Coming Soon Vol. 10

Coming Soon

Sanchez - Now & Forever [VP Records]

Up first this week is by far the single biggest artist’s name of the bunch as Sanchez is soon to make his return on album form for the very first time in approximately two thousand years. Now & Forever marks the venerable crooner’s first album in over six years (by my count) and of course, like all of his business, it goes through VP Records. I actually remember a few years ago that it was supposedly by design that the singer had stopped releasing albums and I THINK he was planning on releasing them on his label, a plan which apparently never materialized. However, regardless of how he’s back, we’re happy to have him and especially in such a big budget format with none other the resurgent Donovan Germain of Penthouse Records handling the productions. Certainly this one not to be missed and. . . Well I’m not going to, neither should you.

Rated Potential: 4.75/5

Releases on February 9

Volcano Eruption - Reggae Anthology [17 North Parade (VP Records)]

VP’s reissue/classics label 17 North Parade has been something, since it first appeared, which has interested me greatly. Largely because they do things like such which is essentially recapping a label’s or an artist’s ENTIRE catalogue to a wonderful degree. Well, I think they may have just outdone themselves with this MONSTER from the vaults of the legendary Henry ‘Junjo’ Lawes, one of THE most significant figures in the annals of Reggae music and his Volcano label. This release includes FORTY of his most well known productions from the likes of Barrington Levy and King Yellowman, to John Holt and Johnny Osbourne. Were that not enough (and it was), also included in the mix is reportedly a very informative DVD which I absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on. This is MANDATORY material (and on the same day, there‘s another can‘t-miss, but I‘ll tell you about it next time).

Rated Potential: 100/5

Releases on February 16

Riddim Driven: Street Team [VP Records]

And lastly on the VP front is a bit of what I believe is becoming a staple for the label - the early year’s dosage of its esteemed Riddim Driven series. This edition, the ‘Street Team’ riddim from Fire Links, is one of three which are set to drop early in the year and it’s certainly a big deal for the Dancehall heads out there. The Steet Team was one of the (if not THE) best hardcore Dancehall riddims of 2009 and it birthed a few hits including (and most notably), Mavado’s MASSIVE ‘Mocking Bird’ and Vybz Kartel’s ‘Something Ahgo Happen’, both of which are included on the album. Rounding out the cast are Dancehall royalties, Bounty & Beenie, as well as STRONG material from Assassin, Bugle, Elephant Man and even the ultra reclusive Baby Cham.

Rated Potential: 4.5/5

Releases on January 19

No Fear [VP Records]

Okay so I forgot one (oops). I’ll make this quick. Apparently VP has come to their senses and. . . Realized that they were VP and have began to crack open that vault of mid/late-1990’s STUFF which they have, which is where we get this certified GEM from. No Fear is a compilation which they also released a long time ago on CD, but it’s now going to be digitized for your consumption (and mine). The album (as you can tell by the cover) features classic material from Jeremy Harding’s 2 Hard Records. So, of course you can expect plenty of Sean Paul (including the hard to find ‘Babygirl‘), some Kid Kurrupt and even a tune from Dutty Cup and also 2 Hard favourites like Beenie Man (‘Who Am I’) and Mr. Vegas (and there‘s also a similar re-release from Main Street which I‘ll tell you about next week) (if I can remember it).

Rated Potential: 4.5/5

Releases Digitally On February 2

Dennis Brown Live At The Apollo [???/Zojak Worldwide]

The world can really never have ENOUGH Dennis Brown live albums in my opinion (it’s almost like having too much money in one’s pocket) (no pun intended) and Zojak (and some other label) is participating in sprinkling wholesome goodness around the world with this EXCELLENT release. I should have probably sat on this one for another week or two, because I don’t know too much about it . . . Oh yeah, save for the fact that is BEAUTIFUL! I don’t know if it was released before (so I’m going to check. . . I can’t find it anywhere) and again, I don’t know too much about it, but definitely keep an eye or two out for it, because it is so wonderful and it’s Dennis Brown at the Apollo, nuff said.

Rated: 5/5

Releases Soon

Strange Things Riddim [Irie Ites]

It’s not like the very nice Irie Ites (with the AWFUL PR department), to shelve things this long, but then again, maybe they weren’t. Last year, the outstanding Frenchie label gave us a wonderful taste of their ‘new’ riddim, which was a beautiful relick of the old Strange Things with a few very nice tunes. They went as far as to release an EP with nearly ten tracks which they also released as singles, but it did seem a bit slim for such a BIG project (for which they essentially filmed a short documentary to promote). Well, you look up one day and there’s this, a full blown album release for the riddim and things begin to make more and more sense. Joining the likes of Sizzla, Lutan Fyah and of course John Holt, are Pressure Busspipe, Cali P and label favourites Ras Mac Bean (who joins Sean, who also has her own solo tune) and Spectacular. I’ll definitely be picking this one up.

Rated Potential: 4.999999/5

Releases on January 15

Same Way Riddim [Soul Vybz]

And lastly this week (where I’ve done a billion previews), is one of a few releases (the best) from another Fenchie label, Soul Vybz Music. The Same Way is but one of several riddim compilations the label is to release (including more than one Hip-Hop riddim, with Reggae/Dancehall artists voicing it). This one in particular is one big and vibrant sounding Roots piece which is blessed by big artists such as Junior Kelly, Luciano, Chezidek, Anthony B, Al Campbell and even Straïka. Definitely check this one out and go through and look at some of the label’s other material as well, because it can’t be too far behind in terms of potential quality.

Rated Potential: 4.25/5

Releases on January 25

In Stores Now

Jah Works Catalogue [Riddim House Productions/Zojak Worldwide]

I’ve never been the biggest fan of the US based Jah Works band, but of all the people who’ve heard their music, I’m most certainly in the minority. The band has been around for (ever) quite awhile and has attracted probably about as much attention as any US based band (particularly for one which isn’t based in the Reggae starving state of California so I think that this is a pretty big deal. So of course it involves the hyper active boys & girls at Zojak Worldwide who have now released a large portion (and perhaps ALL) of Jah Works’ back catalogue digitally for your consumption. I didn’t even know some of this material existed (including two live albums), but in its sheer vastness, I may even be tempted to take a closer listen at some point. Like I said, a TRULY big deal.

Sizzla & Bredrens - Liberate Yourself [Kariang]

I have, by contrast, been a huge fan of Sizzla. . . and Garnet Silk, and Luciano, and Bushman and Utan Green, all of whom appear on this release Liberate Yourself and its glaring case of ‘what took you so fucking long’. This seemingly lost album was first released a decade ago and if you didn’t get it . . .well then you just didn’t get it, unless there’s some shop near your house with a REALLY REALLY nice bargain bin. But now, it rises from the dead and buried (probably via Zojak also) and is available digitally. The release includes two discs, one is a very nice standard thirteen track album from Sizzla Kalonji and the second is from ‘Bredren’ which is an amazing pack including the aforementioned names as well as Prezident Brown, Terry Ganzie, Jack Radics (who I always referred to as Rack Jadics) and Lebanchulah (alongside Sugar Black). Do definitely make up for lost time and become acquainted if you haven’t already.

Rated 4.5/5

Kimberley Inniss - Come With Me [CRS Music]

Speaking of becoming acquainted, while Soca heads already know the name Kimberley Inniss, others may not, but this (CUTIE!) young Bajan songstress definitely has a lot to offer and her debut album from a couple of years back (I THINK) now also makes it digital arrival (as does quite a bit of CRS’ catalogue). Inniss’ album is a lovely mix of Zouk-ified Soca for the most part, which is a very nice blend and of course it also helps that it also includes arguably her two biggest hits to date, ‘My Hips’ (alongside Lil’ Rick) and the MASSIVE ‘Carnival Symphony (and its road mix).

Rated 4/5

{note: If you’re looking for this one, unfortunately it’s incorrectly marked as being from ‘Kim Robertson’, I have alerted someone about it and am currently being ignored. What else is new}

First Born Riddim [Master One Productions]

And lastly (and hopefully quickly) this week is yet another blast from the past in Master One’s First Born Riddim. This one wasn’t HUGE when it dropped back a few years ago, but I also thought it so nice, especially a very hot Sizzla tune by the name of ‘I’m Free’. The riddim was played by the venerable Fire House Crew and alongside Kalonji it features big efforts from Capleton, Luciano, Turbulence, Elephant Man and Richie Spice (so with that, we can forgive them for Hawkeye and Alozade) (BARELY). Oh and that cover is amazing.

Rated 4.25/5