Roots & Culture 351 Items

For us is a big pleasure to work together with Claudio AKA Abeng , other than a long time friend is a great musician with a deep Ska , Rocksteady & Roots Knowledge , we have been asking him a riddim which we could use for an instrumental and that's the 1st of the few we are working on right now (Yes we love instrumentals!)! It's always a pleasure to open new cooperations , have new musicians and studios playing together to create Roots Music! Rootikal Horns is the horn section of an historical Reggae Band from our area (Countryside of Milano) , Rootical Foundation , Gabri (Trombone) & Filippo (Sax) came to studio with us and we recorded few lines that will appear in a number of future releases. Obviously from this meeting , some more seeds has been planted and hopefully flowers will appear probably in the early 2021... Eeyun Purkins at Waggle Dance Studio, made a great job mixing the A side and Dubbing the B side! Many of you may already know this name ;) , founder of the Co-Operators and of the Waggle Dance Studio/Records have delivered a number of killer Roots productions in the last months and years , that's the 1st of a number of projects we have been working on during Lockdown Period , expect some Fyah Roots music from this Roots Heads meeting!

Following the inspiration of the great 70's Roots, Abeng drop this brand new Heavy Weight Roots track " Run Come Rally " spreading Gathering and Unity Vibes. After a long time of de-socialization "locked in Babylon, it's time to gather and be free" he sangs.

Abeng, the multi-instrumentalist "roots-head" arranges, plays and sings the whole track. This project signs a new co-operation for our label in order to follow our ideal of worldwide connections!!! Flip side "No Botha Dub" is the dub version coming from our friend Michael Exodus at the Dub Basement Studio in Rome.

We are glad to present to you the 1st Abeng Maxi 12'' : "Sun Will Rise" and "Eastern Lights" are two instrumentals based on the same riddim, one a way style Roots & Culture Music done during the LockDown of 2020. Mix and Dubwises are handled by Roberto Sanchez at A-Lone Ark Muzik Studio (es) , ready to play loud on your HiFi or Sound System!

In the last months we had the pleasure to open a connection with Eeyun Purkins, he helped us to mix some Abeng riddims and sent us some riddims to work with. February/March/April /May , the "lockdown months" have been very active and "Moonlight Runner" is one of the results of the collaboration we created during that period , Ian ‘Upsettah’ Burgess , Eeyun Purkins & Abeng worked independently on it so it's for us a pleasure to publish this music on our Dig This Way Records! We hope you enjoy this moody roots music... In the next months we will press more chunes born from this Roots-Heads meeting!

The African Brothers are Lincoln "Sugar" Minott, Winston "Tony Tuff" Morris, and Derrick "Bubbles" Howard. Famous 70's hit song recorded at Randys Studio, Produced by Clive Chin.

Ajukaja & Mart Avi shake claws on “Scorpio”, a sweet and sour digi-dub skirmish. Having worked together for a number of years, this is the duo’s first proper release. It’s jittery shape may come as a surprise, but it gets straight to the point. Just listen to Avi sing and let your heart ache – it’s okay! We suggest you slide it in your bag next to “Spirit World” by Tapes & Superstar. Out to all the digi-dub and lovers rock heads. The original is in good company on the 12” with not one but two lengthy remixes by Wah Wah Wino affiliate Morgan Buckley.

Akae Beka's inimitable style of rich, deep, multi-layered songwriting, uncompromising devotion to RasTafari and soulful healing melodies developed over decades performing with St. Croix based band Midnite and countless recordings. At the point of his untimely passing in 2019, he had released over 70LP's. He is without a doubt one of the most prolific reggae artists ever known.

The stellar production trinity that is Zion I Kings have been involved collectively and individually in creating some of the most highly regarded contributions to the vast Akae Beka catalogue. The timeless songs of 'Mek A Menshun' amply reward the listener who can penetrate into the mystical musical realms of Rastafari. Longtime fans of Midnite and Akae Beka will note that Vaughn Benjamin's singing on 'Mek a Menshun' reached new heights of melodic delivery and emotional intensity. Coupled with his always poetic and insightful lyrics, these 10 original songs rank among his best recordings to date. The title track 'Mek A Menshun' includes vocals by Protoje Grammy (R)-nominated artist.

Mek A Menshun features the stellar musicianship of the ZIK distinguished in typical fashion by the rock-solid drumming of Lloyd "Junior" Richards. On this album, his playing is complemented by Aston Barrett Jr. ("By Day", "Only Now") and Kirk Bennett ( "Kagm Mystory", "Mek A Menshun"). The signature stylings of the other core ZIK musicians are augmented by horns (Andrew "Drew Keys" Stoch -trombone, Donald "Jahbless" Toney -saxophone), flute- Sheldon "Attiba" Bernard, kette- Andrew "Bassie" Campbell, and the guitar of Chet Samuel. ZIK guitarist Andrew "Moon" Bain contributes a string arrangement on "Only Now". Throughout the album, Laurent "Tippy I" Alfred's spot-on organ shuffle bubbles the rhythm forward. Many of the 'Mek A Menshun' tracks were among the last recordings done by the veteran engineer Gary Woung.

Originally released digitally and on CD, this LP is now being released for the first time on as a 12" vinyl LP courtesy of Before Zero Records.

Akae Beka's inimitable style, developed over decades performing with St. Croix based band Midnite. At the point of his untimely passing in 2019, he had released over 70LP's. His prolific output coupled with his uniquely rich, deep, multilayered songwriting and uncompromising devotion to RasTafari has earned him a place amongst the reggae legends.
The production trinity, Zion I Kings have been involved collectively and individually in co-creating some of the most highly regarded contributions to the vast Akae Beka catalogue.
Now available on 12" vinyl courtesy of Before Zero Records, Portals was originally released on CD and Digital in 2016. It garnered critical acclaim and held position in the billboard charts top 10 for 2 weeks. Produced collaboratively between Zion I Kings and Vaughn Benjamin (Akae Beka), who co-produced & arranged 5 of the 13 songs himself, alongside the ZIK players in St. Croix's Aqua Sounds Studio. The album's sound continues a trajectory of textural, guitar-driven roots reggae that Zion I Kings and Padraic Coursey first explored on the track "Weather the Storm" on 2014's Beauty for Ashes.
Now available on 12" vinyl courtesy of Before Zero Records.

Allan 'Ras Bombo' Kingpin's all time roots classic scorcher, better known as "Little Jimmy", it's working title during its pre-release. This release is a dubplate mix (original version here).

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.

Recorded at Harry J & Channel One in 1982 with iconic musicians as China Smith, Flabba Holt, Robbie Shakespear, along with Norris Reid and Delroy Williams on backing vocals.The album include a recut of the classic "Java" and the singing of Hugh Mundell on "Ratafari Tradition". Reissue with the artwork of the original Jamaican press.

Deep instrumental & dub album. Recorded in 1978 in the best Jamaican studios, including Lee Perry's famous "Black Ark" along (as always !) the cream of the musicians including members of "The Wailers". Pablo mystical & meditative sound take us far away, to the ethiopian roots.

Legendary innovative instrumental tune by Augustus Pablo. Recorded at Randy's Studio in 1971. Produced by Clive Chin.

Greatest dub album ever. Combination between the "Far East" style of Augustus Pablo playing Melodica, Clavinet & Organ and Dub's master Osbourne Ruddock aka "King Tubby's". Featuring the finest Jamaican musicians, Aston & Carlton Barret, China Smith, Vin Gordon, Bobby Ellis...Mixed at King Tubby's Studio in 1976. Produced by Augustus Pablo. A must have !

Roots reggae stepper released on B.B. Seaton's album Reggae Land. Strong actual lyrics, heavy dub "The People's Dub". Previously unreleased on 7inch. "B.B. Seaton is a musical veteran, having begun his career in the 60s as one of the Gaylads – finding himself harmonizing with the likes of Ken Boothe and Delroy Wilson – while this track is lifted from his 2005 long-player, Reggae Land. Bottom-end booming, it`s an impassioned Jah Shaka-esque steppers. A warning of revolution, which calls out the rich, the greedy, the heartless and callous – as a plaintive guitar figure unwinds in the distance. It`s flipped by a version, suitable for disciples and bush chemists, that shifts between banging and ethereal. A flute floating in amongst the righteous thunder." (by Ban Ban Ton Ton)