Roots & Culture 122 Items

The Croatian dub duo Dubble are stepping up with their 4th release on Dub Tunnel Records. For this outing they are travelling the dubwise road with veteran JA vocalist Earl 16. Earl 16 is known worldwide for his work with the entire A to Z of Reggae and beyond, from Augustus Pablo to Zion Train. Dubble are Vanya and Dubolik based in Zagreb, Croatia and will be launching this record at the 2016 Outlook Festival.

Dubble are the latest heavyweight sound to come stepping out of the
thriving Balkan Dub scene. The dangerous Dubble dub duo of Vanya O &
Dubolik were part of Zagreb's legendary Radikal Dub Kolektiv, and now
they take the same DIY dubwise spirit to their new project. Dubble
make tuff UK style dub, but bring in subtle influences of Dubstep and
Trance to create a unique blend of future sound, all played and mixed
live as they combine classic retro dub mixing with analogue synths,
live vocals & melodica.

These 1968 recordings for producer Derrick Morgan both get backed from the same Lynn Taitt & The Jets track. “Trying to Keep Me Down” is previously unreleased.

"Watt" rhythm.

GA008 sees another 7" release from the label, this time, Spain and Norway collide to give you Joy! On vocal duties, Spanish rub-a-dub Queen, Ponchita Peligros delivers a powerful and personal message of triumph as only she can. Norwegian 8-bit aficionados, Helgeland 8-bit Squad provide a melodic steppas riddim featuring a twangy nylong guitar and nuff bass to move tings forward inna proper 80s digikal style.

Nu Roots Records is the brainchild of UK based Grammy nominated Mix Engineer and Record Producer Daniel Boyle.

Daniel has released many records with a number of Reggae greats, including Max Romeo, Sylford Walker, Winston Mcanuff, Lee Perry and many more, culminating with his 2014 Grammy nominated album for Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry – ‘Back on the Controls’

The vision for Boyle's new label is to combine the best of the old and new, and at the same time creating a platform to help, in a small way; with the current Reggae Revival movement that the world is seeing..

Ramrock Records are proud to present Ghetto Priest Singer/Songwriter/Recording artist/Live Performer and musical visionary. Already known to many as the frontman of Asian Dub Foundation and vocalist on their globally acclaimed single Fortress Europe, GP has been involved in multiple musical projects over the last 20 years including the 2004 release of his critically acclaimed debut album 'Vulture Culture' with uber producer and On-U Sound supremo Adrian Sherwood at the controls.

Ghetto Priest has joined forces with Ramrock label owner and producer Jo Wallace to give us a deep reality check with his original and highly astute Life Ain't Easy that reflects the paranoia of our daily worldwide situations. Riding the riddim inspired by Dennis Brown's 72 Studio One classic Easy Take It Easy, Ghetto's words will resonate with many during these unsettled times.

Marvin Gaye gets reworked for a cosmic reggae trip and a new life to “Enter The Dragon” by legendary composer Lalo Schiffrin is provided!

Finally these great recordings from around 1968 and 1969 are available again on vinyl.

Masterful Gregory from 1997, sounding spooked and hunted over a juddering, propulsive Music Works rhythm, fulgent and full-on, with deep, pounding bass, clattering percussion, parping horns, classy backing vocals and harp starbursts... top-notch Gussies.
Two extended vocal versions, and two dubs, all quite different.

Nice repress of these classic 1967 tunes.

Finally these great recordings from around 1973 are available again on vinyl.

The rhythm track for “Samfy Girl” was originally produced by Lloyd Campbell for Busty Brown's “You Inspire Me” (aka “Oh Girl”') in 1971. Keeling Beckford recalls: "On a Friday night, me and Junior Byles, we went by Lee Perry's Black Ark studio, Lloyd played the track and asked Junior to do something on it, but Junior didn't like the track. I was hungry at the time for another hit record, so I came up with the lyrics "Samfy Girl". It took an hour and a half to put the song together, with the help of Junior Byles and Lee Perry"

These tracks are nice and original 1969 roots recordings from the Upsetter archive.

Soul Sugar drop their own reggae version of Marvin Gaye’s "I Want You". French outfit Soul Sugar – the brainchild of Guillaume “Gee” Metenier – deliver yet another soulful reggae 12”, this time a cover version of Marvin Gaye’s 1976 classic "I Want You". Jamaicain native Leonardo Carmichael sings lead vocals and legendary drums and bass duo Sly & Robbie add their flavor to the mix, with two versions on side B. Marvin Gaye’s single "I Want You" was a big step forward for his sound & vision and marked a change in direction – from hip Motown Soul to a more sultry, Disco sound. Marvin's vocals are notably intimate and the lyrics are more explicit, more personal. An original soul classic, "I Want You" is memorable for its unique combination of lush harmonies, a mesmerizing groove and the apparent sexiness of the theme itself. Soul Sugar's Discomix version combines a smooth mixture of reggae, soul and funk over beefy bass lines, designed for heavyweight sound systems. Sly & Robbie, rhythm duo known for their studio work on countless reggae classics since the 1960s deliver their version, taking us back to the golden age of Reggae, the days when it was typical for Jamaican musicians to record their own versions of American soul tunes ... Ace producer Jahno dubs the mix live and direct to tape, from his very own ' N.O.F Studio'.

These tracks are nice and original 1968 roots recordings from the Deltone archive.

Jamaican trio Israel Vibration are one of Reggae's great vocal groups from the 1970s roots era. The trio re-formed in 1988, signed to the RAS label and set to work on a new album known as 'Strength Of My Life'. Produced by Doctor Dread and backed by the mighty force of the Roots Radics, the I-Vibes returned to form and found a new strength and power. The Radics perfectly complement their songs, laying down bass driven rhythms to create a masterful backdrop over which the harmonies conjure up a wide spectrum of moods. Featuring on this Limited 12" release is the crucial and perhaps more relevant to our current climate 'Middle East' plus 'Greedy Dog' with guest musician Augustus Pablo on melodica duties. Under licence and for the very first time ever with their Dub counterparts this release is one for the fans!

Nice repress of these classic 1968 tunes.

Record is close to NM.

After the famous Andre Tanker’s “Back Home”, Jamwax is very proud to reissue River Come Down in its 12'' version.
Originally released on the Contraband label in 1979 and recorded at famous Semp studio in Trinidad, “River Come Down” is a blend of islands funk, soul, disco, soca with also a touch of gospel: “River, the river come down, the river come down, the river down...wind blow like a hurricane...the river come down, washing the right, washing the wrong, washing the weak, washing the strong, the river come down...”
On the other side you will find an obscure synth instrumental released on an impossible to find 7'' in 1986. “Movin Round” was produced by Andre Tanker for Horace Wilson's Turn of The Tide. This song was absolutely under the radar and remains a strong banger for any dances.

Heavy Roots Track called Ethiopian Romance by The Cimarons recorded in the early 80's @ Easy Street Studio.
Has been released on CD back in the 90's but unfortunately never on vinyl.
Now released for the first time on vinyl !

Dub version was sadly never recorded…
Now the flip side received a proper Dubwise recorded & mixed @ Honey Studio.
Mastered @ Rectape Studio.
Limited Edition /// Letterpress printed the old fashioned way.

First time out for this wildly raw dubplate, sister-recording to the Pablo master-rhythm, shot through with other-worldly, illusively allusive incantation.
Surely that's Family Man stalking a sunken cavern, and his bro battering all seven shades out of his drum-kit, like Meters on fire; and Chinna on guitar, glazed and violent. The mixing rears up right in your face.
Producer Gussie Clarke says Theophilus 'Easy Snappin' Beckford is playing piano, with the front removed so he can strum the strings (like he finally snapped) — but he credits the work overall to Augustus Pablo.
Transferred from acetate — fuss-pots don't grumble, just be humble — though the flip brings a clutch of criss, unmissable alternates, direct from Gussie's tape-room (where the files are entitled ‘Classical Illusion / The Sun’).
Heavy, heavy funk. Simplicity People dug in. Stunning.

2 track Single from Millions released by Typhoon/Dub Store Records!

Perfect returns with his new album "Reggae Farm Work".

Jr. Thomas & The Volcanos’ sophomore effort Rockstone is more than just a love letter to the roots of Jamaican music. It’s an actual love letter. Tom McDowall aka Jr. Thomas explains, “I could write a musical love letter to all things I loved: my wife, my family, my friends, my band mates. I could write a song to tell me to Chin Up when times got tough. I could give gratitude to the Jamaican artists that paved the way for the beautiful music we now call reggae. I could write a song about what it’s like to lose someone important to you. Or write a song to invigorate me spiritually. Music is healing and that’s the best therapy there is for me.”
Rockstone isn’t just another throwback record to an era gone by. It’s a record that takes risks within the genre, but more importantly it’s a genuinely honest record.
“I called the album Rockstone because true love cannot be defeated. It lives forever. We write tributes on our tombstones because they live on beyond our lives as a remembrance of something special and important to us.”
Recommend for fans of: The Frightnrs, Toots & The Maytals, Jimmy Cliff