Hip-Hop Vinyl New Releases - News

SECOND WISHBONE ASH LIVE ALBUM ON DOUBLE YELLOW VINYL
• INCLUDES ALL 12 TRACKS FROM ORIGINAL PRESSING
• THIS IS A SOUGHT-AFTER COLLECTOR’S ITEM
• STRICTLY LIMITED EDITION: 2,500 COPIES WORLDWIDE

Jah Embassy Players is the musical project of Jahmbassador Hi-Fi ,one of Belgium's best known soundsystems. Over the last 10 years they have been steadily working on their sound and creating their own dubs. Tribal remains one of Jahmbassador's most wicked guidance tunes with a continues dub drive & effective horns.

Limited dubplate edition of 300 copies in recycled grey cardboard sleeves.

Under the radar tune first released in 2011, produced by and released on Jacin's own label Original Dub Sound. Fantastic new and conscious roots reggae from Ivory Coast singer Aimann Raad. Complete with virtuoso melodica cut on the flipside.

Edition of 500 copies in recycled grey cardboard sleeves with silver printing.

Noel Ellis is the son of legendary Studio One/Treasure Isle recording artist Alton Ellis. Located in Canada he recorded a self-titled LP for Summer Records and a few singles. A few years later in 1988 he releases Live In Love, a classic digital roots tune that stood the test of time. Produced by Anthony "Basic" Hibbert.

Edition of 500 copies in purple sleeves.

With their 2013 debut single "Vintage Voudou," Conjunto Papa Upa cemented themselves as the torchbearers of a rare breed of Afro-Caribbean psychedelic soul, a clear delineation from the wonderful world of Venezuelan poly rhythms. That original song, named after the short lived but heavily influential Amsterdam brick and mortar record shop that band leader Alex Figueira founded, was a perfect clue into the deep exploration that Papa Upa would begin to take on their musical journey.

Like the store itself, known for it's solid connection to the musical footprints put down in relatively undiscovered places like Suriname, Curacao, Cabo Verde, Portugal and of course Figueira's native Venezuela, Papa Upa has captured a sound that is entirely unique, a new concoction of influences that at once sound strange, yet totally familiar (...) Perhaps because Venezuela shared such a rich & diverse mix of sounds from the Atlantic, Caribbean & US, a kindred spirit to their neighboring country, Colombia, an equal in terms of their industry output from the 60's & 70's, yet not nearly as publicized and compiled in recent years. Like many places in the greater Afro-Caribbean nexus, they were musically ahead of their time.

This futuristic mélange of sounds is reflective of Papa Upa itself, made up of musicians from Venezuela, Uruguay, Cuba & The Netherlands, all living, practicing & recording at Figueira's
Amsterdam studio, Barracão Sound. With such a wide range of tropical influences, in a cosmopolitan and diverse city like Amsterdam, it's no wonder that Papa Upa's first extended project would find kinship in a collaboration with New York's Names You Can Trust.

* Carlton Livingston, is a well known Jamaican Reggae artist, who started his career in 1978 at Channel One (Ja) with the track: ‘Tale Of Two Cities’. Subsequently he recorded for many JA ‘labels’, Studio One, Thirllseekers, Taxi, Dynamite and others. His most notable and best known recording is ‘100 Weight Of Collie Weed’ for Percy Chin (Jah Life Rcds). The album which features the track is still available (Greensleeves).

This release, recorded for producer Phillip ‘Gadd 59’ Whittaker, features a new song on an up-dated original mid 1960’s Rock Steady rhythm, ‘Bum Ball’, courtesy of Derrick Morgan OD. The Vocal & Dub have been mixed by Russ (Disciples) at …studio..

After a highly-regarded debut single on Names You Can Trust back in 2014, Combo Chimbita returns, expanded and transformed into one of the most original and wild ensembles currently cutting their teeth in the New York City live arena. Their latest 4-track studio effort, EL CORREDOR DEL JAGUAR, co-produced by NYCT's Greenwood Rhythm Coalition and featuring the powerhouse Carolina Oliveros on lead vocals, is an explosive tour de force of unbridled psychedelic energy and futuristic fire with firm roots in the ritmo of the African diaspora. With connections and inspiration drawn from the vast sea of Caribbean music - specifically the band's native Colombia - these transplanted first-generation New Yorkers have carved a unique corridor in the thriving underground jungle of the big bad city.

Soul Jazz Records are releasing Count Ossie and The Mystic Revelation’s seminal 1975 album Tales of Mozambique in an expanded double album/single CD/digital format, fully remastered and with the inclusion of two bonus rare single-only tracks, full sleevenotes, exclusive photographs and interview.

Count Ossie is the central character in the development of Rastafarian roots music, nowadays an almost mythical and iconic figure. His importance in bringing Rastafarian music to a populist audience is matched only by Bob Marley’s promotion of the faith internationally in the 1970s.

Count Ossie’s drummers performed on the first commercially released single to integrate Rastafarian traditional music with popular music: the vocal group The Folkes Brothers’ groundbreaking song ‘Oh Carolina’, recorded for producer Prince Buster in 1959. In 1966 his drummers greeted the momentous arrival of Haile Selassie at Kingston airport.

His legendary jam sessions up in his Rastafarian compound in the hills of Wareika, Kingston, are famous for the many Jamaican musicians who attended including The Skatalites players – Roland Alphonso, Don Drummond, Johnny Moore, Lloyd Knibbs – and many others.

The Mystic Revelation of Rastafari formed in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1970, a union of Count Ossie’s Rastafarian drummers – variously known as his African Drums, Wareikas or his Afro-Combo – and the saxophonist Cedric Im Brooks’ horns group, The Mystics.

The Mystic Revelation of Rastafari are the defining group in bringing authentic Rastafarian rhythms into the collective consciousness of popular music, their unique music is at once rooted in the deep traditions and rituals of traditional drumming and chanting alongside a forward-thinking, even avant-garde, artistry influenced by the likes of John Coltrane, Sun Ra, Pharoah Sanders and other pioneering African-American jazz artists radicalised and charged by the civil rights movement of the 1960s.

Tales of Mozambique is a truly unique and fascinating ground-breaking album.

Count Ossie and The Mystic Revelation of Rastafari are the central group featured on Soul Jazz Records recent "Rastafari - The Dreads Enter Babylon” a collection showing the influence of Rastafari in Reggae and Jamaican popular culture.

Soul Jazz Records will also be releasing Count Ossie and The Rasta Family 'Man From Higher Heights’ in the near future.

* Bonus tracks

REVIEWS

" All roads in Rastafarian roots music lead to Count Ossie.He’s the lead character in this compelling subplot, the musician who was one of the first to put Rasta tenets into the heart of popular music.

He did so from his camp in the hills above Kingston, Count Ossie and his drummers casting a spell on the musicians who gathered to check him out and then went on to spread the word about the powerful nyabinghi rhythms and mesmerising percussion.

This is a reissue of the 1975 album Count Ossie made with his Rastafarian drummers and saxaphonist Cedric ‘Im’ Brooks’s group The Mystics.

It’s a groundbreaking, majestic work, by turns righteous in tone and joyous in execution. It’s the sound of Ossie and his ensemble narrating a history lesson and you’d be daft not to want to find out more." IRISH TIMES

New one-off limited-edition special edition yellow coloured vinyl pressing of Soul Jazz Records’ seminal reggae meets funk and soul collection!

This is the new digitally remastered 2015 expanded edition of Soul Jazz Records' biggest ever selling release, 100% Dynamite! Ska, Soul, Rocksteady and Funk in Jamaica.
Since the album's original release nearly twenty years ago, 100% Dynamite has become a cornerstone of reggae: eighteen killer tracks that show the influence that American Jazz, Funk and Soul music had on Jamaican Reggae.
The proximity of the West Indies to the USA meant that many Jamaican musicians were influenced by American styles of music whilst at the same time defining new styles of their own such as Ska, Rocksteady and Dub.
100% Dynamite features some serious Jamaican funk by Jackie Mittoo, The Upsetters and Toots & The Maytals, the cream of Jamaica's jazz musicians such as Tommy McCook, Cedric Brooks and Lennie Hibbert. Also included here are heavyweight Reggae versions to Soul classics by Marlena Shaw's 'Woman of the Ghetto', Aretha Franklin's 'Rocksteady', Syl Johnson's 'Is It Because I'm Black', William DeVaughan's seminal 'Be Thankful' and more.
100% Dynamite also features revolutionary tunes such as Johnny Osbourne's 'We Need Love', Sound Dimension's 'Drum Song' and Lloyd Robinson's 'Cuss Cuss', songs that helped define a unique sound for Jamaican music in the sixties and seventies. These influences went both ways - check Brentford All Stars massive 'Greedy G', the basis for Boogie Down Productions' 'Jack of Spades', or Willie Williams' 'Armageddon Time', later covered by The Clash.
This new expanded edition features seminal tracks from the greatest Jamaican producers - Clement Dodd, Lee Perry, Winston Riley (Techniques) and many more.
The album is available as CD, heavyweight double vinyl (+download), plus digital.

Soul Jazz Records are proud to present this new collection of music from the great Fashion Records, one of the
most important and iconic independent reggae labels to come out of the UK, and which ran from 1980 for nearly
20 years.
In that time Fashion released hundreds of records that successfully reflected, and indeed set, the changing styles
and perspectives of reggae music in the UK - from UK dancehall and lovers rock in the 1980s through to the
mighty rise of jungle in the second half of the 1990s.
While nearly all other UK re
gae labels focused on releasing Jamaican music - from the early days of Island
and Trojan in the 1960s, through Island and Virgin in the 1970s, and Greensleeves that came up in the 1980s
- Fashion's focus was firmly on music produced in the UK. This unique British perspective shaped both lyrical
content and musical fashion. And like all the great music labels - from Studio One to Blue Note - Fashion was
able to create a significant roster of its own artists.
Amazingly for a small independent label, a number of Fashion artists achieved mainstream UK chart and
crossover success - including Laurel & Hardy, Smiley Culture and General Levy. But although this success was
welcomed, crossing over into the mainstream was never the main focus for the label owners Chris Lane and
John McGillivray (who also runs the successful Dub Vendor record shop) whose starting point was always
primarily focused on producing quality music first.
In the early 1980s, Fashion Records captured the rise of the emerging British dancehall scene in its ascendency.
The large roster of first generation British-born artists and MCs on the label - including General Levy, Papa Face,
Smiley Culture, Bionic Rhona, Asher Senator, Laurel & Hardy, Top Cat and many more - often gave a unique
and sometimes humorous British lyrical perspective to Fashion releases, discussing everyday subjects, from
police harassment to road safety!
Throughout much of the 1980s and into the 1990s Fashion continued to release an almost relentless array of
UK dancehall releases as well as continuing with lovers rock, and the occasional dub releases. Then, in the mid-
90s, with the dancehall and reggae releases still coming on strong, Fashion released a superb series of early
jungle tracks linking Jamaican and British MCs and dancehall artists with young jungle mixers, re-mixers and
producers. By this time dancehall artists General Levy and Cutty Ranks had become the staple vocal samples of
literally hundreds of white label jungle records and Fashion took advantage of this, often getting young
producers to work in exchange for sample clearances - don't get mad, get even!
This album is a subjective and scatter-gun ride through some of the many unique and heavyweight tracks to
come out of the Fashion stable that we love - some classics, some lesser-known, all 100% killer!
The album is released on heavyweight triple vinyl (+ download code), deluxe double CD with outsize booklet
and slipcase, and digitally. The album comes with extensive sleevenotes, interviews, exclusive photography and
original artwork and flyers, etc.

As Soul Jazz Records enter into the mighty vaults of Studio One,
the most respected label in reggae history, we present you with this showcase of Jackie Mittoo, one of the defining figureheads of reggae music!

From forming The Skatalites, at age 15, alongside Don Drummond, Roland Alphonso, Tommy McCook and others, to his work as writer, arranger, producer at Studio One records during the sixties, writing and playing for artists such as Alton Ellis, Ken Boothe, Marcia Griffiths and The Heptones (to name a few), to his career as a solo artist as well as leader of bands such as The Soul Brothers, Soul Vendors and The Sound Dimension, Jackie Mittoo is at the heart of reggae music. He was one of the instigators of Ska, Rocksteady and Reggae. In the seventies, DJ music and Dancehall were based upon classic rhythms of the sixties, many using the instrumental tracks that Jackie Mittoo created at Studio One at this time.

This compilation features the work of Jackie Mittoo at Studio One. It features music recorded as a solo artist (as opposed to the numerous singers that he accompanied). Most of these are taken from his recordings in the mid sixties where he was recording on an almost daily basis at Studio One's Brentford Road studios developing the funky reggae sound that was his trademark.

Soul Jazz Records are releasing this CD as the first of a series of Reggae artists to be covered following the success of the 100% Dynamite releases. Jackie Mittoo is as much an icon of Reggae as he is to fans of Funk music. He is without doubt the funkiest keyboard player ever to come out of Jamaica!

Reviews:
CD of the Week: "The coolest man who ever lived" THE GUARDIAN. Named by MOJO as one of the 100 cult heroes of all time, this is a lovingly curated compilation" THE INDEPENDENT. "After Soul Jazz Records' groundbreaking 100% Dynamite CD's comes Jackie Mittoo.
If you've caught the funky reggae bug, you need this" MUZIK. "Rocksteady, compulsively funky Ska and Soul. An excellent Soul Jazz compilation" by MOJO.

More classic Reggae from Jamaica's most important label ever. Studio One Soul tracks the link between American Funk &Soul and Jamaican Reggae at the legendary Studio One Records.

Curtis Mayfield, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, The Temptations, King Floyd, Booker T and The MGs - all these artists had a huge influence on Jamaican artists and this CD contains versions of songs by all of them. Featuring classic and rare Reggae Funk and Soul cuts from the Reggae giants alongside rarer cuts, Studio One Soul spans over 20 years of classic Reggae from the Rocksteady Funk through to the deep Roots music.

Following on from Studio One Rockers, this second journey into the vaults of Studio One tells the story of the important link between American Funk and Soul and Jamaican Reggae. Ranging from music taken from the mid of the 1960's (and the arrival of Rocksteady) through to the beginning of the 1980's, Studio One Soul features versions of US Funk and Soul hits (many rarely heard before) from some of the many classic artists who recorded at Studio One. American Soul music has always been an important influence on Jamaican Reggae.

The beginning of the Jamaican recording industry at the end of the 1950's started with Clement "Coxsone" Dodd (owner of Studio One) and a group of select in-house musicians (originally The Skatalites) recording their own version of American RnB. Playing on the off-beat this music became Ska. As American R'n'B progressed through Funk, Soul and Disco, Jamaican music was going through it's own musical changes, from Rocksteady throught to Reggae and Roots music. The house-band at Studio One recorded on a daily basis behind all Studio One vocalists as well as recording instrumentally in its own right.

Soul singers such as Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions (Queen Of The Minstrels) had a profound influence on Jamaican artists and many other US artists were constantly re-interpreted and re-worked. Artists such as Aretha Franklin (Respect), Charles Wright (Express Yourself), King Floyd (Groove Me), Otis Redding (How Strong) were all very popular in Jamaica in the 1960's. At the end of the 1960's Black Consciousness became an important part of American Soul music. At the same time many Jamaican artists were starting to look to their roots. Many artists would shortly become involved in Rastafarianism. The "conscious" lyrics of American Funk and Soul again struck a chord with Jamaican artists. "Message From A Blackman" (originally by The Temptations) and "Is It Because I'm Black" (Syl Johnson) are examples of this. Through the 1970s Soul/Disco artists such as Barry White ("Can't Get Enough" and "Deeper and Deeper") and The Detroit Spinners ("I'll Be Around") became the flavour of the day. This CD finishes with Willie William's interpretation of Ashford and Simpson's classic "Ain't No Stopping Us Now".

"Compilation of the month" MOJO "Another essential purchase from Soul Jazz" SEVEN "Latest in Soul Jazz's indespensible compilations" I-D "Near perfect" JOCKEY SLUT.

Featured here is a new collection spanning Studio One's dancehall period - singers and deejays on classic Studio One rhythms, studio and electronic wizardry from the Brentford Road headquarters, lots of rare 12' singles, all effortlessly brought together to nice up the dance.

When Clement 'Sir Coxsone' Dodd first ruled the dancehalls of Kingston in the 1950's, fighting off the soundsystem competition of Duke Reid, King Edwards and others, few could imagine how far the reign of Studio One would last. But the emergence of  'Dancehall' as a distinct style of reggae at the end of the 1970's, as upstart competing producers began recording vocalists and deejays performing over replayed classic Studio One rhythms, in many ways made the influence of Clement Dodd's vision more omnipotent than ever before (and lasting to this day).

Not surprisingly, Clement Dodd's creativity and business acumen made him quick to respond to this musical phenomenon - he soon began voicing the new stable of Studio One singers and deejays, such as Sugar Minott and Lone Ranger, over original classic Studio One rhythms recorded in the late 1960's - by producing some of the most innovative, time-bending and creative music of his career.
This album comes as CD with slipcase, super-loud, SUPER-HEAVY TRIPLE VINYL with free download code and as a digital download.

Yellow heavyweight vinyl double LP with digital download.

Orange-cased cassette format.

18 years on from its original release, ‘Studio One Women’ remains one of the ‘Studio One’ series’ most in demand titles and, like all the earlier special coloured editions, is sure to sell out fast.

Ska, rocksteady, funky reggae, roots, dub mixes, disco mixes - they’re all here from the queens of the Jamaican music scene - ‘Studio One Women’ features a wide mix of classics and obscurities from the finest female voices in reggae.

Until now most of these tracks have only ever been available as extremely hard to find Jamaican 7” and 12” singles, and even if you were lucky enough to find them, they’d cost you a small fortune.

Marcia Griffiths and Rita Marley (here with her first group, The Soulettes, whose iconic image features on the cover) are two of Jamaica’s most famous female singers, hugely popular today. Both artists became internationally famous as The I -
Threes (along with Judy Mowatt), Bob Marley’s backing singers alongside The
Wailers. Also featured are Hortense Ellis, sister of Alton, who cut many smash hits on
the island, and Jennifer Lara, a lady who had a long career with Studio One, singing
on countless sides.
‘Studio One Women’ refers not just to the small selection of artists featured here but
also to those who took integral roles throughout the Studio One empire, starting with
Doris Darlington, mother of Clement Dodd. Sir Coxsone’s Downbeat Soundsystem,
which ruled the dancehalls of Kingston throughout the 1950s and 60s, started off as
the musical entertainment for customers of Mrs Darlington’s Nannys Bar.
Clement Dodd often referred to his mother as ‘Jamaica’s first female DJ’, as she
would play records at the bar whenever he was on trips to the US, hunting down R&B
records. Other important women behind the scenes included Norma Dodd (wife of
Clement), whose sleevenotes featured on many Studio One releases, and Enid
Cumberland who, as well as being a successful artist (half of the duo Keith and
Enid), taught harmony in the studio and ran the studio shop.
It would also be impossible not to mention Sister Ignatius, who ran the infamous
Alpha Boys School for over 50 years, encouraging students which included Tommy
McCook, Johnny ‘Dizzy’ Moore, Lester Sterling and Don Drummond, Theo Beckford,
Cedric Brooks, Johnny Osbourne and countless other musicians and artists to excel
at music, and many of whom became integral to the success of Studio One.

Orange-cased cassette format.

18 years on from its original release, ‘Studio One Women’ remains one of the ‘Studio One’ series’ most in demand titles and, like all the earlier special coloured editions, is sure to sell out fast.

Ska, rocksteady, funky reggae, roots, dub mixes, disco mixes - they’re all here from the queens of the Jamaican music scene - ‘Studio One Women’ features a wide mix of classics and obscurities from the finest female voices in reggae.

Until now most of these tracks have only ever been available as extremely hard to find Jamaican 7” and 12” singles, and even if you were lucky enough to find them, they’d cost you a small fortune.

Marcia Griffiths and Rita Marley (here with her first group, The Soulettes, whose iconic image features on the cover) are two of Jamaica’s most famous female singers, hugely popular today. Both artists became internationally famous as The I -
Threes (along with Judy Mowatt), Bob Marley’s backing singers alongside The
Wailers. Also featured are Hortense Ellis, sister of Alton, who cut many smash hits on
the island, and Jennifer Lara, a lady who had a long career with Studio One, singing
on countless sides.
‘Studio One Women’ refers not just to the small selection of artists featured here but
also to those who took integral roles throughout the Studio One empire, starting with
Doris Darlington, mother of Clement Dodd. Sir Coxsone’s Downbeat Soundsystem,
which ruled the dancehalls of Kingston throughout the 1950s and 60s, started off as
the musical entertainment for customers of Mrs Darlington’s Nannys Bar.
Clement Dodd often referred to his mother as ‘Jamaica’s first female DJ’, as she
would play records at the bar whenever he was on trips to the US, hunting down R&B
records. Other important women behind the scenes included Norma Dodd (wife of
Clement), whose sleevenotes featured on many Studio One releases, and Enid
Cumberland who, as well as being a successful artist (half of the duo Keith and
Enid), taught harmony in the studio and ran the studio shop.
It would also be impossible not to mention Sister Ignatius, who ran the infamous
Alpha Boys School for over 50 years, encouraging students which included Tommy
McCook, Johnny ‘Dizzy’ Moore, Lester Sterling and Don Drummond, Theo Beckford,
Cedric Brooks, Johnny Osbourne and countless other musicians and artists to excel
at music, and many of whom became integral to the success of Studio One.

Kêtu Records proudly presents, after two years looking for the artists in Nigeria, the reissue of this album from The Faces!!Originally released in 1975, Wake Up Today, differs from the Afro-Funk productions of that time by its Afro-Rock/Afro-Funk Garage style.

We let you discover this UFO and thank you for your support to the label.

Revive the legend Faces,
Vibrate the dancefloor,
!! Wake up today !!

Studio One Records and the seminal in-house band The Skatalites both created and defined Ska in the process making Jamaican music famous throughout the world. This compilation features classic vocal and instrumental tracks from The Skatalites, Bob Marley and The Wailers, Delroy Wilson alongside super rare tracks from the likes of Ken Boothe, The Maytals, Jackie Mittoo, Tommy McCook and many more.

“Ripping Ska compilation. The sound is tremendous as well thanks to Studio One recording techniques - already superior at the birth of Reggae - and Soul Jazz mastering. Nice mix of stomping Skatalites; Tommy McCook instrumentals and vocal tracks from many of the prime exponents of the genre. It's a superior Studio One Ska compilation what's not to like?” The Face.

The legendary Skatalites, alongside the later Studio One in house bands - the Soul Vendors, Sound Dimension, Soul Defenders and Brentford Road All Stars – were as much a part of the classic Studio One sound as were the singers that they accompanied such as Alton Ellis, Horace Andy, Marcia Griffiths and Bob Marley and The Wailers.

This album features many of the musicians involved with Studio One who literally defined Reggae music. From the Skatalites members Tommy McCook, Roland Alphonso, Jackie Mittoo to killer sidemen such as trombonist Vin Gordon (A/K/A Don Drummond Jnr), saxophonist Cedric "Im" Brooks, keyboardist and Twelve Tribes of Israel member Pablove Black.

Many of the rhythms that these musicians created became the back-bone of the Jamaican musical world and their songs have been replayed and re-versioned by 1000's of Reggae producers ever-since.

The album features classic and super-rare tracks all recorded under Clement ‘Sir Coxsone’ Dodd’s supervision at the legendary recording studio and record label. As well as sixteen killer tracks the album comes with new sleevenotes and photography by Dennis Morris and Adrian Boot making this another essential Studio One Reggae release for connoisseurs of Reggae and newcomers alike.

7” Limited Edition to 300 Copies!

A heady mix of digi killers, digital roots, dub, electro, and unlikely vocoder magic, Love Lives Forever is the first ever compilation of Miami reggae-notreggae diva Dhaima. The record gathers a collection of the original Natty Queen’s seminal ’80s and ’90s recordings, including her big 1982 chune “Reggae On Sunset,” the Ninakupenda-issued “Don’t Feel No Way,” the previously unreleased “Loving You Is My Thing,” and “Surrender”—the last song recorded before her untimely death in 2000. Pressed loud on vinyl in a long-playing format to mash up your home speakerbox.

The third installment in our Dubwise Revolution series comes courtesy of Dubbing Sun. Vinyl only, strictly limited to 400 pcs, no digital, no repress!

A REMAKE OF THE CLASSIC ANTHEM BY FOUNDATION REGGAE ARTIST FRED LOCKS (LOVE AND ONLY LOVE) WITH UK REGGAE ARTIST EL INDIO (BY THE RIVERSIDE) MAKING HIS OFFERING ON THE SAME RIDDIM.

Congo meets Jamaica on this exceptional reggae album from the late seventies. Licensed from Sanctuary and made in collaboration with Lee 'Scratch' Perry and Seskain Molenga and with liner notes by David Katz.

Congo meets Jamaica on this exceptional reggae album from the late seventies. Made in collaboration with Lee 'Scratch' Perry and Seskain Molenga and with liner notes by David Katz.
The Belgian labels Planet Ilunga, specializing in researching, documenting and releasing Congolese music from the fifties to seventies, and Roots Vibration, devoted to reissuing classic roots singles and albums, join forces for the first time. Together making one of the most enigmatic reggae albums available again. Recorded and produced in the late seventies at Lee Perry's Black Ark studio in Kingston, Jamaica.

The album which Congolese artists Seskain Molenga (African Fiesta National, Empire Bakuba, TPOK Jazz...) and Kalo Kawongolo recorded together with Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry is a most remarkable project to surface from the Black Ark studio. It's also one of the most misrepresented of Perry’s productions, with myriad explanations for its existence falling far short of what actually happened.

The intention of the original band, formed in France by the producer Bernadette Duget and composed of a mixture of Congolese, Senegalese and French musicians, was to head to Jamaica to record a rock album with African undercurrents in Lee Perry's Black Ark studio. However, in Jamaica things didn't go according to plan and the project turned out to be a failure. The Congolese duo Seskain Molenga and Kalo Kawongolo continued working with Lee 'Scratch' Perry and this collaboration would eventually bear an unexpected reggae fruit. These recordings were originally released on LP in 1979 and re-released in 1991, yet the vinyl album remains highly sought-after.

Now finally re-issued with extensive liner notes by the American journalist, author and reggae aficionado David Katz (assisted by Bart Cattaert (Planet Ilunga) for the interviews with Seskain Molenga). This reissue sheds more concerted light on the complex tale that lies behind the work. Most notably thanks to the emergence of 'new' eyewitness accounts such as Seskain Molenga, Wasis Diop and Lee Perry.

The debut album by Seskain Molenga and Kalo Kawongolo remains a unique slice of musical ingenuity, an intoxicating sonic storm that resulted from their temporary presence at the magical space of the Black Ark.

The sound recording and quality of the original album is a story on its own (you will be able to read about this in our liner notes). It was quite an odyssey to get the sound right, without losing the original energy and ambiance of the recordings.

Vinyl-only release

* LP comes in a gatefold album sleeve with extensive liner notes (in English)
* 180 gram vinyl
* Restored and remastered tracks. Lacquer cut made at Dubplates & Mastering
* Artwork by Fiona E. Oikonomidou
* Limited edition release

10x 7" boxset on Trojan/BMG Incl. Ken Boothe, Desmond Dekker & The Aces, Dennis Alcapone, Melodians, The Sensations, Cornell Campbell, The Versatiles etc. Half a century ago, vast numbers of British working-class youths adopted a style that reflected both their attitude and tastes. Dubbed by the country’s media as ‘skinhead’, the look starkly contrasted with that of the country’s largely middle-class ‘hippy’ population, drawing heavily on the smart, practical and stylish fashions introduced to the UK by the Windrush generation. The Caribbean influence was even more evident in the music that provided the soundtrack to the skinhead scene: reggae.

To finally set the record straight about this greatly misunderstood sub-culture, celebrated writers, Paul 'Smiler' Anderson and Mark Baxter have penned a brand new book, ‘Scorcha! Skins, Suedes and style from the Streets - 1967 to 1973’. In addition, the pair have also compiled a companion 7” vinyl box set of the same title, comprising ten 45s, each featuring a pair of reggae classics favoured by first-generation skinhead record buyers.

Pressed on high-quality vinyl and presented in sturdy reproduction Trojan-branded sleeves, the singles are accompanied by an insert featuring a fascinating essay on the music and those on the scene
by the book’s co-author, Paul Anderson.

* Another brand-new hot-shot from the ever-active Partial Records label, arriving in the shape of a production from Dreadsquad aka Marek Bogdański, who has been active on the reggae / dub / digital / dancehall scene for almost 20 years, collaborating with the likes of Tenor Fly, U Brown, Ward 21, El Fata, YT, Radikal Guru and more.
* This `real instruments’ steppers riddim features Dub Princess on vocals who although a relative newcomer, has already made her mark over the last few years, with a number of collaborations.
* Mixed in fine style by Dougie Wardrop at Conscious Sounds studio, London.

Michael Edgehill aka Mikey Melody was born in the parish of Portland, Jamaica. As a youth he constantly raised his voice in song and performing with sound system in the neighborhood community. Known by his sweet voice, his friends gave him the nickname «Mikey Melody».

Mikey Melody was influenced by 60’s and 70’s US R&B icons and Jamaican singers like Bob Marley, Sugar Minott, Burning Spear, Dennis Brown, Bob Andy and Half Pint. In the 1980’s he went to Kingston and was identified early by Lord Sassafrass, who gave him his first recording single “Under Mi Fat Thing” that was covered by many reggae artists. He was then signed by Black Scorpio Corporation which he was a singer on the sound system and recording label. He did songs like “World Is A Disaster”, “Jumbo Mi Jumbo”, “Romance For The Moment”, “Ragga Muffin”, “Unemployment”.

He then moved on to Dennis Star Label which he did songs like “Mona Lisa”, “Maranda” and the hit song “Soldier In Town”. Released in 1988 on Dennis Star International records, ‘’Soldier In Town’’ by Mikey Melody is a pure late 80’s dancehall vocal over heavy digital rhythm by Firehouse Crew.

R.Zee Jackson, a born Jamaican spent his early childhood in Clarendon and later in Old Harbour, St. Catherine, Jamaica, West Indies. In 1975, as a student, he moved to Canada with his Mom. There he met Oswald Creary of Half Moon label and studio. At Half Moon studio, he recorded the original tracks of ''Long
Long Time'' released as a 12'' vinyl record on his own label ''Ital''. Esso Jackson also recorded at ''Dub World'', the dubplates cutting studio in Toronto. All the sound men from all over came to see ''Snipa'' the dub cutter; “It was great, dancehall was rocking in Canada. We have it lock with all the big sound systems and artists from all over the world”. One day, the keyboard master Jackie Mittoo say to Esso “you can't stay cold up yourself in
Canada”. Because R.Zee had many family in the UK, it was easy. So he decided to see what was going on in London. In 1980 he released the album Trodding, produced by Mike Brooks (Teams / Coptic Lion). Few years later, he released "Ina South Africa", a heavyweight digital reggae to fight against Apartheid and also "At The Reggae Party", a pure dancehall anthem to mash up the dance. The songs were recorded at Utopia studio (London, UK) in 1985.

Three years after their critically acclaimed and sold out Abrada LP the great and joyful Japanese afro groovers Ajate are back with their much awaited brand new album Alo!

Ajate is a Japanese band who plays a unique blend of afro-groove dance music mixed with Japanese traditional festival music called "Ohayashi". Formed in 2011 by the band-leader John Imaeda, Ajate consists of 10 Japanese musicians.

Another unique feature of the band is the use of hand-made bamboo instruments as well as traditional Japanese percussion. The "Jahte" is a bamboo-made xylophone or balafon with a piezo pick-up mic attached to each key, connected to a pre-amplifier to obtain a loud sound and to add some touch of dirty distortion to its warm and natural acoustic sonority.

The "Piechiku" is also a bamboo-made string instrument inspired by the west-African "Ngoni" or Moroccan "Guembri" instruments. The Piechiku uses strings of the Japanese traditional "Shamisen". This instrument is also played through a pre-amplifier and John sometimes adds some wah-wah effect to it. All these bamboo instruments are designed, made and named by John Imaeda himself.

On Alo you will also be amazed by the exceptional sound of the Japanese Shinofue flute, which was not on the previous Abrada LP. Now, add to this unique sound some well-crafted Japanese female and male singing and you get a killer mix of Afro-Funk flavored grooves with traditional Japanese music!

Since the release in 2017 of their Abrada LP on the 180g label Ajate has toured Europe twice and has played a memorable concert at the world famous Trans Musicales festival in France in 2018, which has been followed by another great KEXP Live session.

Here is some music you will not be able to hear anywhere else, by one of the most joyful Japanese band to hear on record and to listen live!

Comment to come ...

Remastered and reissued for the first time since their original release, AOTN are proud to present three classic cover versions from the lovers rock era. Al Charles' take on the Gap Band's 'Outstanding' is a full of swagger outing that takes all the sweetest of their melodies and gives it some added bass pressure for the dancefloor.

Tough to track down previously, the Sonia version of 'Easier To Love' was always a favourite amongst lovers fans. After getting a spin on Sam Floating Point's NTS show, its popularity soared and any remaining copies were quickly hoovered up. The final release brings together two of the finest lovers singers to ever duet, the late Jean Adebambo and Trevor Walters, covering Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway's 'Back Together Again'.

The first press of the 12 comes in a printed AOTN sleeve which is a respectful tip of the hat to the OG dub vendor disco sleeve that many of these original 12s were distributed in.

Second instalment on new label All Nations Records from Simon Nyabinghi. This one is introducing to you the powerful vibes of French producer Khayo Ben Yahmeen. Deeply inspired by Rastafari teachings, Kahyo works out a meditative vibration that is amplified and concretized by the mixing technics of Simon Nyabinghi.

A heady mix of digi killers, digital roots, dub, electro, and unlikely vocoder magic, Love Lives Forever is the first ever compilation of Miami reggae-notreggae diva Dhaima. The record gathers a collection of the original Natty Queen’s seminal ’80s and ’90s recordings, including her big 1982 chune “Reggae On Sunset,” the Ninakupenda-issued “Don’t Feel No Way,” the previously unreleased “Loving You Is My Thing,” and “Surrender”—the last song recorded before her untimely death in 2000. Pressed loud on vinyl in a long-playing format to mash up your home speakerbox.

The Melodians are a rocksteady band formed in Jamaica, which recorded several hits. Their most famous song “Rivers of Babylon” reached world fame after Boney M. scored a giant worldwide hit with it in 1978. The album by the same name features more of their attractive sounds, like the single ‘Sweet Sensation’, which made it to the British Top 50. It was their work with Kingston-based producer, Leslie Kong that yielded their greatest successes.

This long overdue set demonstrates why the trio are today widely regarded as one of the finest vocal acts in the history of Jamaican music. The simple and fun sound of the Melodians is still a breeze to listen and dance to, all these years on.

Eastwood Rides Again follows the theme of Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry & The Upsetters previous classic, Return Of Django - and like that one, the groove isn’t just the rocksteady rhythms you’d expect – but also maybe this more spacious version of the style. They got their funk on with the inspiration of Spaghetti Westerns and soul music. The record is largely instrumental and it's a representation of Perry’s significant production skills. Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry was a pioneer in the 1970's development of dub music and worked together with artists such as Bob Marley and the Wailers, The Clash and The Beastie Boys. Nowadays he’s still performing and recording music.

Available on vinyl for the very first time: the 1992 album "Apocalypse Across The Sky" by the legendary MASTER MUSICIANS OF JAJOUKA. Produced by BILL LASWELL, remastered for vinyl by HELMUT ERLER at D&M Berlin and according to Songlines one of the essential recordings of the ensemble.

No matter if you consider the MASTER MUSICIANS OF JAJOUKA a "4,000 year-old rock'n'roll band" (WILLIAM S. BURROUGHS) or even "6,000 years old" (ORNETTE COLEMAN) – without doubt, the music of the ensemble in all its incarnations over the centuries is deeply rooted in Sufi mysticism, paganism and the cult of the goat-god Boujeloud. According to a myth, many centuries ago Boujeloud appeared to a shepherd called Attar, an ancestor of today's ensemble leader BACHIR ATTAR, and till today every year at the end of Ramadan a fire in honour of the goat-god is ignited. This pagan root aside, the music performed in several hour long rituals on traditional instruments like tebel and tariyya (drums), ghaita (a woodwind instrument), lira (flute) and gimbri (stringed instrument) reveals hypnotic, trance-inducing qualities and is considered to have magical and healing properties.

In the 1950's, BRION GYSIN along with PAUL BOWLES were among the first westerners to witness such a ceremony, and it was GYSIN who invited the MASTER MUSICINS OF JAJOUKA to play in his restaurant in Tanger, and who later (in 1967) brought BRIAN JONES to the small village of Jajouka where the ROLLING STONES guitarist recorded the ensemble for what became the first "world music album" and that raised interest in the MASTER MUSICIANS OF JAJOUKA in the western world. Since those days, a wide number of creative minds like WILLIAM S. BURROUGHS, ORNETTE COLEMAN,MARC RIBOT, FLEA, TALVIN SINGH or the ROLLING STONES have worked with THE MASTER MUSICIANS OF JAJOUKA who are now performing regularly outside Morocco.

In 1991, iconic producer BILL LASWELL also embarked on a trip to the small village of just 800 inhabitants in the Rif mountains to record the group for his AXIOM label - "Apocalypse Across The Sky" is, unlike other LASWELL projects that bring together different cultures and genres, a pure document of the ensemble, raw and unpolished but exquisitely recorded, and ranks according to the world music magazine Songlines among the essential recordings of the legendary MASTER MUSICIANS OF JAJOUKA and is now available on vinyl for the very first time!

'TNT' has never released a record before (aside from the 12" we did last year), so this is a huge fucking honour to be trusted with this material. TNT Roots has continued a solo career since Earthquake quietly folded in 2002, trading short-run CDr's on Ebay and the Blood & Fire forum. His music still survives on not-for-sale dubplates - pushed exclusively by legendary 90's sounds like Aba Shanti.

The result is the Raw Dub Creator LP - a survey of his 2006 - 2018 CDr selected by Bokeh. Urgent steppas for dark dances, heavier than the grave - next evolution soundsystem muzik. These are driving militant sounds for these times made in seeming isolation in Northampton (TNT never plays live, doesn't want Bandcamp, just wants to sell his CDs quietly over email). TNT Roots' contribution to dub is seismic, almost dinosauric, but through some glitch in universe fabric, 'Mighty In Battle' Bokeh 2018 was his first official vinyl release.

As half of Earthquake - he's responsible for the darkest, forward, most slept-on future of dub to grace us. This unique and heavy vision has reset the whole game with long unavailable LPs like Revelation in Dub and Dub Harder Than Steel make obvious an understated lineage flowing from 90's steppas down to jungle, grime, hardcore, darkcore, doomcore, it's kinda pointless to list them. It's dub. TNT and Earthquake's rightful place alongside those mystic giants, Iration Steppas, is more than assured by those that know.

Raw Funana music, a sibling of Cumbia, distilled from the Badiu masters of the accordion. Crafted in the isolated northern heartlands of Cabo Verde's Santiago Island, where revolt and rebellion against injustice courses through it's history's veins. Hypnotic notes on aged accordions tuned and flavored in ways found nowhere but Santiago are infused with inviting baselines, raucous rhythms, blade-on-iron percussion, and the bubbling lyricism and lament of the island's finest ambassadors. Best enjoyed with grog, Cabo Verde's local moonshine made from sugarcane crushed by bulls. Imbibe responsibly, listen carefully, and dance recklessly.

Natural meets modern with this atmospheric take on conscious dancehall. Tippa Irie sounds fresher than ever, his hard-hitting delivery counterbalanced by vocal harmonies, steel pans, strings and live congos. The melodic and instantly singable hook sits on top of a sparse, tight production from Nottingham team The Elementz.