Though it has, until now, enjoyed only a cult following in the US, rocksteady has many fierce devotees worldwide. And for good reason: as the precursor of roots reggae and the successor to ska, rocksteady presaged dancehall more than any other Jamaican music. The cavernous basslines of roots and dub had yet to enter the scene when these 22 tracks were recorded in the late 1960s. Instead, skeletal percussion, lithe organ chords and soulful vocals are at the center of the mix. Derrick Morgan, who would go on to a long roots career, appears on nine tracks here, his wavering voice making a powerful impression. The lineaments of reggae have always been about the dialectic between the celebratory and the mournful, and tracks like “Let Him Go” by The Viceroys exemplify that wonderful aspect of rocksteady.
Shut Up and Dance Reclaim the Streets
PJ and Smiley practically invented jungle. Alongside such epochal tracks as 4hero’s Mr. Kirk’s “Nightmare” and “Narra Mine” by Genaside II, early SUAD releases, such as “5,6,7,8,” from 1989, defined a genre. PJ and Smiley, with their longstanding partner DJ Hype (who’s had an illustrious solo career), never disappeared though they did vanish from popular memory. Their latest album, on their longstanding eponymous label, is yet another sweltering excursion into the depths of Hoxton, best heard on an ear-bleeding Jamaican sound system at 2am. The phenomenon of raggacore ? la DJ Scud, The Bug, dj/rupture, Soundmurderer and SK-1 would not be possible without the ingenious music of the Shut Up and Dance posse.
Various Triple Dons 1
As the seemingly unending trend towards reissues of ’70s reggae continues apace, Smugg releases a collection that new and seasoned fans alike are going to find difficult to resist. Horace Andy, Johnny Osbourne, and Frankie Paul are three of the greatest Jamaican vocalists of the last 30 years. Andy could sing the Golden Girls theme and draw tears from even the most casual listener. Osbourne has covered dozens of soul classics from Motown and Stax, among many other artists; his contributions here include the sublime “Juggling” and “Stand Good.” It’s Frankie Paul that makes this collection crucial, however, with his cover of “Now That I Found You” and the tingling and timely “Stop The War.”
Mathematics Fun House
Pascal’s imprint wisely releases one from New York’s top soulful d&b trio. After “Funhouse’s” airy intro, these guys establish a distorted, almost housey piano-chord progression that makes it a bounding groove machine. The flip’s “Brass Knuckles” chops and dubs up some nice horn-section riffs, under which the boys toss a punchy, well-rounded bassline.
Peshay Nu Jack Swing
I love the mixture between jazz and d&b. The promo version I have never came out and it’s a bit old, but I keep playing it all the time.
Phuturistix Feat. Jenna G Beautiful
I’m in love with this! These guys make kind of down breaks and stuff like that. The original is already amazing, and NuTone do a great job on the d&b remix. Big up to the Hospital Records crew.
Jaheim Put That Woman First (Calibre Remix
Beautiful tune!! Perfect for the ladies: nice piano, lovely breaks…it’s all I need.
Buck 65 Talkin’ Honkey Blues
Listening to Buck 65’s alt-hip-hop can be an artfully heavy experience. The producer/DJ/rhymer is known for his off-beat narratives delivered in his trademark weary, rough-edged voice over semi-melancholy and advanced melodies. His latest (and second on Warner) has all the Buck elements, but is more melodic with more detailed stories. It’s not as esoteric as past albums, which may lead some to cry “major label influence!,” but he gets his new angle across without abandoning his old standards. It’s a weighty listen, but one you can enjoy sinking your teeth into.
Rise Ashen Presents Refuel-1
Music with a patriotic bent is rarely cool. It’s mostly fondue-genuine sentiment goobed up by cheesy treatment-or too anthemic to be taken seriously. On his latest compilation, Canadian producer/DJ Rise Ashen uses a little intro here, a few maple leaves for album art there, and an all-Canadian artist line-up to subtly acknowledge where he’s coming from without the cheddar. Out of the 12 tracks of house and nu-jazz with Afrobeat and Eastern influences, the jogging-yet-chill Nubeings (a play on the word Nubians) present the only overt nod to multiculturalism. A good flow and good vibes make this comp worthwhile.
Liberty X Jumpin’ (DND Remix)
Lively remix of what was originally an r&b tune, with 4×4 beats again. Uplifting feel here, with strings doing the work in the bass department. Simple, yet effective. Great blend between vocals and bassline.
