Back catalogue: Classics/Ska

Review: Here's a killer reissue from the Soul Jazz archives which is finally getting a repress. It's hardly surprising when the reissue becomes as sought after as the holy grail original jam from 1970, a sublime instrumental anthem of soulful, skanking perfection with Cedric Im Brooks flexing his sax in glorious style over a beautifully rough n' ready rhythm. It was shortly after this recording was laid down Brooks went on to form The Mystic Revelation of Rastafari with Count Ossie, which tells you all you need to know about the heritage we're dealing with here.

Review: Prince Fatty's 'Mercedes Benz' with Shniece and Horseman is a rub-a-dub version of a 1970s hit from Janis Joplin that now gets a very special pressing courtesy of Lovedub Limited. The A-side kicks off with the spine-tingling and epic original vocal before disappearing into a world of reverb. At that point the dubby low end arrives and brings a different vibe to the stunning vocals but one that really makes a mark next to new bars from Horseman, police sirens and funky riffs. It's a tough sound system groove that is backed with a fine version and has been a firm fixture of Prince Fatty's record box for a while now.

Review: Jimmy Riley, Sly & Robbie, and The Taxi Gang join forces on Sexual Healing: Jet Set Japan to deliver some superb reggae-infused renditions of soul icon Marvin Gaye's timeless classics. With Riley's smooth vocals, Sly & Robbie's legendary rhythm section and The Taxi Gang's stellar musicianship, each track is a vibrant fusion of different musical worlds. From the infectious grooves of 'Sexual Healing' to the laid-back vibes of 'Let's Get It On', these tunes have a magical air and irresistible charm that serve as a masterful tribute to Marvin Gaye's legacy, reimagined with the distinctive flair of Jamaican reggae.

Review: The Far East is calling once more with this latest Japanese take on reggae and ska from the good people at Urban Discos. It is a high tempo and raucous offering from Scafull King with two different versions of the same tune on both sides. 'Lyin' Ass Bitch' (Kaela Kimura version) is first and brings bustling drums and imposing ska rhythms with layers of organ and fiery vocals making for a big and in-your-face sound. The second version is even more rock-edged with hammering drums and walls of fuzzy guitar.

Review: Here's a supremely rare slice of rocksteady from the annals of Jamaican music history. The Slickers originally released Run Fattie / Hoola Bulla on Trojan back in 1969, and it's easy to hear why it's such a sought after track. Leslie Kong's production brings out the scratchy shuffle of the guitars to perfection, while the harmonising vocals go down oh so smooth. Both 'Run Fattie' and 'Hoola Bulla' are bursting with sunkissed joy, and now the single has been repressed by Harlem Shuffle, so cop yourself a little piece of Caribbean magic and get your skank on.

Review: Flower Records fusion masters Masato Komatsu and Ryo Kawahara are Slowly and are adept at everything from dub to disco, soul to post-rock. They have been turning it out at a steady rate recently on labels like Oscarson but mostly Flower. Following a couple of standout 7"s in 'Tripping Out' and 'Let Some Love In' already this year comes 'Time Trip.' It is a lush bit of slow motion big beat and dub, with heavily treated Japanese language vocals over a fat, churning rhythm. An instrumental is also included on this crucial 7".

Review: Over the last couple of years, we've been treated to numerous reissues of classic cover versions by Japanese reggae/rocksteady combo Inokasira Rangers, including takes on Nirvana's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit', Pharrell's 'Happy' and New Order's 'Blue Monday'. Here we're treated to another, as the band's 2017 take on Underworld anthem 'Born Slippy' gets a fresh pressing. It's certainly a revolutionary revision, with Keichi Sokabe's surprisingly Karl Hyde-sounding lead vocal rising above a lusciously languid, sub-heavy reggae groove. Over on the flip they take on 'Groove Tube', a 1991 indie-pop-meets-acid house single from Japanese outfit Flipper's Guitar, reframing it as a baggy, glassy-eyed rocksteady number.

Review: The Specials are real UK national treasures, aren't they? And rightly so. Alexis Petridis has even gone so far as to say their standout single 'Ghost Town' is the second greatest UK single to have ever been released. Again, it's hard to really argue with that one. It was a UK chart topper at time of release and speaks eloquently of the urban decay, unemployment and ongoing racial tensions of the period. Sound familiar? Sadly, you once again have to agree. This 40th Anniversary Edition has been mastered and cut at half-speed for extra oomph.

Review: 
The Specials are real UK national treasures, aren't they? And rightly so. Alexis Petridis has even gone so far as to say their standout single 'Ghost Town' is the second greatest UK single to have ever been released. Again, it's hard to really argue with that one. It was a UK chart topper at time of release and speaks eloquently of the urban decay, unemployment and ongoing racial tensions of the period. Sound familiar? Sadly, you once again have to agree. This 40th Anniversary Edition has been mastered and cut at half-speed for extra oomph.

Review: Mountone Records wins us over right from the first moment of this, their first release. They feature Jamaican legend Stranger Cole seeing up his buttery vocals with music from The Steadytones on a limited edition rocksteady 7". 'Rude Boy' has superb horns leading the way as the swaggering, ska-infused rhythms carry you away on a hot day and the guitar riffs keep you moving. Flip it over and you'll find the slightly longer 'Koffee'. It's slower and more precise, with a haunting and mystical lead next to more rock-tinged guitar kicks and bolder drum hits. A fine experiment with tried and teased rocksteady tropes.

Review: Disco-infused reggae and soulful grooves are on the agenda as Prince Fatty takes to the controls with regular vocal colllaborators Shniece and Horseman along for the ride too. For the Disco Deception album, he raids the reinvents various classics in the image of his own signature low-end energy and impeccable production, giving us original and dub mixes to choose from in several cases. His version of Krfatwerk's 'The Model', which features both Shniece and Horseman, was an underground smash when it emerged a couple of years back and sounds as vital as ever. 'Fever', made famous by Peggy Lee as far as 1958, gets some soul-stirring vocals from Shniece, and Tom Browne's 'Funkin' For Jamaica (NY)' is a glory of funky basslines to shimmering horns. A magnetic atmosphere that keeps listeners engaged from start to finish, all with character to spare.

Review: Celebrate The Bullet was the revered second album by The Selecter back in February 1981. It came on the heels of the massive debut Too Much Pressure and a serious run of singles including the likes of 'Missing Words' and 'On My Radio.' Here though things slowed down a little with lyrical commentaries still coming thick and fast on everything from racial to social issues. At the time, the recent murder of John Lennon and an assassination attempt on U.S. President Ronald Regan meant the album got little to no mainstream support because of the title. For this special reissue, the original production tapes were dug out and remastered by Alchemy Mastering at AIR.

Review: Celebrating four decades since its original release, The Selecter's crucial Too Much Pressure receives a well-deserved anniversary edition reissue on clear vinyl. This timeless ska masterpiece continues to resonate with its infectious energy and socially conscious lyrics, upbeat rhythms and Pauline Black's commanding vocals. Together all that creates a potent blend that remains as relevant today as it was upon its debut. This special edition offers fans old and new a chance to (re)discover the album's brilliance, complete with bonus tracks and remastered sound. The Selecter's enduring influence on the ska genre is in part down to this fine album.

Review: It's back to 1989 for this classic bit of Nigerian ecological soul. Filled with six dubby manifestos to the beauty and importance of the environment and nature around us, Green Leaves has sublime vocals by the late, great, Guatemala born, Nigeria based Sheila Majekodunmi over an electric dub sound with old school synth sounds and nice rolling rhythms. This marks her only album as she sadly died in her forties. It's a great mastering job by Superfly that makes this an essential one for any time of year, but particularly as the weather starts to warm up.

Review: Inspired by David Hill and Nick Manasseh's work on the soundtrack to Idris Elba film Yardie, Soul Revivers' debut album On The Grove is a love letter to 60-plus years of reggae culture and its long connection with West London. Joined by a wealth of Jamaican stars and fast-rising British musicians, Hill and Manasseh explore the moodier side of reggae whilst doffing a cap to a multitude of historic variations. There's much to enjoy throughout, from the sub-heavy sweetness and hazy horns of 'Gone Are The Days'(featuring Alexia Coley), and the Clavinet-heavy, Wailers-esque shuffle of 'Look No Further' (featuring Ms Maurice), to the rocksteady revivalism of Ernest Ranglin hook-up 'Harder' (which boasts wonderful jazz guitar solos), and the dub-wise roots-reggae warmth of 'Got To Live' (with Earl 16).

Review: Steel pan, disco and dub from the 1970s in Steel An' Skin's 'Reggae Is Here Once Again'. Yet another lost gem from EM. Ultra-postive consciousness from Afro-Caribbean London, circa 1979. Members of the legendary 20th Century Steel Band (one of Grand Master Flash's favourites) sailing Trinidad-wise over gratifyingly intricate African ritual rhythms. Strong vocals compliment reggae, funk, disco and soul influences to form a relentless groove machine. Steel 'n' Skin, a unit composed of young nightclub musicians born in Ghana, Nigeria, St. Kitts, Trinidad and the U.K., who once performed with Ginger Johnson's Afrikan Drummers, a highlife band under the tutelage of the late Ginger Johnson and played at Johnson's Iroko Country Club in Hampstead, London. Steel 'n' Skin began performed concerts and workshops in London schools, expanding nationwide to schools, prisons, psychiatric hospitals and summer festivals, including the world-famous Notting Hill Carnival. The group combined a mix of musical forms with community outreach, non-cynical and untainted by preachiness or "social work." Good feelings from good hearts. This EM reissue consists of Steel 'n' Skin's 1979 debut 12 inch single "Reggae Is Here Once Again", featuring "Afro Punk Reggae (Dub)", a fine disco-dub workout, plus 2 tracks from their 1984 LP ACID RAIN as well as one un-issued track. Also included is documentary DVD by Steve Shaw featuring commentary from Steel 'n' Skin's founder Peter Blackman, killer live and rehearsal footage of the band, workshop scenes (check out the 1970s suits and parkas!) and devastating views of inner-city Liverpool. Steel 'n' Skin soars above the 1970s ruins.