Coming Soon Vol. 8

Crucial Times by Sizzla [Greensleeves Records]

First up is a quick update on this now eagerly anticipated release from Sizzla Kalonji (which apparently now has a new release date), we now have a tracklist!

1. Precious Gift

2. Crucial Time

3. Take A Stand

4. Agriculture & Education

5. Charming

6. Jolly Good Time

7. Rat Race

8. There’s No Pain

9. Sufferation & Poverty

10. Foundation

11. Atta Clap

12. Progress

13. Get Rid Ah Dem

Few things look familiar, like the first two tunes and ’There’s No Pain’, ‘Progress’ and ‘Atta Clap‘. BUT, by far the most attractive gem on this lineup is #7, the MASSIVE ‘Rat Race’, which is a tune I have loved for years, but only encountered on the rare opportunity on radio (and Sirius used to play it when I had it). Definitely looking forward to this even more now.

Caveman Culture Sound Vol. 1 [Afrojam]

Fittingly, next in this week is a compilation (which may or may not be mixed) from the very same sound, Caveman (at least I’m going to assume it’s the same one) with which Sizzla got his start, Caveman who is about to deliver something potentially of the ‘can’t miss’ variety, Caveman Culture Sound Vol.1. The piece features material from the likes of Sizzla (DUH), Lutan Fyah, Natural Black, Norris Man, Half Pint, Fred Locks and Mikey General amongst others. I just have a very good feeling about this one and, yeah, I could be wrong but for my money (literally), this one looks to be one of 2009’s finest compilations period (and hopefully the “Vol. 1” portion of the title portends that there’ll be a “Vol. 2” at some point).

Releases on December 15

Potential Rating: 4.5/5

Break Down Babylon by Taffari [Digital Link International/Zojak Worldwide]

TAFFARI has a new album! Okay, this one is a little ’special’ circumstances and I was sooooooo about to jump in on a review for it. Taffari (the ’Ta’ of always welcomed production unit, Al.Ta.Fa.An) is bringing forth a new album of sorts to the masses with Breaking Down Babylon. If you didn’t catch on the first time (Addicted To Music style), then this thing is definitely for you, it is GORGEOUS! Checking in now at a ROBUST eighteen tracks, it’s bigger and better than ever and it’s definitely an album which has grown on me considerably over time. Beautiful.

Releases this month

Rated 4.5/5

The Sugar Riddim [Special Delivery Music]

Wicked Frenchie production duo Bost & Bim of Special Delivery are apparently back at work again and are releasing their SPARKLING Sugar riddim on an album to the masses. I always look forward to releases from Special Delivery and even more so to their album releases and the Sugar riddim may just be one of the (if not THE) best that they’ve done thus far. This thing is GORGEOUS! Highlighted by a sweet guitar, although the Sweet riddim lacks Special Delivery staples like Queen Omega, Mark Wonder and Gentleman, it does come complete with well known lights such as Demarco, Peetah Morgan, Ziggi (whose ‘Gonna Leave You’ is probably going to be the best tune on the riddim) and label friend Lyricson, as well as a healthy dosage of up and comers like UK star Gappy Ranks. Torch and Hawaiian songstress Irie Love. Can’t wait to hear the finished product of the album for one the best riddims of 2009.

Releases on December 11

Potential Rating 4.5/5

The Arena Riddim [Tiger Records]

Apparently our friend Sherkhan has bills to pay! Almost immediately after releasing Perfect’s latest long player French Connection, one of the breakout producers of the year now releases an EP for his agitated sounding Dancehall riddim, the Arena. The piece features four tracks, including two from the insanely talented Busy Signal, one from the insanely underrated Teflon, a tune from potentially SCALDINGLY talented youth, Jah Trouble (the wickedest 13 year old sounding DJ on the earth) and a clean version of the hype, video game sound effect laced composition which is the Arena riddim.

Releases on December 11

Potential Rating: 4/5

In Stores Now

Grillaras Catalogue [Grillaras/Zojak Worldwide]

Of course the boys and girls at Zojak Worldwide are at it again and what they’ve pulled out of their hats this week is the very small (at least for now), but definitely significant catalogue of Grillaras Production which is once again, after having seemingly vanished for about a year or so, available digitally. I know what you’re thinking - ‘What the hell is a Grillaras and why should I care?’- but of their at least four releases, two are very strong full blown albums: Captura, one of Norris Man’s best albums ever and Tha Bitta Stretch, the debut album from the angriest man in the world, UT Ras. There’re also riddim albums for the Real Time (which you may know from Capleton’s tune from the Reign Of Fire album, ‘Open Your Eyes’ and it also features the likes of Turbulence (recycled lyrics), of course Lutan Fyah and Chezidek, the aforementioned UT Ras, the late Daddigon and WICKED tune from the underrated Military Man, alongside a slew of ‘usual suspects’) and the Good Time (which features many of the same names (including Military Man and Daddigon) and RIDICULOUSLY a tune from Moses I of all people (David House all over the place!), which is always fun. Certainly there’s something here for everyone.

Rated In Full: 4.5/5

Blossoming by Patrice Roberts [Hometown Music/VP Records]

Speaking of ridiculous, there’s this. Wayyyyyyyy before the light which simply is Mr. Machel Montano HD began to shine in her direction, Patrice Roberts was already well on her way (well it wasn’t “wayyyyyyyy”, I think she’s all of 23 years old) to being the Soca superstar which she is today and the greatest single spot of evidence of that would come on her debut album from 2003, the well titled Blossoming which SHOCKINGLY is now available for mass consumption worldwide via Hometown Music, which is doing a lot of great reissuing for Soca/Calypso (including the Maestro Greatest Hitz album) digitally. This album wasn’t great or amazing, or anything like such and, when you really look at it, the ten tunes are actually split up with only six actual tunes and four riddim tracks, but what is here - tunes like ‘Sprinkle’, ‘Determine’ and ‘De Day I Saw Red’, really do show an artist well on her way and . . . Blossoming. Now if we could just get them to update the masses with the Looking Hot album. . .

Rated 3.5/5

The Tek A Train Riddim [Rootdown Records]

I’m sure the man has done other things, but for my money (again, literally), Teka, the producer at Rootdown Records, will forever be known as the guy who vibed one of my favourite riddims from last year (I THINK that was last year), the HUGE iLove riddim. Well, now both Teka and Rootdown, from out of Germany are back and with him, he’s bringing Ziggim Anthony B, Cali P and Smiley with a whole heap of German artists (including one named Slonesta apparently who is very impressive and sounds a bit like [General] Degree to voice his spanking new riddim, the Tek A Train. For my non-German speaking readers (like me), you may want to kind of work on this one a bit and thankfully it’s digital so we can do just that.

Rated 3.75/5

Justice Must Come by Steve Steppa [Irie Sounds/Zojak Worldwide]

Call this one a work in progress because I’m still dealing with it (and you may very well see review of it someday here). The previously unknown (to me) Stevie Steppa has an album in Justice Must Come which sounds very different to my ears. I don’t know if it’s his accent or his overall approach (or both), but there’s something her. . ., you know what? I’ll tell you about it next time.