Station

The Dualers - Prince Buster Shakedown

Formed in 1999 The Dualers are probably one of the UK’s best kept secrets and this despite being also one the UK’s true musical success stories, from busking the streets of London to performing large venues such as Croydon's Fairfield Halls, Churchill Theatre in Bromley, Kingsmeadow Stadium in Kingston, the Brentwood Centre in Essex and selling out the capital's prestigious O2 Indigo theatre 4 times. They have also tasted Top 40 UK singles charts success hitting #21 with "Kiss On The Lips" in October 2004 and then a year later when “Truly Madly Deeply" peaked at # 23.

Now they have just finished a headline slot at the O2 Shepherds Bush Empire London, as part of the London Intl Ska Festival, where they have showcased songs from their new album ‘Prince Buster Shakedown’.

 Read a full review at......

Lloyd Brevett

Springline is sad to hear that Lloyd Brevett, bassist and co-founder of highly influential band The Skatalites passed away yesterday 3rd May at the age of 80.

Brevett, died at the Andrews Memorial Hospital in St Andrew Jamaica having been ailing for some time following a series of seizures and strokes since the February 26th murder of his son, Okeene who had just collected an award on his father’s behalf at the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association Awards at Emancipation Park. 

The original Skatalites only existed for around 18 months between 1963 and 1965, but were essential in popularizing Ska with hits such as "Guns of Navarone" and "Eastern Standard Time," and helped lay the groundwork for the emergence of rocksteady and reggae. In October 2001, he was conferred with Jamaica's fifth highest honour, the Order of Distinction and in October 2010, he was awarded the Silver Musgrave Medal for his contribution to music.

 Our thought and prayers go out to his family, who according to close family friend Maxine Stowe to the Jamaica Observer said “the family are very distraught at Brevett’s passing” and that his widow, Ruth, was doing “very poorly”.

Harmony, Melody & Style

Harmony, Melody and Style is the latest reggae release from Soul Jazz Records and tells the story of lovers rock from its soundsystem beginnings to its commercial explosion at the start of the 1980s and through to its underground continuance into the next decade as the founding producers absorbed and mutated American soul styles into a distinctly British reggae sensibility.

The album includes classic and rare tracks and comes with extensive text, as well as interviews and features on artists, musicians and producers who helped define Lovers Rock as well as amazing exclusive photography charting the growth of the Caribbean community in Britain.

Lovers Rrock exploded in the UK in 1975, when an ex-Caribbean population of producers, artists and audience who had grown up in London, created for the first time a new uniquely British reggae sound. At the forefront of this movement were young black women, who became both the main stars of Lovers Rock (Janet Kay, Carroll Thompson and Louisa Marks) as well as its primary audience. This explosion of musical artistry was partly a reaction against the strident political roots sound emanating from Jamaica during this period, as well as a defining of a unique Black British heritage which absorbed influences from the USA, Jamaica and the UK.

At the heart of lovers rock remained the soundsystem culture that Jamaican producers brought from the Caribbean and transposed to inner city London life. This album is available as a double CD pack with slipcase, digital download and as limited-edition two super-loud separate volumes of double-vinyl, both with heavyweight card gatefold sleeves and vinyl, and as digital download


Available from Sounds Of The Universe

Lack Of Afro : 'One Way - Remixes & Rarities'

In a remarkably short amount of time, Adam Gibbons (Lack Of Afro) has amassed an extensive and varied body of work. From his own recordings, featuring his multi instrumental skills, to producing, DJ-ing and of course, remixing tracks by a huge range of different artists. This 27 track, 2 disc collection ‘One Way - Remixes & Rarities’ brings together the cream of Adams re-workings, some remixes of his own tracks by like minded artists, and excitingly some previously unreleased material that sees the light of day for the very first time on this killer collection of funk fuelled, dance floor fodder.

‘One Way - Remixes & Rarities’ includes material from a stunning range of highly renowned 21st century acts including: The Hot 8 Brass Band, Flow Dynamics, Soopasoul, Mr Confuse, Eddie Roberts, Flevans, Bahama Soul Club, The Diplomats of Solid Soul and Kraak & Smaak, The New Mastersounds and is a comprehensive collection of sweetly soulful and fiercely funky finds!

You can get your CD copy from the Freestyle website, and the digital download  via Juno Download or itunes.

Reviews/Quotes:

"If anyone is any doubt that this man is one of the UK's finest talents then give this a listen. First class!"
Craig Charles, BBC 6 Music

"The man without the wild hairdo on the remix tip once again - all good!"

Andy Smith, Jam Up Twist

"Not just for completists, this is an essential collection from one of the most exciting artists/ remixers / producers of our time. Wicked, wicked stuff throughout and even includes a few tracks that passed me by - bonus!!!"

Ginger Tony, Solar Radio

"Instead of releasing the shitsack of filler which constitutes most artists idea of 'remixes and rarities' he drops some of the best stuff I've ever heard off him!"

Tony, monkeyboxing.com

"Solid collection of remixes and outtakes. For an avid fan some nice unreleased tracks but mostly a collection of previously released funky beats n breaks. Very nice flow and almost feels like a regular album, which is hard to achieve in a remix collection" Sjoerd, Aurgasm

Lack Of Afro has also created an immense mix for the Freestyle Mixcloud page containing some of his own remixes, and some of his favourite remixes - check it out

Jamdown With Reggae Roast

Reggae Roast are back hosting another Jamdown Session at Plan B in Brixton, London on May 12^th. The last couple of Jamdown events have proved so popular that this time they will be taking over the whole venue and all early bird tickets have already sold out! Discounted advance tickets however are still available at Ticketweb & Skiddle .

Even with entry at the door on the night costing just £12 the impressive line-up for the night should make it more than worth with appearances in the main arena from Iration Steppas, Solo Banton, Dubkasm, Manasseh, Mood IE, Ramon Judah, Daddy Nature and Clapper Priest while a second room is hosted by Trinity & Unit 137

Plan B is arguably one of the best club venues in South London, with its massive Funktion One sound system plus with tasty cocktails supplied by sponsors Wray and Nephews Overproof Rum and an inclusive and welcoming vibe it’s sure to be a great night.

To get you in the mood there are a couple of promo mixes up at Soundcloud from Dubkasm and Reggae Roast which even if you aren’t going are still worth checking out.