MUSIC

Strut present the first ever official compilation bringing together the complete in-demand reggae / disco singles of Risco Connection between 1979 and 1980.

Drummer “Drummie” Joe Isaacs had already created history as the house drummer at Studio 1 in Jamaica on countless pre-reggae classics before moving to Canada in 1968 and is credited with slowing down the fast pace of ska during the rocksteady era. With Risco Connection, Isaacs released a series of choice reggae / disco covers, from ‘Ain’t No Stopping Us Now’ and ‘Good Times’ to ‘I’m Caught Up (In A One Night Love Affair)’ and ‘It’s My House’ as limited 12” singles on his own Black Rose imprint. “Arriving in Canada, we were one of the first set of musicians out of Jamaica coming here,” explains Isaacs. “With Risco Connection, we wanted to try something new, songs that would have a crossover between disco and the rocksteady feeling and the right lyrics. We had trouble getting them well distributed widely at the time but people still picked up on the sound.”

Recorded at Glen Johansen’s small studio Integrated Sound in Toronto, musicians included Jamaican, US and Canadian players with Isaacs on drums and percussion, bassist Clarence Greer, guitarist Tony Campbell and keyboardist/singer Glen Ricketts. Isaacs also called on a number of great independent vocalists including Terry Hope (‘It’s My House’), Merlyn “Lorna” Brooks, (‘Caught Up’), Otis Gayle and Juliette Morgan (‘Bringing The Sun Out’ and ‘Sitting In The Park’) and Tobi Lark (‘Good Times’). The biggest hit of all the singles was Risco’s dynamite cover of McFadden and Whitehead’s ‘Ain’t No Stopping Us Now’. selling over 5,000 copies in Toronto and New York with the dub version becoming a firm favourite of David Mancuso at his famed Loft parties.

‘Risco Version’ brings together all of the vocal versions, dubs and extra tracks from the singles. Both formats feature an interview with Joe Isaacs and liner notes by journalist Angus Taylor. Audio is restored by Sean P and fully remastered and cut loud and proud by The Carvery. 

The sixth installment in Roots Run Deep comes once again from Maui’s own Small Axe of Ruff Neck Posse, with lovers rock favorite “Love Attack”, produced in collaboration with Jahtomic. Originally released digitally in December 2024, the vinyl release includes the version on the B side.

reissue of this impossible to find LP, 52 years after the Original !

Kendra Morris's 2025 board-game concept album 'Next' quickly became a fan favorite, toping several year-end lists and cementing it's place as one of the most creative album campaigns. Now six months after the record's release, Karma Chief is thrilled you bring you a 45 featuring a fan-favorite tune from the record and a brand new dub remix. 'Flat Tire,' the album's announcement track, tips its hat to old reggae from the 60’s. Inspired by the records Kendra's parents would bring home from trips to Jamaica, the tune brings you a catchy, bouncy chorus you just can't get out of your head. 'Flat Tire' was recorded with all vintage gear and tracked through a Tascam 388. It also features Ray Jacildo, collaborator of The Black Keys, Yola, on piano and organ. The B-side of the 45 features a dub remix of 'Flat Tire' by the one & only Paul Cherry. "As soon as we recorded 'Flat Tire,' Terry and I agreed immediately that there should be some sort of dub remix… the tune was made for that," Kendra says. Terry threw out Cherry's name and they agreed he was the man for the job. The final product perfectly echoes classic late 60s dub by building from of the basics of the song...stripping the production down further, playing up the reverb and adding echoes, pauses and delays in all the right places.

A dub album released in 1978 and recorded at King Tubby’s studio. It features universal themes delivered through dubwise vocals and militant beats, all set against the sparse, stripped-down soundscape.

Recorded in 1983 by roots reggae’s young prodigy Hugh Mundell and quietly released around 1987, the long‑hard‑to‑find hidden gem Arise finally returns in an official remastered edition.

RSD exclusive, fully licensed ! Never reissued and long lost, this UK dub foundation album Addis Rockers is the brainchild of Tony Addis from the legendary London studio “Addis Ababa.” This hidden gem helped define dub music in the 1980s. Remastered and featuring the original cover design.

Reissued for the first time ever the debut album of the Jamaican singer/producer, releasesd in 1983 for Soul Beat records. An ultra rare album recorded at Joe Gibb’s studio with a great band: Sly& Robbie, Earl Chinna Smith, Winston Wright and more… All tracks remastered for the first time!

In 1982 on the West Coast of the United States, this recording captured Bad Brains at the most dangerous and explosive moment in hardcore history. It documents the band’s raw, early energy just as they were breaking out of the Washington, D.C. underground scene and launching themselves onto the national stage.

Lee 'Scratch' Perry’s Disco Devil Vol. 5 continues this run of late-’70s Black Ark material, where extended mixes, heavy bass and studio experimentation collide. As with previous volumes, this set gathers rare and sought-after discomixes, pairing vocal cuts with Perry’s unmistakable dub touch. Junior Murvin features prominently, while cuts from Twin Roots, Watty Burnett, Keith Texon and Michael Campbell round out the selection. Across the record, Perry’s production blurs the line between song and version, letting rhythms stretch, echo and unravel into deep, hypnotic territory. A vital snapshot of the Black Ark at full power, capturing the looseness and invention that defined Perry’s most celebrated era.

Re-up of vital 1975-’77 dubs by the wee legend, cooked up long, strong and odd at his fabled Black Ark Studio for DJ play and dancers’ satisfaction. The 4th in a slew of cherry-picking Perry comps scrolls farthest back into his golden era of productions with six top drawer examples of his innovative tekkerz developed at the storied Black Ark Studio. Up top, his psychoacoustic magick is in effect on an hypnotic Upsetter special edit of Augustus Pablo’s melodica meditation ‘Vibrate On’ and 8 mins of gorgeous choral harmonies and toasting to ‘History’ by Carlton Jackson, and Perry with his crackshot band on the Rasta devotional ’Stay Dread / Kingdom of Dub’ edit. Down below, ‘Babylon Deh Pon Fire’ sets flames to the B-side along with Junior Murvin’s signature falsetto on the anti-gravity steppa ‘Tedious’, and Raphael Green’s ‘Rasta Train.’

After Differently (released in 2024), The Tighters (Roots Reggae) are back with a new showcase album: Lovely Love — a celebration of unity, spirituality, love, and freedom. Side A brings together the vocal versions, while Side B features the dubs. The album was mixed and dubbed by Roberto Sánchez at A-Lone Ark Muzik Studio (Spain) and mastered on tape by Dr Charty at Bat Records Studio (France). Recorded at Jah Jazz Studio with Julien “Yout” Barker, Lovely Love captures all the spontaneity and strength of the band. The album unfolds like a spiritual and emotional journey: from the meditative Countryside to the love song Lovely Love, and the radiant Worship the Sun. The high point comes with Africa Will Rise, a true freedom anthem performed by the legendary Jamaican duo Keith & Tex (on the Lovely Love riddim). After their acclaimed collaborations with Oku Onuora (Balance) and Jah Myhrakle (He is Haile) in 2025, The Tighters continue their path with this new opus, asserting their identity within the international reggae scene. A sincere album, blending rich musicality with a powerful, deeply relevant message.

“The Mighty Tiny & The Many Few have released their debut Album ‘Be The Good People’ A life- and love-affirming record crafted with vintage techniques and timeless principles. Walshy Fire (Major Lazer) bridges cross-continental connections in collaboration with Grammy-winning composer and writer Randy Valentine, a South London-based artist hailing from Clarendon, Jamaica. Joining them is Copenhagen-based improvisational jazz visionary Steven Jess Borth II, aka CHLLNGR (I Am An Instrument) along with the crème de la crème of Danish jazz talent, including Morten McCoy, Jonathan Bremer, Rumpistol, Mikkel Hess, Laurits Qwist Bilén, Frederik Scharff and more. For over two decades, Randy Valentine has cultivated a distinctive voice in music, and his latest work with the concept band The Mighty Tiny and the Many Few brings this artistry to life in a fresh, vibrant way. Brought together by Steven Jess Borth II and Walshy Fire, the band unites over 15 musicians from three continents, celebrating collaboration and shared joy. Alongside Ånd&, the team has crafted a musical masterpiece that resonates with a global perspective and a collective spirit of creative expression. "Be The Good People" is both a statement and a declaration of revolutionary love—a bold call to action. This seven-track album blends soul-drenched, horn-driven, and timeless instrumentation with forward-thinking, insightful lyrics inspired by life’s triumphs and challenges. The result is a powerful musical journey, promising to be a rewarding ride for every anchoring ear. ‘Be The Good People’ is released independently on new label imprint Ånd&.”

The Seed You Sow… Dud Shepherds met Echo Minott in 2016 through the Dub Master Clash project, a concept of dub events which saw several dub producers “clash” against each other (Pilah, Fabasstone, Anti-Bypass, Roots Raid, Dub Shepherds) with a lot of remixes and hardmix. Echo Minott Officiated as Master Of Ceremony on several occasions, and a solid friendship was born between the Jamaican and the young producers from France. From these clashes of reverb and echo was born a maxi 12”, “This World is ina Mess”, engraving in wax the first collaboration between Dub Shepherds and Echo Minott. To be continued... …You Shall Reap Someday In 2023, Dr Charty goes to Jamaica with a bag full of fresh riddims, and is welcomed there by Echo Minott. Do you see the blackboard ? We will spare you here the photos of the trip, and let us only select the fruit of this musical encounter, five titles that make up Mango Tree - Showcase. Enjoy Music Lovers!

Gaudi’s Jazz Gone Dub is a masterclass in genre fusion, seamlessly blending the improvisational essence of jazz with the heavy atmospheric grooves of dub. Known for his eclectic approach to music production, Gaudi pushes the boundaries yet again, creating a sonic landscape that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly innovative.

Four years in the making, from the opening track it’s clear that Jazz Gone Dub is more than just a mashup of styles, it's a thoughtful exploration of the intersections between two rich musical traditions.

Gaudi’s multi-instrumental talents are on full display, and the presence of reggae royalty is palpable, courtesy of rootsy melodies from David Hinds (Steel Pulse), Jah Wobble’s iconic bass grooves, Ernest Ranglin’s intricate guitar lines and Sly & Robbie’s rhythmic genius.

Add Colin Edwin of Porcupine Tree, Sardinia’s Train to Roots band, Manu Chao collaborator Roy Paci, veteran guitarist Marcus Upbeat, Mr Woodnote and Tim Hutton’s brass work, Gavin Tate-Lovery’s sultry sax and flute, Horseman’s percussive flair plus Vlastur’s serious basslines, and the result is a rhythmic foundation that’s both solid and fluid, allowing the jazz elements to float freely above the dub undercurrents.

Despite this star-studded line-up, Gaudi remains the glue that holds this gem together: his production is meticulous yet organic, allowing each track to breathe and evolve naturally. The use of space, delays and reverb—a hallmark of dub music—is expertly handled, giving the album a dreamy, immersive quality. Tracks like Susceptible and Alabaster Moon showcase Gaudi’s ability to create mood and atmosphere without sacrificing melodic and rhythmic complexity.

In Jazz Gone Dub Gaudi has crafted an album that feels both timeless and forward-thinking, a celebration of musical synergy where the free-spirit of jazz meets the deep resonance of dub. Whether you’re a fan of either genre or simply appreciate masterful musicianship and innovative production, this album is a must-listen.

First time reissue of JP / US free jazz rarity. Old-style Gatefold LP with rare photographs & liner notes by Ed Hazell. Edition of 1000 BUY HERE: www.aguirrerecords.com/products/marion-brown-awofofora-lp The 1970s were Marion Brown’s most searching decade, a period during which he sought to move beyond the free jazz of the previous era and find more personal approaches to structuring improvisation and composition. After leaving New York for Europe in 1967, Brown began reshaping his music into what he described as “a more deliberate kind of music that had more structure to it,” pacing it so that moods and modes could develop over time. Albums such as In Sommerhausen, Afternoon of a Georgia Faun, Geechee Recollections, and Sweet Earth Flying trace this evolution: rhythmic structures moved to the foreground, harmony receded, and composition became a matter of orchestrating interlocking rhythmic parts as one would polyphonic lines. Released in 1976, Awofofora is an overlooked but crucial entry in that sequence. At the time, its use of funk and reggae beats, electric guitars, and grooves drawn from contemporary Black popular music led some to misread it as a jazz-rock detour. In retrospect, it is entirely consistent with Brown’s methodology. As he admired in the Art Ensemble of Chicago, the stimulus comes from within the community. Here Brown filters Afro-Caribbean rhythms and funk through his own sensibility, abstracting their structural qualities rather than adopting surface style. “La Placita,” making its first recorded appearance, layers distinct rhythmic phrases in a manner reminiscent of African drum ensembles, over which Brown and trumpeter Ambrose Jackson spin extended improvisations. The standard “Flamingo” is reshaped through diasporic rhythm and lyrical soloing, while “Pepi’s Tempo” and “Mangoes” harness crisp funk and reggae grooves to generate what Brown called a “manifestation of community” through collective improvisation. Even the overdubbed solo feature “And Then They Danced” reflects his structural thinking, ingeniously re-voicing a duet composition for two alto saxophones performed by one player. This was the only recording by a short-lived band that briefly polarized audiences during festival appearances in 1976. Yet Brown consistently sought unity across change: different sounds, same principles — rhythm as structure, melody as architecture, collective improvisation, and above all, the primacy of tone. Awofofora stands not as a departure, but as a vivid synthesis of the elements he had been refining since the late 1960s, its grooves and golden alto lines conveying a sound drawn, in his words, “from life and from the world of experience.”

A four-piece band based in Tokyo.
Initially playing reggae/dub music, the band gradually developed into an innovative fusion of diverse musical influences, such as jazz, soul, psyche pop, new age, and exotica.
The sound is based on groove and euphoria, with nostalgic melodies.
They have performed at iconic events in Japan such as Fuji Rock Festival, and also have been looking overseas since they performed in Canada(Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver) in 2019.
The new EP "Ramble In The Rainbow"(2024) is their first international release on the US label Peoples Potential Unlimited.
The work shows their musical maturity, drawing inspiration from Sun Ra, Lee "Scratch" Perry, and Yasuaki Shimizu.

Holy grail of US roots reggae released in 1979. Old-style tip-on sleeve replicating the original sleeve. More Relation started in 1977 in New York as a backup band for reggae artists such as Melodians, Larry Marshall, Carlton Coffee, and Ken Boothe, but soon they started crafting their own melodic & deep roots reggae. They released many now sought-after singles such as "The Light", "Solve Them" and one self-titled album.

Released on Cherry Red in 1981, Threat To Creation spotted the collaboration between two mystical entities : Creation Rebel and New Age Steppers. Forerunners of the british dub scene the two bands shared several members, a who’s who of the On U-Sound school and key figures of the Bristol and London scene. Adrian Sherwood is – obviously – the man behind the desk a craftsman on its own, a character with no borders and one of the most sought after producer of the time. The supergroup is ran by post-punk stalwarts Bruce Smith (The Pop Group) on drums and Keith Levene (PIL) on guitar. Ari Up of The Slits sits on piano and organ, while masters Crucial Tony is both on bass and guitars. Members of African Head Charge – bass player George Oban, Eskimo Fox and Style Scott on drums – are welcomed addition to the line-up. Threat To Creation is still recognizable as an album ahead of its time, a futuristic blend filling the gap between the Jamaican heritage, the so-called (post) industrial revolution and the studio witchery of the whitey man.

Kanazawa Akiko, a leading singer in the folk music world celebrating her 50th anniversary, finally releases her killer tune fusing folk and reggae.

This track (“Akita Ondo ~ Akita Daikoku Mai” medley) was featured on the hugely successful album “HOUSE MIX 1” (released in 1991), produced by Soichi Terada, founder of FAR EAST RECORDINGS, a pioneer of Japanese dance music currently experiencing renewed appreciation overseas.

At the time of release, a non-commercial 7-inch record was created for promotional purposes based on an idea by Soichi Terada, who arranged the album. Now, a 7-inch single featuring the original arrangement by Soichi Terada is officially set for release, just like the original.

Sweet And Nice is the vital debut album from Jamaica’s undisputed first lady of song Marcia Griffiths. It's reggae at its most soulful. Slinking through a tight ten tracks of R&B and pop-sourced material, it became an instant best seller. 45 years after its initial release the LP is available again on vinyl, now as a double LP, with an extra record collecting 14 rare tracks.

Everything’s been remastered of course, including the original LP, so Sweet And Nice now sounds even sweeter, and even nicer.

'Soundwriters: The Incomplete Guide to Indonesian Diaspora Music (1969–1989)' is a book and catalogue devoted to artists whose work shaped the cultural life of postcolonial Netherlands, yet rarely entered official archives; cataloguing 62 rare and overlooked releases by Indonesian diaspora artists recorded in the Netherlands and Suriname, from soul and funk to reggae and pop. "Written by Michiel Sekan with additional research by Harry “Munir” Septiandry, the book combines historical analysis with personal reflection. Essays move between migration histories, colonial legacies, family memory, and music culture. At its core sits a catalogue of sixty two releases that document the range of sounds created by Indo-European, Moluccan, Papuan, Javanese Surinamese, Peranakan, and broader Indonesian diaspora communities. Soul, funk, pop, reggae, rock, and protest songs appear side by side. Together they form an aural record of resistance, adaptation, and creativity across continents. Printed in Jakarta and published by Jiwa Jiwa in three languages, Dutch, English, and Indonesian, Soundwriters positions music as both archive and testimony. It asks how sound preserves stories when written records fall short, and how listening can reconnect personal memory with shared history. The project extends beyond the page through exhibitions, listening rooms, documentaries, and public programs in the Netherlands and Indonesia. Michiel Sekan is an Amsterdam based DJ, curator, and multidisciplinary artist. Through his platform Jiwa Jiwa he researches and presents music from the Indonesian archipelago and diaspora across radio, exhibitions, publishing, and club culture. His work links record collecting with archival study and personal history. Soundwriters is his first book."

Isle of Jura is proud to present the first reissue of 1992 Digi Dub heater ‘Slow Down’ by Villette Holmes. Produced by the late Cedrica Anthony Hamilton, better known as Soljie, this release captures a master at work. A veteran engineer at the iconic Channel One Recording Studio, Soljie’s innovative approach at the mixing desk made him a giant of the reggae and dancehall scenes. He was the sonic architect behind many hits of the era, notably serving as the mixing engineer for Shabba Ranks’ seminal Grammy winning albums As Raw As Ever and Xtra Naked. In 1990, he launched his eponymous label, Soljie Records, which became a vehicle for his own distinct productions. ‘Slow Down’ is a quintessential Digi Dub production, balancing a heavy, driving rhythm with strong melodic hooks and a dreamy crossover feel that transcends the genre. Licensed from Soljie’s son, Chioke Hamilton, this reissue comprises the original version and Dub, alongside a previously unreleased Extended version. Pressed on 140g vinyl and housed in a striking 3mm spine, full colour disco sleeve designed by Bradley Pinkerton.

Mark Ernestus and Moritz von Oswald's dream project Rhythm & Sound summoned legendary reggae singers into the modern era. This 1998 masterpiece covers their early catalog with Tikiman. A Berlin dub masterpiece of profound meditation, where Tikiman's vocals echo through bottomless, inorganic tracks.