Reviews

With her stately regal demeanour and a cool aloof voice that recalls the smoky sophistication of Sade, Cape Verdean/Parisian reggae chanteuse Mo’Kalamity has been building a sizeable following in France. Her third album Freedom of the Soul, riding glossy, elegant yet fiery … Continue reading →

The Marley led reggae army Ghetto Youths International is mobilising. In 2013 the whole organisation got a showcase with the compilation Set Up Shop Volume 1. Then they put out two Damian Marley produced EPs to signpost albums from their alumni – one … Continue reading →

RasItes first burst onto the English reggae scene in the late 90s cutting their debut album Urban Regeneration in 2001. There was a lot of excitement about the release – suggesting these young London Rastafarians were going to revitalise the … Continue reading →

By this time of year the reggae blogosphere is compiling top ten lists or googling cover versions of Christmas songs and Auld Lang Syne. But Laurent “Tippy I” Alfred of I Grade Records in St Croix, US Virgin Islands – and one … Continue reading →

These days it’s the norm for Jamaican artists to work with international production houses. A gratifying result of this global nature to the business is that a rising label from Europe can connect with a veteran vocalist who may not … Continue reading →

Mention the idea of a youthful “Reggae Revival” to any of Jamaica’s preceding generations of roots artists and the response is invariably “How can you revive what is not dead?” For these dogged exponents and exporters of the craft to … Continue reading →

Just one week after Christopher Ellis’ extraordinary Damian Marley produced Better Than Love EP, Ghetto Youths International is back with a second Junior Gong supervised taster for another of their stable. Tru Colors is a five track showcase for the singer-deejay Wayne Marshall – in preparation for … Continue reading →

Since Alton Ellis’ youngest male progeny Christopher signed with Bob Marley’s sons at Ghetto Youths International, the world has been eager to hear the resulting album. But the Marleys, like fellow reggae heavyweights, Sly and Robbie, create at their own … Continue reading →

At the time of writing, the stellar rise of Kabaka Pyramid has yet to include a “proper” album. The yogic roots-rapper began with hip-hop mixtapes (the Transition 1 and 2) before breaking out with a free EP (the seamless reggae-hip-hop balance of Rebel Music). … Continue reading →

English born, internationally-rated singer Lloyd Brown has become a consistent critical favourite for his annual and increasingly biannual album releases. He could have comfortably rested on his laurels for the remainder of 2013 following February’s well-received New Veteran – released via his … Continue reading →