Reggae News

Interview with reggae icon Max Romeo

Interview with reggae icon Max Romeo

Ah, OK. So how come you left the band, it was some disagreements with other members, or you just wanted to go solo at that point? Well, yeah, it was disagreements in the group. Because every time, y’know, groups are basically like that; you have one guy making an arrangement and the other guy disagree, and because of that we…

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Review | Dub Syndicate – Obscured By Version

Review | Dub Syndicate – Obscured By Version

Oh my! Plains Of Africa (Echo Echo Echo) opens this set, minimalist dub style, with fragmented vocals, lion roars, other animal sounds, plenty of echo (echo echo), and a rhythm that just keeps going (just!). As they tell us next, Dub Syndicate is Alive And Burning Bright and on this set, using rhythms from the classic 1989 to 1996 period.…

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Review | Phil Pratt – Star Wars Dub

Review | Phil Pratt – Star Wars Dub

Phil Pratt In the annals of Jamaican popular music, Phil Pratt’s contributions warrant greater recognition. He entered the scene in the early 1960s, working within Coxsone Dodd’s Downbeat enterprise as a sound system ‘box man’ and record assistant at Studio One. Though he briefly performed in a vocal group with Ken Boothe and Headly Foulding, Pratt’s primary goal was to…

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Review | The Kingstonians – I’m Gonna Make It / I Need You Tomorrow

Review | The Kingstonians – I’m Gonna Make It / I Need You Tomorrow

Formed in the mid-1960s, The Kingstonians, with Jackie Bernard at the helm, carved a significant place in Jamaican music history by expertly navigating the transition from the smooth harmonies of rocksteady to the emerging riddims of early reggae. Their fruitful period with producer Derrick Harriott propelled them to widespread recognition, yielding chart-topping singles like Singer Man and Sufferer. Following their…

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Double 12″ Spin #47 = John McLean & Aisha =

Double 12″ Spin #47 = John McLean & Aisha =

A. John McLean – If I Give My Heart To You B. Professor Doppler – Doppler Effect Ariwa – ARI 66 More info @ Discogs This edition explores the Ariwa label, founded by Neil Fraser, better known as Mad Professor, and includes original songs by John McLean and Aisha, as well as dub workouts by The Robotics. London native John…

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Review | Sister Nancy – One Two

Review | Sister Nancy – One Two

Legend Of Dancehall So I’m ambling along, minding my business, waiting for the climate here in Philly to make the permanent pivot from “stay in, read a book” temperaturess to “ay yo, where is the hot flow set, and whose picking me up!?” weather. Everyone knows that when the time comes to ditch the coats and long pants for shorts…

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