Roots & Culture 47 Items

Mute BEAT’s live performances from 1988-1989 are compiled in this double live album. Featuring recordings from their North American tour, including performances at N.Y.'s Sob's and collaborations with legends like Gladstone "Gladdy" Anderson and Roland Alphonso, this album showcases the unique groove and live dub mix that can’t be captured in studio recordings.

Mute BEAT’s 3rd album, released in July 1989, marked the band's final original album. With Emerson Kitamura replacing Hirofumi Asamoto on keyboards and Yukiya Naito, who would later join Super Bad, on guitar, this album captured a significant evolution in their sound. The cutting is planned to be done by Dave Turner at Curve Pusher in the UK.

Produced By Donovan Germain, recorded at Channel One and Harry J's, backed by The Roots Radics & The Taxi Gang, originally released in 1982. A pre-digital taste of what was to come.

THE Dynamics • Drag’n'fly by Vincent Hello. Jamaica, 1960s. Ska artists, rock steady and reggae take back some soul songs of the United States, thus giving their versions that will in turn become future classics. The hits of the moment are also seasoned with Jamaican sauce, no matter where it comes from Original, pop, country, jazz... The rhythms of the island permanently transform the tracks of origin. In 2024, with their third album called Dragn'fly and decorated with a beautiful dragonfly (a "dragonfly" so in the language of King Tubby) the Dynamics honour Jamaican tradition and dynamite 10 versions of hits from yesterday and today. The Dragonfly spread his wings reggae, soul, funk to land in all headsets at the heart of good stereos and on spicy dancefloors. Because this dragonfly is a true superfly that speaks to the heart... and legs. After two albums whose success led them to walk the globe of Glastonbury in Tokyo, honoured by the large elders (the first part of Lee Perry here, a regular dj support of Don Letts over there) the Dynamics are alive so their 'soul reggae vocal sound system” in front of audiences specializing in Jamaican or to those who are who were lucky enough to meet them by chance in Chemical Brothers... or Lady Gaga. The Dynamics have forgotten the weight of ancestors to make their own recipe. They proclaim it, they are Sound System! The voices of Mounam, Steve Levi and Mr Day are in the front row, so making lovers, preachers, crooners and crooners to Turns of Duty, while Fab Master Flab all in one of the roots and futuristic echos. But if the mind is a sound system, the dynamics sounds also as a group through instruments live performances that plunge the tracks into a fervor unique. And then there are the hits, so, from all times and of all styles. The low rider becomes toaster and leaves the road a American carried by these vocal harmonies Sky to take the exit Kingston. On the roadside, the joker delivers his lovers soft rock after a small detour to Muscle Shoal, The time to borrow a guitar from Duane Allman. In the south again, Mounam “Mrs Dynamics” meets the spirit of «Mr Dynamite» and tells him his radical, soul version. “ man’s world...” inna digital style! The spiritual anthem “you got to have freedom” by Master Pharoah Sanders becomes a universal skank, pop and dub who sends resounding high its universal message Dance! The dynamics are mutating the classic of ESG into a small, minimal pop bomb that is not without resemblance to the Neptunes of Mr Pharell Williams. On the edge of the track, Peter Gabriel sees his “Sledgehammer” groover as he does could imagine it and dissolve into sublime soul scrolls. Later, “After laughter...” soul classic celebrated and sampled Born into a rock steady air promised also to eternity. JJ Cale’s "cocaine," leaves its on the dancefloor for a reggae disco version, necessarily! And then, we must conclude. So it’s time to send an original title. It will be "Rubba Sub", to the aromas of sleng teng, which proves that far from the hits, the Dynamics deploys same layouts to deliver fresh and authentic sounds. And when the dub echoes evaporated, that the riddims have been silent, only remains an album majestic, in turn a future classic, full of unique Dynamics sound that mixes with instinct the echoes of yesterday to its own voices today.

Mariko Ide, whose emotional and transparent voice has captivated the world, sings a Lovers & Bossa cover of DeBarge's signature song, cut as a single from the Cafe Music compilation album!

SSW Mayu, a multi-talented singer who has appeared in musicals and TV dramas, covers the classic songs of yesteryear as a single cut from a compilation album by Cafe Music!

This album from an Italian-based production outfit on Aloe Vera Records celebrates the label's early years and the unique style of one of the imprint's key acts, The Officinalis's. They were known for classics like 'Si Comme' Si' and for blending. Naples and Jamaican musical cultures. Aloe Vera Records skilfully merged these worlds in their output and created a distinctive and recognisable sound that bridges past and present. These are all well-crafted sounds with warm low ends, rich bass and plenty of loved-up melodies that make it a nice escapist listen.

Eyes Open is the first official album for the up and coming Roots Reggae and Dub band Dubarise.

A self-produced project recorded over a week on a forested mountain in Germany in the middle of winter. Far from a typical landscape one associates with the genre but a perfect example of how powerful Reggae and Dub can be regardless of its setting.

While traveling the year before, for self-reflection and a break from societies expectations, lead singer Florian Görsch started writing lyrics and planted the foundations for the album. But it wasn’t until he returned home to the band until the real message of the album developed.

Told through deep warm Bass lines, hard-hitting drums, Dub effects creating atmospheric soundscapes, Inspiring Saxophone solos and classic Roots reggae arrangements, one experiences not only the meaning of Eyes Open but a mellow inspired musical journey.

Reissue of 2017 dub reworks of their evergreen Bitty McLean Bond St. recordings.

Small repress of 2003 release.

Huge 3 track 12" - A-side features two killer deep roots cuts, first time on single for both. B-side features a great and unique previously unreleased 'acoustic' roots tune. Comes in a Wackie's company sleeve.

New twelve inch of vintage Wackie's on City Line. The A-side features two of the best Wackie's deep roots tunes previously only released on compilation, which have long needed single release. Stranger Cole's somber "Capture Land" about the reality of squatting in the ghetto, followed by Wanachi's instrumental cut of the brilliant rhythm you might know from Azul's 'Black Rose.' The B-side features a really unique previously unreleased tune from one Moon Dread. Operatic, semi-acoustic and haunting, if you like early Ras Michael & The Sons of Negus, this tune offers a maybe less spiritual and more theatrical but still compelling take in that vein from about a decade later in the late 1970s. Comes in new Wackie's company sleeve.

Death Is Not The End's 333 series continues with this killer slice of digi roots out of late 90s NY, also a big Jah Shaka selection at the time.
Take It Easy was produced by Ricky "Mad Man" Myrie - a reggae/dancehall producer active since the early 90s, and who was also providing writing and production on breakthrough albums for VP from Sean Paul, Capleton & others at this time. Featuring a sharp and poignant vocal from Gumbae Culture, it was recorded at the legendary Philip Smart's Long Island-based Hc&f Studio, under the engineering guidance of Smart's brother-in-law and long time studio partner, Michel McDonald. The record's haunting xylophone licks, razor sharp snares and menacing subs perfectly combine throughout the vocal cut, and really come to the fore on the version for a raw and stripped back masterclass in digital dubwise.

Cover with a beginning seam split at the upper edge.
Record has some hairlines.
Includes original inner sleeve.

Vin Gordon, also known as Don Drummond Jr, is a celebrated trombonist from Jamaica who now drops a second 12" on Finnish Dub & Sound International with the Dubsetters. It carries on the good work of their first outing with rootsy and organic reggae rhythms topped with the signature smooth sounds of Gordon's melodies up top. After the original version of 'Get On The Groove', the B-side keeps things sweet with a Groove Dub that is as deep as they come and stacked with echo and reverb for that lovely authentic sound and then closing it out is 'Groove 78 Style' which is more percussive, splashy and cavernous with some deft studio effects added in.

This is the very first reissue of the much in demand double sided killer single released in 1970 on the Upsetter label. Both tracks were produced by Lee Perry. The A side is a beautiful yet wicked cover of LET IT BE by the Beatles, produced by Lee Perry and performed by the Soulettes. The B side is BIG DOG Bloxie, an even wackier version of the A side by Lee Perry!

Both tracks were written and produced by Lee Perry. This is the first time ever these two complementary tracks have been released together. The A side is the first ever reissue of the gorgeous Sinner MAN by Annette Clarke. This rare track was initially released as the B side of Just ONE Look, also performed by Annette Clarke on the Technics label in the UK only in 1973. The B side Sinner MAN DUB is a very rare Lee Perry Dub version of the A side. It was released only once as a single for a Lee Perry box of 8 very rare singles by Trojan in 2005. The box is now also very rare.

One of two big previously unreleased cuts to a well loved '87 digi riddim. The Singing Melody is the first cut of this adaptation which he would go on to do a few more times, real dancehall vibes. The Rod Taylor is another great example of his small but deadly late '80s output. Both tunes voiced at Dynamic Sounds in the golden year.

One of two big previously unreleased cuts to a well loved '87 digi riddim. The Singing Melody is the first cut of this adaptation which he would go on to do a few more times, real dancehall vibes. The Rod Taylor is another great example of his small but deadly late '80s output. Both tunes voiced at Dynamic Sounds in the golden year.

Here's the first dip into previously unreleased heat from Parish. Fire late '80s Everton Chambers, riding a wicked lick of the tonight riddim. Another one proving yet again that Parish is one of the finest labels of the era.

First time on 45 for the lone tune Leroy recorded at Wackie's, next cut to the killer Love Joys' "Studio Man" rhythm.

Back with another selection from the Don, one of our favorite artists. This one is as far as we know, the only tune he voiced for Bullwackie's, and it is of course killer. Only ever released on a compilation, now on 45 for the first time backed with dub of the rhythm, well loved from the Love Joy's tune 'Studio Man.'

A few copies arrived with a damaged Cover. We're therefore selling it on a reduced price.

A few copies arrived with a damaged Cover. We're therefore selling it on a reduced price.

A few copies arrived with a damaged Cover. We're therefore selling it on a reduced price.

A few copies arrived with a damaged Cover. We're therefore selling it on a reduced price.

A few copies arrived with a damaged Cover. We're therefore selling it on a reduced price.

Classic UK roots and steppers from Pablo Gad, incl. Hard Times & Dub.

A few copies arrived with a damaged Cover. We're therefore selling it on a reduced price.

Being Punk and Hippie at the same time. Les Rythmes Ruban experiment with the idea by doing absolutely what they want, but with love. Moving forward with enthusiastic trial and error has the double advantage of enjoying the scenery and easily crossing paths with people we love. The first encounter between Marina P and Blundetto took place in 2014 with their collaboration on the track "Last Broken Bones" from the album "World Of". Marina, who had just created her label Homeys Records, continues to multiply experiences on stage and in the studio, solo or always well accompanied (Mungo's Hi-Fi, Stand High Patrol, Woman Hi-Fi with Biga*Ranx, Jahtari...). But Marina's spectrum of influences goes far beyond reggae, drawing from the jazz sound of her parent's record player, her cello practice, and the discovery of great voices of Soul and Jazz like Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, Chet Baker... The track "Eugenio", written and composed by Marina, embodies all of this; it belongs to no particular style. It's primarily the evident essence of the song, its lyrics, and its emotion that inspired Blundetto to "set it to music", available to your ears in two different arrangements.

The Midnight Rock label was home to some of the greatest productions of the era, and like any smart Jamaican producer, label owner Nkrumah Jah Thomas worked his rhythms hard, using them to create scores of records by dozens of artists.

Thomas came up just at the right time, and his breakthrough recordings were made at the finest studios, using the finest musicians: often they were recorded at Channel One and used the Roots Radics. And sometimes the voicings that he created were released, but still more languished in the vaults. Caught on multi-track tape, but never released.

That was the fate of a session that he recorded with Sugar Minott. The singer – known in the UK for his monster hit ‘Good Thing Going’ – had made his name in the vocal group The African Brothers, before working as a soloist for Coxsone Dodd at Studio One, where he became a pioneer of the dancehall, his voice riding over many of Dodd’s greatest rhythms to create timeless music.

Thomas has worked hard in creating sharp new mixes from his sessions with Minott, and this single – a plea against gun violence as apt today as when it was put down on tape – is the first fruits of that work. A fantastic Radics rhythm with an exceptional vocal and brand new dub by Jah Thomas and Rory on the flip.

Limited to 500 copies, each hand numbered.