Buju Banton - “Before The Dawn” [Gargamel Records]The biggest piece of news this week is that -Yes. Buju Banton’s new album ”Before The Dawn” is out now and currently in stores. I know everyone has been waiting for it for years and years and now the wait is over . . . Okay, seriously we know that this thing has pretty much popped up out of nowhere and has seemingly done so to coincide with his recent trial on drug charges in the States. And while that is still to be resolved (in December reportedly), fans can (and most likely will) grab up the album. Checking in at a mere ten tracks, it certainly comes with all the hurried and rushed feel you’d imagine for an album from an artist who’s been locked up for the better part of a year and isn’t known to be the most active anyway (after having just dropped the master class that was ”Rasta Got Soul” last year ), but you’re still going to buy it - Aren’t you.
CD & Digital
Review coming Friday
“Jam 4/ The Wobble Riddim” [Necessary Mayhem/Zojak Worldwide]Curtis ‘Da Grynch’ Lynch Jr. and company at Necessary Mayhem, the outstanding young UK label, are back at it again with the release of their latest big vibe, the Jam 4/The Wobble Riddim. Like most of the label’s output, this is a MAD old school dancehall vibed composition and Lynch taps some big UK talent such as General Levy, Top Cat, Blackout JA (who just DESTROYS ALL LIFE EVERYWHERE with the SAVAGE ‘Heavyweight Chanter‘, going Papa San style on people), big veteran Little John and, of course, the man himself Mr. Williamz. This thing is going to do a major damage with old school Dancehall heads and perhaps to the new school as well as it just carries a big vibes and is damn intoxicating.
Digital & 7” Singles
“Swimmin’ In Soca” [South Central/CRS Music]Yes, of course we’re still dealing with Soca compilations from 2010, despite the fact that we’re getting closer to next year’s festivities and further from this year’s. This time around it’s Bajan label South Central [Kevin Marshall & Darien Bailey], taking a go with their release for 2010, ”Swimmin’ In Soca”. Certainly this one is going to (and has already) attract quite a bit of attention largely due to the fact that it comes ‘equipped’ with three tracks which are going to highlight any release - the MAMMOTH ‘Neighbour’ from Edwin Yearwood and Patrice Roberts, ‘De African’ from superstar Bunji Garlin and ‘Feel Like Wukin’ from the incomparable Destra. Joining that sterling group (all tunes which don’t appear on any other official compilation to my knowledge) are efforts from the likes of three time reigning St. Vincy Soca Monarch, Skinny Fabulous, Peter Ram (whose ‘Balance De Batty Again’ (a remake of WCK’s tune ’Balance Batty’) is probably the best tune I’ve heard from him in three years) and cool and clean pieces from the likes of Zeek, Kean, Kimba and others.
CD
{note: CRS has apparently been digitizing a ton of their back catalogue, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see this one go that route soon either. But the CD is available now}
Tenshun Riddim [Rootical Records/Zojak Worldwide]What a coincidence - Just last week (at least I think that was last week), I told you about Bobby Tenna’s brand new album, the excellent ”Words & Melody”, which featured as its finest tune, ‘Way Back’. I didn’t too much recognize the song at the time, but I thought it sounded familiar for some reason. Well it turned out to be case # 4,983,256,230 where I couldn’t think of the name of a particular riddim because I do know about Rootical Records’ Tenshun Riddim from last year which now makes it to album form courtesy of Zojak Worldwide. Of course Tenna has been joined by some really powerful artists on the riddim as well, as the likes of Sizzla Kalonji (big tune named ‘War‘), Turbulence, I Wayne & Fire Star, Perfect (whose tune is absolutely ridiculous), The Lambsbread, Fyakin and even Ras Myrhdak (biggup BROWN’S TOWN!) all jump in to voice the infectiously URGENT riddim.
Digital
Questions Riddim [DocMac Entertainment/Zojak Worldwide]The excellent little set from DocMac Entertainment definitely caught my attention (despite the fact that I don’t really recall hearing it too much anywhere), if for no other reason than because the Questions Riddim just so happens to have TWO tunes from one of my favourite lesser known lights, Prestige. And with just five tracks in full, the very VARIED riddim also features Hezron and Fyakin (big tune, ‘Dem Nuh Real’) as well as the also underrated Droop Lion (who’s sounding more and more like Shaggy to my ears). But as expected, I’m really on Prestige’s two pieces, ‘Questions’ and ‘Speak The Truth’ (which sounds very different from the other tunes), particularly the latter as he offers his opinions on the situations of several of his peers and does so in a very smart and societal way.
Digital
Exodus Riddim [Daseca Productions]Keeping the riddim string going (and for another couple of spots after this probably) - I thought that I’d mention this one, despite the fact that I’m not particularly fond of the Exodus Riddim, being the latest from out of Daseca’s studios it’s definitely getting quite a bit of attention. There’re two spots, out of the eight, however, which are definitely big moments for me as both I-Octane and Agent Sasco [bka Assassin] offer two very strong pieces for the Exodus as does a surprising Tony Rebel. As for the other five - From Serani, Bugle, Dexter Daps, Voicemail and Kibaki, they’re all pretty decent yet unexceptional, like the riddim itself ultimately in my opinion.
Digital
Digital
Bun Up Riddim [Own Mission Records]I thought that I’d kind of throw in this four set release quickly (given that I have it and it was still very fresh in my mind having written a story for it on United Reggae last week). Own Mission Records from out of France serves up their new piece, the oddly named Bun Up Riddim, and do so very quietly and nicely, which actually fits the nature of the composition itself. This thing is riddim NUDITY. It is barely even there, but what is there works very nicely for the UK based King General and Dixie Peach and does WONDERS for JA veteran, the delightfully fragile voiced Echo Minott whose ‘Nah Go Jail’ is downright masterful! Also it should be said that despite being just four tunes (there’s also, thankfully, a clean riddim version alongside the three artists) this piece is surprisingly full as all of the songs check in at just a second or two shy of seven minutes long, with dubs added, pushing the overall playing time close to half an hour.
Digital
Party Time + Take A Lick Riddims [Irie Ites Records]The boys at Irie Ites have been having a VERY good 2010 and following their release of the recent Only Solution Riddim album, they’re IMMEDIATELY back on top of things with the Party Time & Take A Lick Riddims on a single release. Like most of the French label’s output, these two relicked tracks are laid by the formidable Mafia & Fluxy and the results are top notch. The first seven of the album’s seventeen tracks are devoted to the Party Time and feature artists such as Leroy Sibbles (who originated the riddim I believe), Sizzla, Glen Washington, a combination featuring Spectacular & Natty King and others. The final ten selections span out over the Take A Lick Riddim and it showcases II regulars like Lutan Fyah, Chezidek, Sena and Lorenzo (with the title track from his solid 2009 album, ”Movin’ Ahead”, also on Irie Ites) alongside Perfect, Anthony John, Nature, Oba Simba and Keefaz. Included are clean versions of both riddims and REALLY what we have here is a very high level of work. Well done.
CD & Digital
Tsunami Riddim [Hot Coffee Music]And the final riddim (I have one more to mention actually, but it’ll have to wait until next week) that I’m going to tell you about this week, I’ve probably saved my favourite for last (although I’m not completely convinced just yet) as Hot Coffee Music offers their take on the classic Dancehall lick, the Punani Riddim, the Tsunami Riddim . . . What they lose in creativity points, failing to come up with a better title, they make up for in the fact that this thing is MAD! The label, probably best known for having released Gappy Ranks’ pre-album EP, ”Rising Out Of The Ghetto”, has well established the link with the flaming hot UK artist (it may, in fact, be his label) and he climbs all over the Tsunami to the tune of the title track which has been doing very very well and a next tune, the Cutty-ish ‘Cannon’ which is even better to my opinion. Gappy (I THINK) also joins Delly Ranks on the pro-safe sex ‘Always Have A Condom’ and Chukki Starr, Kibaki, Tony Matterhorn, Singing Sweet and Bugle all join in on the fun.
Digital
Zion - “Strictly Roots” [Skank Records]*SOLID* Is the word that came to mind when I finally navigated through this very solid release from Professor Skank’s Skank Records - ”Strictly Roots” from Dominica born chanter, Zion. It is just WELL DONE, and well done all around, MODERN ROOTS REGGAE MUSIC. I just happen to like such things (and so do you) and I was well pay attention from the very tune until the last of sixteen. Prior to this album release I don’t think that I’ve EVER heard of Zion and although it is well lame and if you feel to flame me FINE go ahead, but he does remind me of Nasio to some degree in the way he delivers his vocals and should the masses get a hold of this excellent release a Nasio-like reverence of Zion wouldn’t be out of the question in my opinion. ”Strictly Roots” is definitely one for the more mature listener as well as I can’t see a new fan being too entranced with it, but if you REALLY love this music, then this may be a goldmine for you.
CD
{note: Might review this one sometime in October}
Willy S - “Love Life & Politics” [Henry Stone Music USA]Don’t really know a whole heap about Willy S or his label or his album (and I don’t even have it), but listening through it, I though the Lover’s Rock heads might well want to know about its existence. Apparently Willy S was born in Haiti (and you can hear the accent) and now makes his home in Florida in the States and he’s put out his debut (I THINK) album, ”Love, Life & Politics”. The title seems to be well encompassing in terms of his subjectry, but he seems to be, at core, a Lover’s Rock singer and it certainly isn’t horrible, so if you are a Lover’s Rock fan, you may want to give it a spin.
CD & Digital
Ce’Cile - ‘Hurry Up’ (single) [Krush Proof Muzik/Zojak Worldwide]And finally Achis Reggae favourite, Bad Gyal Ce’Cile, has a new single courtesy of Krush Proof, ‘Hurry Up’. These days, it seems as if pretty much everything Ce’Cile touches turns to gold in one way or another and I wouldn’t at all be surprised to see the same happen with this SWINGING single. It’s the same cool, mature and sexy (if I didn’t unconditionally HATE the word ‘sultry’ (and I do) I would use it here) vibes you’ve come to expect from her and another real winner as well (which gets increasingly xtra rated as it goes along).
Digital
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