New releases last two weeks: Dub

Review: Mikal Asher, a scion of Jamaica's Morgan family dynasty, reunites with Chocolate Star Records here and does so with a collaboration with disco legend Gary Davis. Asher, akin to his brother Denroy Morgan, upholds the family's legacy of righteousness through music. Known as the Binghiman, he crafts captivating tunes with profound lyrics and has recorded in Ghana's Hustle Hard Studios and collaborated with industry pioneers in Kingston and Brooklyn, setting new standards in musical excellence along the way. Here, 'Wicked Ah Fi' transforms into a modern dub stepper, while 'Black Woman' offers a soulful, laid-back dedication to Davis' wife, Sonjia. This 7" also comes with innovative remixes from California-based DJ and producer Knoe1.

Review: Cultural Roots delivered a potent dose of tuff roots vibes with their original 1980 release, 'Jah No Partial' which was and is now on this reissue backed by The Revolutionaries on dub duties. This limited vinyl edition comes housed in a vibrant full-colour company cardboard sleeve and offerings collectors a chance to grab a bit of reggae history. In addition to the original track, two exclusive Dub Plate Cuts further showcase raw energy and heavyweight low ends. With The Revolutionaries lending their signature sound to the dub mix, this is a crucial package.

Review: Having previously delivered a box set dedicated to the early-to-mid 70s singles produced by legendary Jamaican studio don Niney The Observer, Doctor Bird has now moved on to the next stage of his career. This two-disc set focuses on seven-inch singles he produced and released on his Observer label in 1976 and 1977, supplementing vocal cuts with flipside alternate versions and his own 'riddim'-focused takes. It's a fine collection of often hard-to-find Jamaican reggae gems from a golden period in the country's musical culture, with headline-grabbing contributions from such scene staples as Gregory Isaacs, Horace Andy, Clint Eastwood, I-Roy, Big Youth, Junior Delgado and Bobby Ellis.