Crazy Caribs – Dancehall Dub (Ariwa/Mad On Jamaica CD)

The cover doesn’t do this album any favours. There’s obviously nothing wrong with summery island imagery (that’s where the music originates!), it’s just that this sort of graphic is more usually wrapped around yet another generic compilation featuring a bizarre mixture of Ace of Bass, Marleys Bob and Ziggy and Inner Circle’s “Girl I’m Gonna …

Continue reading ‘Crazy Caribs – Dancehall Dub (Ariwa/Mad On Jamaica CD)’ »

2011 London Riot Songs (Reggae roundup)

UK reggae has seemed increasingly detached from current affairs in recent years, but anyone who’s checked my eighties mixes will know it hasn’t always been this way. I guess the focus has moved to a more international market which means the particularities of life in specific areas of London or Birmingham don’t get a look …

Continue reading ‘2011 London Riot Songs (Reggae roundup)’ »

Smiley Culture march and updates

General Impressions on the March The Smiley Culture March for Justice took place the weekend before last and was a resounding success. About 1,500-2,000 people marched from Wandsworth Road to New Scotland Yard in militant but peaceful formation. My marching partner History Is Made At Night has already written his account of the day, so …

Continue reading ‘Smiley Culture march and updates’ »

MIX: Grievous Angel & John Eden present: Lovers Rock

  So what about this situation with the lovers rock versus dub scene? C: “A party is nothing without girls and the girls check for lovers.” (from Soundsystem Splashdown 1981 NME feature) As I said in my lecture at Audio Poverty, I got into UK MC reggae records because they were cheap, because I liked …

Continue reading ‘MIX: Grievous Angel & John Eden present: Lovers Rock’ »