originally issued as a cassette on the roir label alongside the likes of bad brains, suicide and the contortions, this second album from 1983 is an uncompromising collection of heavy dub manners and experimental studio soundscaping. dreader than dread roots rhythms sit alongside delay-baked post-punk instrumentals such as drilling equipment and synchroniser first ever international vinyl edition, re-cut as a double lp at 45rpm for improved frequency response, includes bonus track blood shed dub from the classic disco plate series, download card, and gatefold sleeve with sleevenotes by michael dub shore and steve on the wire bar

before run dmc’s collaboration with aerosmith -walk this way- (1986) smashed the hit charts and proved to the mainstream that rock and hip hop are mere sides of the same coin, the seminal hip hop group already introduced both styles to each other on their second album king of rock (1985).
this groundbreaking record was the first hip hop album to go platinum. as its title implies, the dynamic trio claim their supremacy by combining heavy 808 beats and massive guitar riff samples, proving they were the baddest group on the block, period. their sound influenced late eighties hip hop on the whole, most notoriously by their label mates the beastie boys. king of rock s influence is phenomenal. not only did it introduce rock fans to a new music, its fresh sounds also made all hip hop that came before it sound dated. this 1985 record is a trailblazing album to the umpteenth degree!
pressing on 180 gram audiophile vinyl.

after a little more than three years since the beginning of the label, tensal returns with a very strong new double work. it contains eight tracks in which he defines the new evolution of his sound without losing too much sight of his roots.

spektakuläres debütalbum des dubstep-produzenten prash mistry aka engine-earz experiment, der bereits mit the prodigy, nitin sawhney, roots manuva gearbeitet und mit the streets, tricky, dj shadow, enter shikari getourt hat. symbol ist ein melting pot diverser stile, majestätischer strukturen, göttlich erzeugter sounds und exzellenter features, darunter von der einzigartigen lisa gerrard (dead can dance), soul-star aloe blacc und dem dubstep-protagonisten flux pavilion. das artwork entwarf nitin shantilal vadukul, bekannt für seine portraits vom dalai lama, barack obama und jay-z. neben cd, lp erscheint symbol auch als blu-ray audio in hochwertiger 5.1 und 9.1 auro-3d-qualität.

gareth sager, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and the founding member of the pop group, rip rig & panic and head announces the release of his first solo piano album. 88 tuned dreams is an extraordinary affirmation of the liberated punk ideals that have continually inspired gareth sager throughout his career. evoking a liminal world of uncanny yet warm atmospherics, the album is pervaded by impressionistic contemplation, revealing the roots of sager’s early connection to the works of erik satie, frédéric chopin and claude debussy.

clergy returns for its 9th instalment with a club ready ep of serious weapons from label mainstay, and one half of works unit, reflec. the four track release opens with acid response , in which reflec has combined a tough rhythm section with a growling 303 to create a high energy roller guaranteed to keep the dance floor moving. continuing on this trend of heavy hitting rollers, osmosis is a drum track through and through, which incorporates dark and sweeping atmospherics into the groove true to reflec’s form.
the b side sees host to canyon, a peak time clergy anthem with heavy, driving drums complimented with a spacey and emotional pad on the breakdown. clergy 009 is rounded off by a broken edit of canyon which exchanges the driving kicks for a fragmented rhythmic style, a nod to the uk roots of reflec’s musical style.

a kind of intimate scrapbook of the startling collaboration between the techno maestro and this long-standing musical collective based in bishkek, devoted to the roots music of kyrgyzstan. loose-leaved but balanced, lucid and intimate, it sets out from stunning a cappella and virtuosic komuz and kylak, mouth harp and traditional percussion: not field, but expert studio recordings, using marvellous vintage microphones, made over several days in berlin. further, a few of these are deftly treated by moritz, using reichian de-synced double-tracking, and discreet effects. also two ten-minute dubs: a deadly, signature berlin steppers, plus its version and an echoing, mystical drum session, recorded live on stage in bishkek. and a side-long, dream-like summation: the locomotive, oceanic, clangorous, dread facets. ravishing, rooted, searching music, beautifully presented.

we ve been closely watching the rise of a sagittariun ever since he first popped up with his consistently excellent elastic dreams label back in 2011. what started out as an anonymous project has since been revealed as the handiwork of nick harris, a long time champion of the bristol house and techno scene since before most of us were even hitting the dance. his music has been flying out with a no nonsense approach self-released, minimal promo, just cracking club-ready 12inches that tap into the fierce-but-fun spirit of detroit techno and albums loaded with smokers delights to appease his west country roots.

der neuseeländische multiinstrumentalist jordan rakei veröffentlicht sein hervorragendes debütalbum auf ninja tune! der erst kürzlich bei ninja tune unter vertrag genommene jordan rakei hat den kampf mit seinen inneren dämonen ausgefochten und währenddessen ein inspirierendes und bewegendes album aufgenommen. genannt hat er es -wallflower- (-mauerblümchen-). mit nur 25 jahren ist der multiinstrumentalist, sänger und produzent, der in neuseeland geboren wurde, ein seltenes talent, dessen eigenständiger ansatz für soul-musik ein klangliches und emotionales bewusstsein in sich trägt, dem viele andere künstler ihr ganzes leben lang hinterher rennen. er schreibt mit einer reife und einer solchen begabung, die man bei seinem alter kaum vermuten würde. mit seinem neuen album -wallflower-, das mitte september auf ninja tune erscheint, lotet er die grenzen seines genialen, oft sonnenbefleckten sounds aus, mit dem seine fans ihn kennen- und lieben gelernt haben. diese leichtigkeit, die von vornherein das rückgrat seines sounds war, ist nach wie vor stets zu hören und blickt zurück auf seine zeit als teenager, als er mit seiner geliebten mpc im schlafzimmer versuchte 9th wonder oder pete rock nachzueifern. auf -wallflower- haben sich die geräte etwas verändert und der entstehungsprozess weiterentwickelt. der fokus liegt nun auf live-instrumentierung, doch groove und rhythmus bleiben unverkennbar. so schafft er es, soul und jazz in ein wahrlich pulsierendes werk zu rahmen, das gleichzeitig an seine stilistischen vorgänger the roots sowie freunde wie the internet, nick hakim und hiatus kaiyote erinnert.

moody repetitions with a chilean background.
feeling a strong connection with the minimal house emerging in the 90’s from detroit and with his roots up in santiago de chile, it is after releases on “matrix recordings”, “deepartsounds” and his own record label “ojodeapolo.cl” time for jorge c. to release his sounds on dopeness galore. the distinctive rhythm and sound slowly presents an old dream (sueño viejo) to one another.
“an old dream for people loving house king’s like rick wade, hieroglyphic being & dj sprinkles but also the french cassius. open up to jorge c. – sueño viejo”

lumiÞreslanuit (alias lln) is glad to welcome back paris-based music composer, live performer and dj vadim svoboda for the 10th release of the label. in addition to be a close friend of the lln crew and a regular of the label’s showcases, vadim svoboda has also become a key artist of the label. indeed, it’s with him that it has all started, about three years ago, when he released his syntherapie ep (lln000) on the label. nine releases (plus one) later, we’re glad to have him again on board, this time with another format as he’s about to release his first album seed (lln009+1). seed is made up of two records: roots (vinyl 1: lln009) and canopy (vinyl 2: lln009+1). whereas roots sounds like a mini-album in the album where melodic and melancholic notes alternates with dark and strong beats, canopy seems - according to its composition - to refer directly to his syntherapie ep, even though the listener might find the same inspirations in both records.

oosterwal is digging deep into the foundations right now.hot on the heels of dance mania homage ‘bleep, the rejected co-boss remains focused on the roots with two more chicago-esque floor-heaters that nod to the seminal indelible legacy of trax in their stark, direct ways.

roots reggae dub! pressed on 7 inch vinyl with a dinked centre hole.

repress of this 1994 punkrock classic on picture vinyl!

released in 1974, téo azevedos first album grito selvagem (wild shout) is an irresistible blend of soul and rock with an unmistakable brazilian character. as many other lost gems of time past, the album found little commercial success, and still during the 70s teo turned forever to the true brazilian popular music the forró, the roots of sertanejo and the rhythms and traditions of brazils often forgotten countryside becoming, from then on, a genuine cultural reference in brazil not only as musician and composer, but also as a poet and researcher of popular folklore, being awarded the grammy latino prize in 2013.

yaww limited present lollinodj lollino approach to djing connects direct to the roots of authentic dance culture. after years of proving himself in the booth in the clubs of his elegant northern italian hometown of turin, he was tapped as resident for the european branch of detroits iconic movement festival, as well as the citys renowned kappa futurfestival.

the first record in the “nbn” series comes from fitz ambro$e – a tokyo based producer originally from cape breton island in remote eastern canada. with a slew of self-released cult classic albums and mix cds he steps up to make his vinyl debut with doe quarterz, a 14 track mini lp rooted in fitz’s love of 80’s soul and funk mixed with 90’s hip hop and r&b. stripped down intricate hip hop beats heavily layered with vocals, obscure samples and unpredictable drum progressions, doe quarterz sees fitz come with a uniquely modern sound respectful to its roots – melodic head nodding grooves busting with his original flavor.

all the beats, tracks, and harmonies that vega records release have a story behind them, “union dance (louie vega remix) - dj clock featuring madame-x’s” begins where most great things do as far as we are concerned.... under a mirror ball in a dark club! one night, (well really early morning to be honest) while louie vega was vibbing in the booth, listening to timmy regisford work it out for a packed nyc dance floor a wild beat caught his ear. as louie looked over and saw the crowd confirm exactly what he felt he turned to timmy with a smile and said “that beat is hot, let me get that”, and from that moment union dance’s story began with louie vega.

der neuseeländische multiinstrumentalist jordan rakei veröffentlicht sein hervorragendes debütalbum auf ninja tune! der erst kürzlich bei ninja tune unter vertrag genommene jordan rakei hat den kampf mit seinen inneren dämonen ausgefochten und währenddessen ein inspirierendes und bewegendes album aufgenommen. genannt hat er es -wallflower- (-mauerblümchen-). mit nur 25 jahren ist der multiinstrumentalist, sänger und produzent, der in neuseeland geboren wurde, ein seltenes talent, dessen eigenständiger ansatz für soul-musik ein klangliches und emotionales bewusstsein in sich trägt, dem viele andere künstler ihr ganzes leben lang hinterher rennen. er schreibt mit einer reife und einer solchen begabung, die man bei seinem alter kaum vermuten würde. mit seinem neuen album -wallflower-, das mitte september auf ninja tune erscheint, lotet er die grenzen seines genialen, oft sonnenbefleckten sounds aus, mit dem seine fans ihn kennen- und lieben gelernt haben. diese leichtigkeit, die von vornherein das rückgrat seines sounds war, ist nach wie vor stets zu hören und blickt zurück auf seine zeit als teenager, als er mit seiner geliebten mpc im schlafzimmer versuchte 9th wonder oder pete rock nachzueifern. auf -wallflower- haben sich die geräte etwas verändert und der entstehungsprozess weiterentwickelt. der fokus liegt nun auf live-instrumentierung, doch groove und rhythmus bleiben unverkennbar. so schafft er es, soul und jazz in ein wahrlich pulsierendes werk zu rahmen, das gleichzeitig an seine stilistischen vorgänger the roots sowie freunde wie the internet, nick hakim und hiatus kaiyote erinnert.

love & loops is back ! after the 1st release the label commanded by ale castro returns to the ring. the 1st track of the vinyl belongs to the young argentine talent gruuv who drop a super groovy tune to start shaking the dance floor. then ale castro finally release his improvisation on the synthesizers, a classic of jackin house in his presentations, now available to the whole world. side b kick off with the very well-know german producer dotstripe, who continues the synthesizer madness with a full groovy track with vocals that remind his old school roots. last but not least, bs as deep delivers another sick tune with his classical house sound, perfectly to close this 2nd various artists, a bunch of tools for any kind of dance floor, music made with love, loops and some random machines.

having become one of the uk’s most exciting acts over the past few years releasing their bass-heavy brand of garage and grime across labels like black butter and mta, my nu leng go back to their roots as they deliver their very first drum & bass ep. and as you’d expect from a duo who’ve been drawn in to remix the likes of naughty boy, rudimental and clean bandit, it’s big and it’s very, very clever.

spearhead records label boss steve bcee returns with his 4th studio album, and itÆs safe to say that itÆs his best one yet. not just a solo affair, bcee has also drafted in some of the finest vocal and production talent around. with features from two time best d&b vocalist winner riya and d&b legend logistics being just the start. northpoint is bcee at his most diverse. from the early 90s hardocre influenced keep moving on to the jungle roots of hollow eyes this is an album that really showcases how broad the d&b spectrum can be while still keeping to the spearhead ethos of being uplifting musical d&b packed full of heart & soul. bcee said i wanted to make an album packed full of d&b that would work in a club just as well as it would in the car. no fillers, no showcasing how i can produce house or hip-hop or whatever, just pure no nonsense drum & bass. with bceeÆs spearhead presents brand regularly selling out shows at clubs like the legendary egg in kings cross & shoreditchs village underground, plus his growing dj & production schedule and the vanguard project his alias as a duo with fellow d&b produced villem, itÆs safe to say that even though bcee has been in the game for 16 years, heÆs only just getting started. support from friction, mistajam, metrik, technimatic, s.p.y, nu:tone, logistics, london elektricity and a whole load more

jeph1 uses hand-made spring reverb devices, east african traditional instruments, tube delays and field recordings all amalgamated in order to create a piece of music that pays tribute to the principles of uk sound system culture.
mc trooper adds a layer of energy with his conscious lyrics praising the positivity of roots music to exalt the king & chant down babylon. grand ancestor’s tenth release is sure to be a fixture pon di circuits.

chico buarque construcao revisited by l_cio is a beautiful debut project part of a doc series of releases combining classic brazilian names with doc artists and producers. l_cio (laercio schwantes) the man with the transverse flute known for some of the freshest and unique tracks coming out from brazil is behind this gemstone. increasingly building a legacy of fans following his live performances and recent releases on doc records (vazio, traffic, people talk, schwantes), this man is a non-stoppable 30 hours machine gun. on this long awaited 2-track limited edition vinyl release, l_cio and gui boratto kept the roots of this classic track construcao. however they added all the proper elements of a techno dance floor knockout. by inserting malicious baselines, flutes and strings they generated aggressive melodies while keeping all characteristics of this epic song. voted as the greatest brazilian song by rolling stones magazine, construcao was originaly recorded by chico buarque in 1971 with production by roberto menescal. released during military dictatorship, chico buarque criticizes the way of life of the brazilian workers, comparing them to machines. the song is known for its interchangeable last words, used as if they were pieces of a board game, as said by buarque. generatiions apart, construcao (l_cio & k_ri version) and construcao (l_cio & borattos deconstructed mix) are the first ever authorized remixes in over 45 years. l_cio the latest dance floor brazilian soldier, a menacing builder of beats completes an epic turnnig point by editing and lapidating a classic poetry. with a b side dub version beutifully crafted by label boss gui boratto, this limited edition pearl is finally here for our joy!

fresh blend of dancehall roots & uk grime & ukg moods.

the first release on leipzig s ph17 is a compilation of pieces by companioned artists and promising talents which try to pass the limits of regular club music by combining its roots with experimental and weird structures. leibniz sampled his playstation sounds, ariadne created a symbiosis between opera singing and heavy electro acoustics, hobor, who is usually non-conform in his productions, experiments with loopy techno sounds which are creating their own dynamics in-between. annanan and stanley deliver breaks, lo-fi electro and wicked melodies.

amazing amazonite, old school electro dub and stepper, sweet sound featuring pupajim and his magic voice... the flip offer 2 remixes, one from legendary zion train and a drum dub oldschool mix from krak in dub... that’s his roots :)

having previously impressed for burek and five fold separately, berlin based italian duo autre and two thou teamed up for a split record on croatian fields & forests imprint. the record showcases a nice combination of eclectic rhythms, funky basses and spacey solos but despite its club signature and retro-futuristic vibe, solar society is still more of a cosmic porch burner rather than a dancefloor banger.

with its roots firmly in the relentless techno of the 90s, absence of facts presents modern analog-inspired tracks that have been handcrafted and carefully selected in helsinki, finland.
with more than 22 years in the business, absence of facts head honcho orion joins another undeniable trendsetter and tastemaker, long-term techno heavyweight cari lekebusch. with helsinki meeting stockholm, the result is a groovy, hypnotic two-tracker.
“absence” is a growing and banging yet funky, squelching piece of uncompromised techno while “presence” is for those deep, trippy moments in the early morning hours.

u-roy was a true reggae pioneer, dubbed the originator for good reason. bursting onto the jamaican scene in the earliest 1970s, he pioneered the vocal approach called ôtoasting,ö which in addition to branching out jamaican music into a new era, was also heavily influential on an american genre in its infancy: rapping. on dread in a babylon, his third full-length, he stretches out over traditional roots grooves provided by the soul syndicate and skin, flesh & bones bands, riffing on topics including love (ôrunaway girl,ö a 1975 single released in the uk on virgin records), the bible (ôthe great psalmsö), walking the straight and narrow (ôlisten to the teacherö), and even his take on governmental policy goals (ôchalice in the palaceö). the album finishes with an instrumental version of bob marley & the wailersÆ ôtrench town rock,ö for good measure. u-royÆs style and charisma are always on display, and û as with all of his classic records û the groove rules all. presented on black vinyl with a poster of the glorious, ganja-drenched cover art, itÆs the perfect chance to revisit one of the more underrated voices in jamaican musical history.

mothball record continue to branch out from their italo-disco roots while staying true to a high quality of unique and obscure music. this latest release is a collection of 90s rave and hardcore inspired tracks with an unmistakable euphoric/melancholic dutch flavor from mysterious producer ruud jansen. no less than six strong and diverse tracks provide options for all occasions, from home listening to techno parade.

the arrival of marvin parks on today’s musical scene can be considered a very fitting addition to the renaissance of the afro-american jazz crooner panorama, deeply rooted in the black music tradition. having his roots in gospel and in the ’50s and ’60s jazz singers by the likes of nat king cole, johnny hartman and joe williams, marvin parks yet remains by all means an artist of today.
in his debut marvin shapes his light baritone colors within the sound of a well-established group of musicians under the direction and production of nicola conte. the main idea was to create a soundscape to give a different light to well-known standards and some originals.

very limited 12 version! this is a musical production in memory of the roots of dancehall. all songs are produced on the mpc 2500 in combination with several analog soundfx. original 80s casiotones and self-made synthesizers are used a lot! keep the handmade touch alive and treat music with all its facettes. this album is meant to spread love and give strength to the people. one love
musicians:
ruff i - vocals
windshadow - mpc2500
david dub - keys

“the elixir is the essence of being able to control your future with elements of both the past and present. i live through my music only to progress towards a better day.” - aaron rose
after shedding his former pseudonym of a la $ole, pro era member aaron rose dropped a number of noteworthy singles and killed every guest feature. but with the release of his new ep, ‘elixir,’ the brooklyn rapper has never sounded more focused or motivated, and it’s only a taste of what’s to come from the young artist.

wiederveröffentlichung des dub inc. albums -diversite- aus dem jahr 2003! ursprünglich aus saint-etienne im industriellen kernland frankreichs stammend, verschmelzen dub inc. klassischen roots reggae mit dub, dancehall, ska, hip hop und afrikanischen einflüssen. sie kreieren einen berauschenden musikalischen hybrid mit hochbeladenen und gesellschaftlich bewussten liedern, die der band in ihrem heimatland kultstatus verschaffte.

claiming a highly original sound that boasts strong roots in dubstep’s rich history, causa’s musical output delivers a fresh perspective on sound system music that holds true to tradition yet strives for innovation, a recipe that with undoubtedly help dictate the unwritten narrative of the genre’s future. with productions having already graced global dubstep labels such as surfase records, circle vision, fatkidonfire, artikal music and infernal sounds, this german badman continues to prove himself as a force to be reckoned with amongst the underground circuit. on top of his impressively nuanced and steady growing catalogue, causa’s productions have also received play support from prominent scene heavy hitters, with multiple tracks featured on j:kenzo’s rinse fm guest mixes as well as on vivek’s rinse fm mix and mesck’s chestcast mix. causa makes a bold introduction to sleeper’s highly prolific crucial recordings label with his new, three-track ep entitled juce (crucial013), the latest addition to the imprint’s standard-setting and ever-expanding vision for pushing multifaceted bass music. laden with laid back, minimalist vibes and understated swag dictated by massive bassweight pressure and infectious percussive patterns, causa’s release delivers the earthy meditation of dubstep’s powerful roots while keeping the energy dark, moody and forward-facing. each of juce’s three tracks: “minerals,” “struggle” and “juce” work together beautifully to orchestrate the creeping and commanding story of causa’s crucial ep, a story that sheds light onto the darker shades of dubstep production while simultaneously celebrating the significance of the genre’s foundation.

u-roy was a true reggae pioneer, dubbed the originator for good reason. bursting onto the jamaican scene in the early 1970s, he pioneered the vocal approach called “toasting,” which in addition to bringing jamaican music into a new era, was also heavily influential on an american vocal style also in its infancy: rapping. following up the record store day 2017 release of u-roy’s classic dread in a babylon, traffic entertainment group now brings us a very welcome reissue of the vocalist’s 1976 full-length (and fourth) album, natty rebel, which has been out of print for more than 30 years. produced by tony robinson (known for his work with big youth, lloyd parks, the gladiators and many more), the album’s 11 cuts range from bouncier and sometimes even disco-tinged grooves – “have mercy,” “go there natty” and the album lead-off, “babylon burning” – to the classic roots stepping that drew fans to the legendary jamaican vocalist over his long career – including “so jay jah say” and “natty kung fu.” at its core, this is a deep journey into the heart of rasta living, spoken by one of jamaica’s most underrated dub and roots legends, and it’s one of the strongest full-lengths in his expansive catalog. whether you are experiencing u-roy for the first time, or replacing your decades-old original lp, diving into this reissue of natty rebel is one hell of a way to spend an afternoon. or, if you’re not careful, a week or two.

* two brand new reggae roots vocal tracks featuring danny red and paul fox are now available on a double a side 12 inch vinyl ep.
* both singers have been busy in the uk sound system scene since the early nineties. also featured are, a side: ras happa (bongos) & fullness (drums).
aa side: jahman dan (bongos) & fullness (drums).
*the two songs are called lion in me and still chanting . each song features both singers in collaboration style and also has two dub versions. it is a joint project between sound business and ababajahnoi labels on the newly formed red fox label.
*12” in plain sleeve, poly sealed outer.
*vocals & dub recorded at sound business.
*produced by: paul fox.
*limited initial press.

meer is the experimental and ambient project of the techno rave producer ambre. in between industrial sonorities, occult rhythms, arabic references and electric guitar improvisations, meer aims to combine the occidental and oriental cultures. through dark atmospheres inspired by his north african roots, he composes his first ep on voidance recordings, -yawm alhissab, rabbok sayakouno aadowok ».

osf is happy and proud to announce a new 12-inch by its founder, nur jaber. the label was conceived by the staub resident as her very own creative platform, a place for her to not just release uncompromising music, but also to print poems, letters and in the case of this record, even direct a video. based in berlin, the young producer who was born in beirut remains very attached to her roots. this background partially explains why she can be inspired by tragic events happening regularly in the middle east - making brave statements in the mostly apolitical electronic music environment. the past years have seen nur embrace a career as a music producer, seeing her slowly and steadily become an original new voice in the techno landscape. this ep showcases nur s ability to create and combine daunting atmospherics and frantic paces. it is dark and twisted, with its vocals and screams, but always driving. weapons of mass destruction is meant for banging crazy dance floors, but it is also personal and almost cathartic, especially in the current political situation surrounding all of us. the artwork, as always, is put together by osf family members the beholder and beauty&machines.

hidden project with roots in house and acid. a side from a houseband, house modern style with roots in the 60s and 70s, after a long time on promo supported by several djs finally it ends up on a wax. b side is a completely different story with 303 acid line over 909, jam and roll.

first time reissue of the very first dub lp released in nyc, 1975! part of the genesis of the jah life label! first time reissue of kaya dub from 1975, noted as the first ever proper dub lp pressed and released in new york city. the eponymous lp is among the first set of releases on the kaya label. this imprint was the first to showcase the partnership of percy chin and hyman jah life wright as producers and cornerstones of the burgeoning nyc reggae scene of the day. though these tracks originate from jamaica thru a connection with pat jah lloyd francis and have also been released elsewhere, this is none the less a killer selection of dubs from tubby s and randys. in sound and visuals, kaya dub serves as a fantastic snapshot of the music and vibes of roots reggae in the mid 70s, among the best dub lp s of its time.

since releasing his last album on hypercolour in february 2016 (æyou existÆ), dmx krew has not for one moment rested on laurels, releasing two further lps on the ekster and abstract form labels, as well as eps and singles for central processing unit, shipwrec, revoke and more. continuing to remain faithful to the roots of electro, idm and the deeper shades of techno, and without compromise, dmx krew cranks out emotive and brain scrambling electronica at a mighty rate, and never disappoints. æstrange directionsÆ is album number 21 from dmx krew, and lands once more on hypercolour, the british label that continues to make heady waves in the music scene with genre shifting releases from the like of matthew herbert, luke vibert, gary gritness, the cyclist, outboxx and a sagittariun in the last 12 months alone. youÆll know what kind of ride you are in for from the first few bars of album opener æsnowy blueÆ, hypnotizing bass and spatial keys float over dusty micro breaks, produced with an infectious aesthetic that continues over the long playerÆs fifty-five minute tenure. experimental and expansive joints such as æodd chillÆ and æstrange directionsÆ sit comfortably alongside funkier techno jams such as æthin hypeÆ and æzero sumÆ, whilst the melancholic synth sensibilities of tracks like æhip hopelessÆ and æaxial mode beatÆ catches dmx krew on fine form.

the story of the great roots reggae harmony trio black uhuru is one defined by many unexpected twists and turns. in its best known form, led by michael rose and with founding member duckie simpson and the black american female vocalist, puma jones, the group would enjoy the greatest popularity of any act in the wake of bob marley’s untimely death in 1981, but the origins of the group lay in the turbulent waterhouse district during the mid-1970s. duckie first formed the group as uhuru, the swahili word for unity, with garth dennis as lead singer and don carlos to join him in harmony, after cutting an adaptation of the impressions’ “romancing to the folk song” at dynamics, “time is on our side” at randy’s for clive chin, and “slow coach” for raymond “benno” anderson, dennis drifted into the wailing souls and don carlos went solo, leading duckie to recruit rising waterhouse vocalist michael “tony” rose as lead singer, and errol nelson from the jays for harmony. their debut album, love crisis, was produced, voiced and mixed at king tubby’s studio by prince jammy and remains and outstanding example of jammy’s roots reggae production phase. the song “hard ground” vamps on a similar theme to marley’s “talking blues”: rose sings of a life of everyday hardship, with destitution and homelessness the pervading factors. on the extended dub portion and dub the instrumental cuts that follow the alternate vocal take of this enthralling 12-inch ep, you can hear the non-standard instrumentation that helps make the work so innovative, with winston wright’s harpsichord melody emphasising the hopelessness of rose’s emotive lyrics, the commanding rhythm and understated bass and guitar from robbie shakespeare and chinna smith completing the picture.

roots vocalist barry brown has an inimitable style that has long made him a favourite of reggae enthusiasts. drawing from the popular phrasing of horace andy, but morphing it into his own delivery through the kind of wordless slurring that occasionally resembles the sound of a quacking duck, brown found his way into the jamaican music scene through the many amateur west kingston talent contests of the early 1970s, along with fellow aspiring talents such as johnnie clarke, sugar minott and the african brothers, and the mighty diamonds. he also honed his vocal skills on local west kingston sound systems such as tape tone, together with other young dancehall-oriented youth such as barrington levy, sammy dread, roy taylor and tristan palmer. there are still conflicting claims as to who was the first to record brown, with production veteran bunny ‘striker’ lee and sugar minott among the contenders, but in any case, during the late 1970s and early 1980s, he produced a range of captivating work for various producers, much of which is rightly coveted today. ‘ital rock’ appeared on barry’s 1983 lp i’m still waiting, issued by rocktone international, a spin-off of sugar minott’s black roots outfit, based in queens, new york (with a further branch in toronto), the b-side has dean fraser’s previously unreleased electrifying saxophone cut, rescued from dub plate obscurity by jah fingers.

as is the case with fellow ‘enforcers’-turned-producers, henry ‘junjo’ lawes and philip ‘fatis’ burrell, george phang had been involved in the internecine street battles that had split kingston into rival politically-aligned zones during the 1970s, when the broader effects of cold war politics were played out in jamaica. following some encouragement from sly and robbie, phang changed focus, putting the politics aside to concentrate on music production, becoming one of the most important producers of the early 1980s in the process. phang took over the rhythm twins’ power house label around 1982, and with the duo forming the mainstays of his productions, the result was guaranteed audio dynamite, as this killer devotional track by barrington levy from 1983 so amply suggests—a beautiful extended slice of late roots, heading towards the emerging dancehall style.

drummer and music producer desmond mahoney is another of the unsung heroes of british reggae. born in jamaica, he moved to the uk in 1967 and began his professional career playing drums in a band called young ones from zion. he was a founding member of black slate when the group formed in 1974, played with them through their glory years and after running a sound system in north london for many years, returned to the fold when the group reformed a few years ago. his first foray in music production probably came during a brief period in toronto in 1978, working with a band called the ishan lions, but he was back in the uk in time for black slate’s breakthrough material, which brought them onto ensign in the uk, barclay in france and alligator in the usa. at the same time, he continued to arrange and produce for a number of british reggae artists operating in both the roots and lover’s rock modes, female duo nya & natty’s ‘one love stylee’ seemed to bridge the two styles quite successfully on this greatly sought-after 12-inch, first issued in 1981 on the s&g label, then based at a record shop in bow.

after a highly-regarded debut single on names you can trust back in 2014, combo chimbita returns, expanded and transformed into one of the most original and wild ensembles currently cutting their teeth in the new york city live arena. their latest 4-track studio effort, el corredor del jaguar, co-produced by nyct s greenwood rhythm coalition and featuring the powerhouse carolina oliveros on lead vocals, is an explosive tour de force of unbridled psychedelic energy and futuristic fire with firm roots in the ritmo of the african diaspora. with connections and inspiration drawn from the vast sea of caribbean music - specifically the band s native colombia - these transplanted first-generation new yorkers have carved a unique corridor in the thriving underground jungle of the big bad city.

we re humbled to offer a first ever vinyl edition of spellwauerynsherde, arguably one of the 21st century’s most enigmatic and haunting albums, presaging contemporary obsessions with processed vocals in a deeply uncanny manner, enduring to resonate with up-to-the-moment music from kara-lis coverdale to visionist or john t. gast as much as the record s distant roots in the seminal works of 12th century german mystic and composer hildegard von bingen, and the writings of john milton, among others. it s quite honestly one of the most beautiful albums we’ve come across since we opened our doors back in 1998.