more noted for pitta bread, hummus and kebabs than rice 'n' peas with ackee and saltfish; look no further for proof of the new musical pudding in Greece than the latest 7" mezze from AMP (Attiko Minus Project) whose 'Mr Warmonger' featuring UK artist Echo Ranks, though as with most European roots dishes taking inspiration from the UK kitchen, is a decent enough delicacy.And finally on our culinary tour of the Mediterranean let's not forget Spain the land of sangria and paella, from whence comes the highly talented Roberto Sanchez who teams up with French label Webcam Hi Fi for the excellent 'Tings And Time' tasty 12" tapas."
Jah Warrior
(April 2009)
"As 2009 gets underway the world of roots along with the rest of the music biz is subject to changes. Vinyl, the preferred format of most roots fans is getting harder to manufacture and in some cases more expensive to buy; reduced UK pressing plant capabilities are slowing up output for labels, while in Jamaica there’s said to be only two plants in operation on the island. Not that the locals care, as vinyl is now extinct for homegrown consumption and only produced for export, with yard sounds now playing exclusively from downloads & CDR. What will be the fate of roots vinyl in the next few years? Time will tell but the signs are already there that vinyl heads may be in for a big shock in future…
After a slow start to the year more tunes are now surfacing and the three most polished producers on the UK scene all have new works out. Russ D lends his fine mixing capabilities to a wicked Johnny Clarke 10” on Black Redemption label, produced by Ras Kush outta New York. As expected from anything associated with Disciples, the mixing is superb. Along with another Ras Kush production on the same label featuring a revamped version of Prince Alla’s 'Their Reward' plus 'Walls' from Fred Locks, both mixed by Ras Muffet at Roots Injection, these releases fall into the higher priced category courtesy of prices set by the American label, import duties, and the pound/dollar exchange rate. The Johnny Clarke release has also fallen victim to that other curse of too many modern killers – it sold out in a matter of days at Reggaemusicstore, but that’s the mark of a truly popular tune.
Disciples mixing can also be heard on 2 new 10” from rising UK label Reality Shock. Produced by Kris Kemist, the 'Rise Up' riddim is a solid Steppers affair featuring arguably the UK’s premier conscious DJ lyricist Macka B alongside Solo Banton and Lioness Fonts. The other 10” is a one drop affair with 'Keep The Faith' featuring Prince Livijah, Aqua Livi & former Jah Tubby's singer Errol Bellot alongside the great Afrikan Simba. Both these tunes continue the solid foundations laid on previous Reality Shock releases and are well worth checking.
Number two of the UK Roots triumvirate Nick Manasseh uses his finely honed production skills wisely on the excellent “Roots Garden Showcase Part 2” released by Brighton’s Roots Garden label. A good old fashioned “showcase” style affair with four vocals and four dubs, Ras Zacharri, Danny Red, Freddie McGregor & Earl 16 are the artists. Dubplate aficionados will recognise Earl 16’s tune as a reworking of the said by some to be Max Romeo dubplate 'Jamaica'. Nick Manasseh’s attention to detail is present throughout and makes a nonsense of the “UK Roots” categorisation as this is music which can hold it’s own with reggae produced anywhere on the planet.
And in no particular order, the third member of the UK hierarchy Steve Vibronics turns in his latest offering, a 10” on Scoops label featuring King Shiloh’s Lyrical Benjie along with JA born Rohan Lee on a Steppers riddim with a rich “big” mix and seriously deep bass tones. At the time of writing a second Vibronics 10” was also due for release but has been delayed due to pressing problems - watch for it soon.
And so to sunny Southend On Sea. The self proclaimed “Dub Capital Of England” has a tradition of Roots dances, homegrown sound systems, even a speaker box builder and all things dubwise stretching back to the 1980’s when eastend Dub hooligan Jah Tubbys and the zulu warrior Jah Shaka were regular visitors on the Essex coast. All the more unusual given that this happened before the great multicultural explosion of interest in all things dubwise in a town whose West Indian population numbered only a handful, but so it goes. Fitting firmly into this tradition come the latest incarnation of Southend dubbers, the aptly named Dubateers. Check out their newest offering, a 12” featuring Mr Bong Diddley himself, Ranking Joe on one side and local teen singer Charlie P on the other.
Some 150 miles or so to the north, King Earthquake in Birmingham has been making waves for the past few years both with his heavyweight sound system and a selection of releases on his label, the latest of which is a showcase style LP featuring Izyah Davis from Hytal Bosrah sound system. Any UK Steppers fan will love this album which has been one of the biggest sellers at Reggaemusicstore since it’s release at the end of last year.
Also coming from the UK in 2009, the latest 10” from Unique Sounds features Christine Miller and one of the UK’s unsung but finest voices Nerious Joseph each with a tune called 'Jah Guide I' but on different riddims; Counteraction Warriors and Jah Mystic on a Counteraction 10”; Anthony Que and Anthony Johnson on a ruff and tuff steppers riddim from Room In The Sky 10”, plus the latest release from the Aba Shanti I camp, Sister Miriam’s 'Digital Children' on Falasha 12”.
European releases have been few and far between so far this year, though that will change as time goes by. To date there’s been a handful of Mafia & Fluxy backed releases on Irie Ites from France, a couple of nice 7” featuring Earl 16 & Ras Zacharri on new Danish label One People Productions, plus a decent 10” on French label Children Of Jah featuring artists like Queen Omega and Joseph Cotton. Also in the European mix is Jah Melodie’s 'Thanks & Praises' from Amsterdam’s Bush And Shadow Records on 7” plus the first release from French label Orcast featuring singer Fu Steps on a riddim firmly in the digital steppers mode. I look forward to more this year from some of the European crews, especially in France, who have gone beyond mere imitation of the UK style to develop a sound of their own.
The succession of great roots reissues coming from JA in recent years has now slowed to a handful, partly due to the aforementioned pressing problems on the island. Whether they’ll reappear again is hard to say, but we live in hope. There are still some quality roots reissues coming from the UK and the best of these in recent times is the Anthony Johnson/Mystic Eyes “Perilous Times Showcase” LP on Anthony Johnson Music label. All killer and no filler, highlights include the title track and the murderous “Free Up The Ghetto Children” (different mix to the dubplate as played by Shaka back in the day but wicked still). Essential roots music, not to be missed. And finally, just reissued on Virgo Stomach 12” comes Lion Youth’s 1982 release “Three Million On The Dole”, an original UK roots stepper whose lyrical content strikes a familiar chord in these credit crunched times…."
Jah Warrior
(February 2009)