What I'm Listening To: SUMMAH!

"Special Lady" by Junior Kelly [Muzick Vibes Records - 2023]

It has definitely been awhile from since we've last talked about Junior Kelly, at least in regards to any project he had around, so I was well pleased to not only see that he was back with a new EP, but also that it.... was actually pretty decent. "Special Lady" comes courtesy of Muzick Vibes Records from out of Argentina and features some very solid material which is what the chanter should be making. At his best, Junior Kelly is a mark of consistency in Reggae, but he... has his moods. In particular check 'Them Nah Know' and 'Stand Up' alongside Blessed and just generally give "Special Lady" a try. You might find a big tune or two.

The Slow Motion Riddim [Madhouse Records - 2023]

Partially due to their infrequency and largely due to.... him being a complete and utter genius, there will always be a very rare air reserved for the work of Dave Kelly and his Madhouse Records label. The very reclusive ace is arguably THE finest creator the Dancehall has ever produced (off the top of my head, he has my vote right now based on strictly how BEAUTIFUL his tracks are) and he's blessed 2023 with his work on his latest creation, the Slow Motion Riddim. As you might suspect, the kind of slower detailed track makes for a very snug fit for most of its artists, but it is, surprisingly, TOK who takes top honours with their very clever 'Sexy Time'. Blakkmann also registers as does Busy Signal and a trio featuring Bounty Killer, Dexta Daps and, of course, Baby Cham.

 

"Island Hopping" by General Degree [Size 8 Records]

Of course I will always have room for General Degree and that extends to his latest creation, a four-tracked EP release by the name of "Island Hopping" on his very own Size 8 imprint (like most of Degree's work). This set won't change lives at all anywhere, but it does serve its purpose of providing a bit of light amongst the very DARK landscape of what is considered Dancehall these days (and I got that from a review General Degree did for The Gleaner). While the title track here is fun, the main attraction is definitely the hilarious 'Di Bwoy Oral' which follows a career length line of very clever such tunes from the deejay ["She waaaaan di pianist"] (these days apparently she wants something else as well). Fun times are to be had as they always are with the General.

"Dancehall Gift" by I-Octane [I-Octane]

TRASH

"Moodiraw" by Féfé Typical [DJ Kaprisson - 2021]

And for our blast from the past, we don't go too far back as also on my radars as of late has been the latest release -- just a couple of years old now -- from someone who I should definitely be listening to more, the brutally consistent Féfé Typical, "Moodiraw". The former sparring partner of longtime Achis Reggae favourite, Tiwony (big new album of his own, "Frequency", out now), from out of Martinique would deliver an absolute GEM of a set here which most certainly did not receive the attention it deserved but I'm doing my best these days to make sure anyone within earshot of my players has an AMPLE opportunity to right their previous wrongs if they overlooked it. "Moodiraw" was just outstanding. Reaching the furthest amongst the pack were winners such as 'Le pater', 'Un Bon Sound' with DJ Kaprisson, 'Ecoute-moi', 'L'emuélanine', the big BIG closer 'Corona' and the KNOCKING 'Reprends Tes Priéres'. You couldn't go wrong with anywhere you dropped in on "Moodiraw", however, and, for what it was, it was definitely one of the best Reggae albums of 2021.