Back catalogue: Reggae

Review: High-quality roots reggae here from Rockers All Stars featuring Augustus Pablo. First up is the delightfully dusty 'Leave The Dreadlocks' with low-slung and lazy bass deep down low, plenty of acoustic riffs and heartfelt vocals that are full of yearning, matched by the horns with similar melancholy. Flip it over for 'Omo Valley Dub,' a spaced-out melon twister with plenty of vinyl crackle and perfect hissing hi-hats taking off like spaceships. Another sure-fire winner from Pablo International.

Review: Reissued via Only Roots in full, rejuvenated form, Rockers Meets King Tubbys In A Firehouse is a dub studio album by Augustus Pablo and King Tubby, first released in 1980. "Fire House" is a reference to the Waterhouse section of Kingston, where King Tubby's studio was located; however, one could consider it a double-entendre, not least since the only place to safely record such incendiary music is in a proverbial "fire station", otherwise all manner of fiery dub hell would presumably break loose. With the likes of Mickey "Boo" Richards, Leroy Wallace and Albert Malawi on drums, Robbie Shakespeare on bass guitar, and Earl "Chinna" Smith on guitar - together credited as the Rocking All Stars - the group conspire to produce such well-sculpted dub firebombs as 'Jah Say Dub' and 'Zion Is A Home'. This new reissue comes in the crispest quality yet, and once again rejumbles the original tracklist slightly.