Wednesday, September 16, 2009

DOWNLOAD PAMA INTL-HAPPENSTANCE FOR FREE

All you can now download the first single, taken from Pama Outernational, now at

There will be a new Pama Intl download put up there every month, so keep checking back. All you have to do is submit your email to get the download.
You can put your email in every month if you like, but you'll only ever be added to the mailing list once. They'll be putting loads of exclusives on there in the coming months so sign up NOW!

The next single taken from the forthcoming Pama Intl album OUTERNATIONAL is...

I STILL LOVE YOU MORE b/w EQUALITY & JUSTICE FOR ALL

The A side is a soul-fuelled hit, whilst on the B-side you have a heavyweight rockers stomper. It’s out on 19th Oct ’09 and is comes on ltd.edition coloured vinyl & download.

Produced by Sean Flowerdew & John (Ghost Town) Collins and featuring Lynval Golding (The Specials), it is the second single to be taken off the forthcoming Pama Outernational album (due on 2nd Nov)
This lovely collector’s piece comes in gold coloured vinyl and is ltd. to 300 copies only, all hand numbered, and once they are gone THEY ARE GONE.
To secure your copy pre-order one today. Grab them while you can!

www.rockersrevolt.com/products-page/genre/pama-intl---i-still-love-you-more-7vinyl/
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The first supports slots have been announced by Pama, and they are delighted to announce that we will have some amazing ska & reggae bands playing alongside them on the upcoming tour, including Do The Dog's finest Jimmy The Squirrel, ska/rap/funk legends Maroon Town (yes they're back), DJ Wrongtom, Axis Sound System, The Erin Bardwell Colective, Funkdub DJs, Urban Roots Sound System, trad.ska supremos The Heels and more. A complete list of supports tba very soon, but for now here's who's doing what and where...

October 2009
23 Poole Mr Kyps - Urban Roots Sound System
24 Birmingham Sound Bar - The Heels, Tempting Rosie & DJs Nung Fu + Dave Kal
28 Derby The Rockhouse - Jimmy The Squirrel
29 Sheffield Corporation - tba
30 Ulverston The Roxy - tba
31 Aberdeen Lemon Tree - akaska
Novemerber 2009
01 Manchester The Deaf Institute - DILE
04 London 100 Club release party - Maroon Town & DJ Wrongtom
13 Cardiff The Globe - Big Hand
20 Swindon 12 Bar - Erin Barwell Collective
21 Chester Funkdub is 5@Telfords - Funkdub DJs
26 Nottingham Rescue Rooms - Jimmy The Squirrel
28 Watchet The Mineral Line
29 Bristol The Thekla - Scubaroots
December 2009
16 Norwich Arts Centre - tba
18 Bradford The New Beehive - Axis Sound System
19 Newcastle Live Theatre – tba

for full details (ticket outlets, venue addresses, times) go to
www.rockersrevolt.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2626


Oh and by the way Pama Intl's next album, titled Pama Outernational will be on release from 2nd Nov on Rockers Revolt…….Have I already mentioned that!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

News From Do The Dog

Just dropped through on to my mat is the September edition of the ‘Do The Dog’ skazine.
Amongst all the top news is a few pieces I’ve posted here, but if you want to find out more you can subscribe for just £5 for 4 issues (released roughly every quarter). I know you can find a lot of information via the internet, but it still doesn’t beat the excitement of a magazine dropping through the letter box!! Also with every issue is a list of all the latest Do The Dog releases and other top choice ska, reggae & punk albums from around the globe at great prices.

Dirty Revolution are hopefully going to be recording their first full length album in the near future, and after the great sounding EP released last year I for one will be looking forward to that!
They will also be touring in October along with The JB Conspiracy & Mexican ska / punk band, the delightfully named, Los Kung Fu Monkeys. Catch ‘em at:

October
14th London, 100 Club
22nd Newport, TJ’s
27th Nottingham, The Maze
28th Newcastle, St Trillians
29th Kettering, Sawyers
30th London, Bar Academy

November
13th Newport, Meze Lounge
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Dirty Revolution
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Legendary 2-Tone ska era legends Arthur Kay & the Originals are going into the studio soon to record a new album, which will be released by Moon SKA World Records.

Arthur Kay & the Originals

Rasta4Eyes are working on their debut album, which they hope to record early next year. They have about 8 or 9 songs at the moment ready for release with a few more ‘work in progress’. They will be on the road as well from October to December, so for a chance to hear some of these new tunes check ‘em out at:


October
1st St Helens, Bus Museum (Beer Festival!!)
9th Loughborough, Old Pack Horse
15th Manchester, Satan’s Hollow
17th Wigan, The Boulevard
18th Bolton, The York

November
6th St Helens, Fluid
7th Bradford, Room at the Top
24th London, Lewisham, Fox 7 Firkin
29th Manchester, Retro Bar

December
11th Hartlepool, The Studio


Go to http://www.dothedog.com/ & www.myspace.com/dothedogmusic for more info

Alternatively you can contact Kevin the old fashioned way at:

65 Blackdown Way
Thatcham
Berkshire
RG19 3FY
England

Monday, September 14, 2009

Squidly Cole


The debut album ‘Babylon Days’ from Squidly Cole is upon us..
We’ve been privvy to a selection of the tracks one of which is
Airing on the player here ,the album includes 12 tunes of dynamite Jamaican music encompassing roots ,dancehall and even hip hop vibes ,long time artist and highly professional drummer Squidly ‘Wilburn’ Cole has come up with an album worthy of a fistful of your dollars check out his website (link Below) to catch more flavours of this now firmly established
Artist. The album has been put together at his renowned recording studio ‘100 Studio’ in Ja. (check link below)
Squidly has come in fine style with a Dynamite collection of cuts that gives a respectful nod at the roots and culture whilst moving dynamically onwards in modern reggae sound fashion. He has cultivated his own premier league music that is sure to satisfy roots, dancehall, and even hip hop music lovers . Squidly has proven with ‘Babylon Days’ that he is much more than a great drummer and producer. Squidly Cole has now arrived as an established singer.
Put this album on your musical shopping list!!


Squidly Cole.

The Debut album

"Babylon Days"
Available now at all good online record stores. Also check http://squidlycole.net/


Below is taken from www.squidlycole.net
Another important milestone in Squidly's producing credits came in 1998 when at the request of Stephen Marley, he co-produced with Christopher Meredith on Lauryn Hill and Rebel Music's remixed duet with Bob Marley on "Turn Your Lights Down Low" for Chant Down Babylon, an album in which famous Marley songs were remixed with contemporary artists. The album achieved platinum sales and the track, "Turn Your Lights Down Low", was released as the most successful single and music video on that album. Squidly then went on to record on Lauryn Hill's solo debut, The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill , "When it Hurts so Bad", a favorite hit off the Grammy award winning album. Throughout his extensive career, Squidly has continued to collaborate with many of the finest musicians from Jamaica and abroad.

Most recently, Squidly has been performing with Stephen Marley and has just wrapped up an extensive 2007 US tour in support of Stephen's solo debut and Grammy winning album, Mind Control. In 2005, Squidly established his own recording studio, 100 Studio. 100 Studio features the best blend of roots reggae culture and dancehall music from both seasoned musicians and the best of Jamaica's up and coming talent. 100 Studio has access to many of the most talented reggae veterans from Jamaica, including: Squidly Cole, Bongo Herman, Dia Ferran, Christopher Meredith, AxeMan, Beezy Coleman, Lamar Brown (aka Riff Raff) Carol "Bowie" McClaughlin, Dean Fraser, Andrew Mr. Bassman, Andrew Manning, Sticky Thompson, Obeah, Phanso, Dalton Browne, Fire House Crew, Everroll Wray, Andrew Manninig, Freddy Fatstring, and Sidney Mills.
www.100studio.com





Wednesday, September 9, 2009

New Mungos Hi Fi Scrub A Dub Release!

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Out on the 21st September is a new Mungo’s Hi Fi / Itchy Robot 12"[SCRUB003]
On the Scrub A Dub / Scotch Bonnet label
The tracklist is:

A - MUNGO’S HI FI – FIRE PON A DUBPLATE
B - ITCHY ROBOT – PLAYBACK

This latest Scrub A Dub sees Mungo’s step up with a heavy shuffler that sounds like roots soundsystem having a head on collision with a dubstep truck! On the flip Itchy Robot from the Afterdark posse delivers the catchy playback, with the perfect balance of bounce,squelch....and is that a Scotty sample??.....cheeky as!

Try before you buy and check 'em out now on 'The Sound of Now' at


www.live365.com/stations/springlinemusic

Also on Sound of Now you can hear sounds on our varied playlist from the likes of:
Lee Perry / Bob Marley / Jakie Mittoo / Black Uhuru / Scientist / Kinny / The Beat / Blues Project / Sugarhill Gang / JB / Greyboy Allstars / The Modulations / The Pazant Brothers / Queen Ifrica / Bobby Bird / Kluba / UB40 / Groundation / Public Enemy / The Specials and of course our good friends Pama!

Also hope to have more on the forthcoming Scrub A Dub release: (SCRUB004) Liquid Wicked ft. Joseph Cotton – The Governor plus Twisted – The Superpowers [Release date – 14th October 2009] as it arrives!

for more information on Mungo's and other Scotch Bonnet releases visit:



or contact
eMAIL:contact@scotchbonnet.net

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Thursday, September 3, 2009

Well I'm Back

Sorry to anyone who has been wondering where I am, but I've been off on mi hols for a few weeks, but now better late than never are a few reviews of some LP's I've been listening to while I have been away on my well deserved rest! I hope to have a few more reviews for this month if not next. Also I hope the flahplayer has been updated with some top tunes from the artists featured plus a new one from Springline artist Lyrakill, as well as a wicked Kabab remix stylee version of Destinys Child that arrived through the post recently. Listen and enjoy!

ps thanks to Ras Gibsy for looking after the shop while I was away.....bless up!!

Groundation - Here I Am


Groundation are a roots style reggae band hailing from California with a sound very akin in my mind to Pablo Moses, but with subtle soulful, jazzy undertones, and “Here I Am” is their sixth LP.
The production on the album is very crisp and clear, but also very ‘live’. I reckon that if you were fortunate to catch this band in the flesh then what you hear on this will be exactly the same as what you hear at one of their shows, a very competent and full sound.
Opening number “Run the Plan” has a jazzy Hammond fuelled intro which deceives the listener to what is about to come before hitting you with that classic roots reggae vibe. While title track “Here I Am” sways along on a hypnotic riddim, with classy trumpet solo from David Chachere, and sweet vocal performances from female backing duo Kim Powell and Stephanie Wallace, who also step up and take a lead on this tune. In fact the whole LP has a loose (and by loose I mean flowing), laid back and chilled feel to it. Nothing seems forced or contrived about them, here are a group of musicians who know their way around their instruments, and as I say I feel that what you hear with Groundation is what you get, and what I hear I like.


1. Run the Plan
2. Everyone Could Lose
3. So Blind
4. Time Come
5. By All Means
6. Blues Away
7. Not So Simple
8. Here I Am
9. You Can Profit
10. Beating Heart
11. Walk Upright
12. Golan to Galilee

Kinny - Idle Forest Of Chit Chat


I have been listening to this while on my hols a hell of a lot, and what a great album it is. ‘Idle Forest Of Chit Chat’ is the debut LP from Kinny, is a classically trained opera singer who has now turned to performing a blend of funk, jazz, soul and reggae inspired grooves, and I for one am grateful for it. This LP sees her teaming up with 7 of today’s top producers in this field; Souldrop, TM Juke, Unforscene, Hint, Diesler, The Quantic Soul Orchestra and Nostalgia 77, to come up with an end product of sublime, infectious tunes.
The Souldrop produced title track that begins proceedings, has a bit of a trip hop feel to it, with its steady pulsing beat, subtle guitar licks and it’s half sung / rapped vocal. The other Souldrop production is the stunningly beautiful, semi acoustic ‘Water For Chocolate’ with Kinny’s velvety smooth vocals accompanied once again by subtle guitar with bursts of a Mace Gray sounding “Didn’t I?” jumping out at you in the chorus, to a percussive rhythm. Sounds wired, I know, but it oozes real class…..trust me.
The TM Duke productions, ‘Damn’ and ‘Petrified Dazed’, see a more up-beat dance vibe. While Nostalgia 77 give Kinny a very jazzy backdrop on ‘Forgetting To Remember’ with it’s repetitive double bass, organ and brass stabs over a shuffling beat…niiice…while ‘Desire’ gives way to a more brass busting, big Jazz mover.
The only other producer to work on more than one song is Diesler, the one producer on here whom I have not heard of before, but that doesn't mean he hasn't done a quality job. First up from him is ‘Queen Of Boredness’ which is a bit of an electronic 80’s two step soul number, that pumps along nicely. The other number is ‘Back Street Lust’, a more JB funky styled, poppin' thang.
Of the rest of the songs you have the Unforscene handled '2546 Nice!', that starts off with a subtle reggae infused feel before hitting a sparse jazzy, blusey beat. On the Quantic Soul offering ' Enough Said' you get a classic 60's styled, smokey soul, ballad. The best, and strongest tune of the whole set though is, 'Afro Love Forest’ produced by Hint. The song has some real deep bass tones, while Kinny’s vocal is just pure pop soul of the highest order, that along with the percussive elements give the song oodles of sophistication on a trip hop fashioned beat. ‘Idle Forest Of Chit Chat’ is an album of great variety that’s like having a musical massage, from a lady I hope to hear more from, go on revitalize you’re senses!

Tracklisting:

01. Idle Forest Of Chit Chat feat. Souldrop
02. Damn feat. TM Juke
03. 2546 Nice! feat. Unforscene
04. Water For Chocolate feat. Souldrop
05. Afro Love Forest feat. Hint
06. Queen Of Boredness (Diesler Remix)
07. Enough Said feat. The Quantic Soul Orchestra
08. Back Street Lust feat. Diesler
09. Desire feat. Nostalgia 77
10. Forgetting To Remember (Nostalgia 77 Remix)
11. Petrified Dazed feat. TM Juke

http://www.tru-thoughts.co.uk/artists/kinny

Queen Ifrica - Welcome To Montego Bay


Queen Ifrica’s (real name Ventrice Morgan, daughter of ska and rocksteady maestro Derrick Morgan) ‘Welcome to Montego Bay’ is a strong and varied album of reggae styles, with a deep feel of Africa that shows off her vocal talents to full effect. The album is produced with the help of many different producers, including the likes of Donovan "Don Corleon" Bennett, Kemar “Flava” McGregor, Adrian & Steve Locke, Rickman Warren, plus Tony Rebel, who after hearing her sing way back in 1998 asked her to join him at his Flames label, and more. These different producers have obviously helped with the LP’s diverse feel, but this has also not ruined any flow or consistency to the finished product.
The album starts with nyahbingi chant T.T.P.N.C (Tribute to the Pitfour Nyahbinghi Centre), before hitting you with title track ‘Montego Bay’. This tune which rides along on a bubblin’ dancehall riddim is far from being a Jamaican tourist board welcoming “how great it is here” message, but rather a stark look at the inconsistency between Montego Bay's plush five star, all inclusive resorts, and the grim realities of a city suffering from high rates of poverty, violence and unemployment. In fact there are quite a few songs on here with a very strong social commentary, which I suppose you might expect from someone who has worked with many outreach programs in Jamaica's inner-city, counselling abuse victims and other disadvantaged individuals as well as working with UNICEF. The strongest of these social tunes though has to be ‘Daddy’, a powerful and poignant look at child abuse and incest, which reportedly some parts of Jamaica tried to ban and some DJs did not want to promote. Which is a shame for a song that although is perhaps a bit uncomfortable makes it’s point very well, and is hard hitting without being over dramatic
Don’t however let this make you think the LP is all doom and gloom without a lighter side. ‘Coconut Shell’, which sounds a bit like it a derivative of The Abyssinians' ‘Satta Massagana’ riddim, is a blatant ode to herbalisim, while ‘In My Dreams’ and ‘Far Away’ are both beautiful lovers tunes, that never gets too syrupy.
In my opinion "Montego Bay" is an extremely strong set of tunes, by a Lady who knows how to write a good song and deliver it with great vocal style, and who on the strength of this could be in for some big times ahead.

Tracklist

01. T.T.P.N.C

02. Montego Bay

03. Coconut shell

04. Lioness on the rise

05. Yad to the East

06. Far away

07. Don't sign

08. Daddy

09. Keep it to yourself

10. Calling Africa

11. In my dreams

12. Streets are bloody

Tommy McCook - The Skatalite

The leader of the legendary Skatalites, tenor saxophonist Tommy McCook was among the most innovative and influential Jamaican musicians of his generation, a prime catalyst behind the evolution and international popularity of ska and reggae. Born in 1932, McCook learned to play sax while attending Kingston's Alpha Cottage School, an institution for wayward boys; upon exiting the school at the age of 14, he toured with the dance bands of Eric Deans and Roy Coburn, emerging as a highly skilled jazz player. Between the late '40s and early '50s, he also frequently collaborated with the famed Count Ossie, lending his talents alongside those of the Rastafarian hand-drummers and chanting vocalists who comprised Ossie's group. In 1954 McCook relocated to the Bahamas to join a dance band there, and in the years to follow his mastery of jazz became increasingly pronounced.

McCook did not return return to Jamaica on a permanent basis until 1962, arriving in time to help push the developing ska sound to the next level. In 1963, he was approached by Studio One musical director Jackie Mittoo to lead a new group he was forming dubbed the Skatalites; McCook initially declined the offer, but by mid-1964 he accepted the role of bandleader, drawing on his extensive knowledge of jazz and R&B to add distinctive new dimensions to their sound. Though existing only 14 months, the Skatalites were the quintessential ska band of their time, backing every major vocalist and producing an astounding amount of prime instrumental material. In the wake of the group's demise, McCook founded the Supersonics, who were soon installed as the house band at Duke Reid's Treasure Isle studio; the most sought-after studio unit of the rock steady era, they appeared on classic hits from artists including Alton Ellis, Justin Hinds and The Techniques.

McCook remained a fixture of the Jamaican session circuit throughout the years which followed, and he also issued a number of solo albums for producer Bunny Lee, among them 1974's Cookin', 1975's Brass Rockers and 1977's Hot Lava. For Glen Brown, in 1976 McCook also issued a blank-labelled LP generally referred to as Horny Dub, and two years later he teamed with trumpeter Bobby Ellis for Blazing Horns. In 1983 he reformed the Skatalites nearly two decades after their initial break-up, relocating the group to the U.S. in 1985 just months after the release of their comeback album Return of the Big Guns. A series of new releases from the group followed in the years to come, and they even notched a pair of Grammy nominations; in 1994 The Skatalites mounted their first world tour, which included appearances as part of the Skavoovee U.S.A. tour, a package which included their descendants The Specials, The Selecter and The Toasters. McCook died at his home in Atlanta, Georgia on May 5, 1998.
~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
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The Green Room Rockers - Hoosier Homegrown


I first heard of the Green Room Rockers by chance when I received a various “Jump Up Records” comp from those good people at Do The Dog in with an order I had placed. I really liked their contributing track, the funky soul edged “Hoosier Homegrown” and was really keen to hear more and now eventually I’ve got round to it and here is my thoughts.
The band play a mix of 60’s soul, rocksteady and ska much like the Slackers and Aggrolites, with lyrics much the same….booze, parties, women and everyday life problems. The LP kicks off at quite an energetic pace, and I’m sure their drummer has been studying at the John Bradbury School of Drumming, with his machine gun rattling, rimshot drum rolls.
By 4th track ‘Northbound Train’ the pace slows down a bit….just a bit mind…..and the start of this track had me thinking of Big Youth for some reason. This is then followed by my induction tune ‘Hoosier Homegrown’.
‘Humour Me’ sees us back on a more traditional reggae sounding ground which is followed by the acoustic ‘Divided’ which is a bit of a round the camp fire sing a long. ‘Fight For Your Love’ finds the band in more melancholy mood, but not about to give up in the forbidden love stakes. While next up ‘Everyday’ starts off as a slow bluesy tune, before bursting in to an upbeat ska tempo about suffering the “same old sh*t” everyday.
The next track is ‘Untitled’ a ska instrumental with a subtle Latin flavour. ‘Pieces’ and then ‘Cool Rocksteady’ bring things to an end, the first of a bubbly little ska number again before the final track brings your pulse and everything down to a more normal level.
The musicianship on the LP is good with a tight horn section and a keyboardist up there with Jerry Dammers, Mike Barso and James Taylor (JTQ…not the other one!!) as well as mentioned before a good solid drummer.
I just hope however, that although I have not had the pleasure of catching this lot live, hopefully they are as energetic with their shows as they’ve managed to portray themselves here, because that has always been a problem with The Slackers for me, great live but never really captured that raw energy very well in their recordings. This LP packs a real punch and although not bringing anything really new to the table, what they have done is done really well, and now I have an uncontrollable desire to catch ‘em live!