The deep, resonant basslines that define Linval Thompson’s productions have long captivated roots reggae enthusiasts. And now, they’re set to do so again. Pop No Style, a heavyweight track originally released in the UK on a Trojan 12″, gets its first reissue through the new German imprint Blessed Love Records. The ability to purchase this killer tune 45 years after its initial release is poised to enchant collectors and fans.
Lyrically, Pop No Style echoes the sentiment of Hugh Mundell’s Can’t Pop No Style, and its disco mix stands as a quintessential example of Thompson’s rootsy sound. Recorded in 1980 at Channel One with the backing of a rugged rub-a-dub riddim of the Roots Radics, also used by Thompson for Wayne Wade’s Tell Me What Going On, the track reaches new heights thanks to the young Scientist, who crafts a brilliantly imaginative extended dubwise mix at King Tubby’s studio.
Flip the record, and you’re treated to Scientist’s dub interpretation of Delroy Wilson’s There’s No Sunshine, produced by Rodguel “Blackbeard” Sinclair and originally released in 1978. While Second Hand Girl may not hit as hard in dubwise intensity as Pop No Style, it still showcases Scientist’s unmistakable mastery behind the mixing desk. Another example of his dominance in Jamaica’s dub scene during that golden era.