Prince Fatty - Supersize

With Prince Fatty rumoured to have been elevated to king and about to bring out a new album on Phoenix City Records I thought it might be a nice time to revisit ‘Supersize’ from last year….is that all it is….

Producer, Mike “Prince Fatty” Pelanconi has been bubblin’ around on the British reggae scene since the ‘90s and his talents have not gone unnoticed as he has previously worked with the likes of Lily Allen, Blur’s Graham Coxon and not forgetting the late, great Gregory Isaacs, Dub Syndicate, Luciano and Capleton.

Supersize was the follow up to the critically acclaimed ‘Survival Of The Fattest’ from 2007 and basically just carries on where that one left off with yet more good ol’ fashioned rootsy, dubby reggae. Vocals are supplied by some of reggaes royalty in the form of Dennis Alcapone, Winston Francis, with a sublime cover of Bruce Ruffin’s ‘Dry Up Your Tears’ and Little Roy, who brought out the excellent album “Heat” earlier this year, plus Natty, Horseman and Hollie Cook the daughter of Sex Pistol Paul, whose silky voice paired with Alcapone on that ‘Very Night In Dub’ is one of the highlights of the album. As with Survival where Snoop Dogg’s ‘Gin & Juice’ was covered there are a couple of hip hop covers here as well. The amusing ODB classic ‘Shimmy Shimmy Ya’ is given a dancehall work over with Horseman supplying the “chat” as he does on album closer ‘Insane In The Brain’ which takes the iconic Cypress Hill track and adds a lighter air to it with an upbeat vibe.

This is another one of those albums that takes inspiration from the old and brings it up to date. If you’re looking for something to advance the reggae genre then you will be sorely disappointed, but if you want to just listen to some great music based around classic styles then you certainly won’t go wrong here. Whether the new album will offer something new remains to be heard but if it doesn’t and just follows in the blue print of these previous two then I can live with that for they have been two of the most infectious, feel good and fun albums of the last few years.

Buy at....

Amazon

Play

Dub Vendor

The Story Of Trojan Records - 5CD Box Set

Trojan is a name that personified reggae in the UK during the late ‘60s and early ‘70s and since its heyday back then and the advent of CD’s it has had its name somewhat sullied as various companies have held the rights to its immense catalogue and flooded the market with lots of brash and fairly tawdry releases. Over the last twelve months or so present owners Universal Music have gone along way in putting the some gloss and pride back in to this one of the most important reggae labels ever with their limited edition 7” vinyl series, of obscure and previously unreleased material, re-issued classic albums on CD in their original guise and brought out an improved ‘Trojan Presents’ 2CD albums series. Now, on August 29th, they about to release a 123 track, 5CD box set ‘The Story Of Trojan Records’.

Read more at ....

The ‘Studio One Story’ From Soul Jazz

Soul Jazz Records’ have just re-released their feature-length documentary/CD/Book titled the ‘Studio One Story’. This DVD/CD/Book and DVD/2LP/Book combination was first released in 2003 but now for the first time you can if you so wish purchase the DVD on its own.

The film took one and a half years to make and was shot entirely on location in Jamaica, two years before the death of the legendary Clement ‘Sir Coxsone’ Dodd. The producer gave unprecedented personal access to the makers allowing them to tell the unique story of the iconic label’s rise from its early sound system days in the 1950s through to its dominance of the reggae markets in the late 1970s, which saw it described by Chris Blackwell as both the Motown of Jamaica and ‘The University of Reggae’.
The running time is around 4hrs and includes interviews with Horace Andy, Alton Ellis, Ken Boothe, Sugar Minott, Denis Alcapone, The Ethiopians, Sylvan Morris, Johnny Moore, Lone Ranger, King Stitt and many others. The DVD also includes rare footage of The Skatalites, Jackie Mittoo, Count Ossie and Marcia Griffiths among others.

This DVD offers a rare insight into how Dodd and the many artists and musicians at Studio One literally shaped the rise of Reggae music, making it compulsive viewing for anyone with an interest in Reggae.

The DVD retails for £9.99 while the DVD/CD/Book and DVD/2LP/Book are both priced at £17.99. For more information and to order your copy visit Soul Jazz Records

Tenor Saw - Ring The Alarm

Born in the Payne Avenue district of West Kingston, Jamaica on February 11th 1966, Clive Bright would go on to become one of the most influential singers of the early digital reggae when in 1985 he joined up with producer Winston Riley and had his most successful hit single "Ring the Alarm", voiced over the Stalag riddim. This tune even now still brings the house down and has been sampled and had influence on many artists including the megastar Beyonce Knowles who based a performance around Tenor Saw's "Ring The Alarm" which was incorporated in to her The Beyonce Experience shows in 2007. The song had millions of views on youtube and was seen as a highly influential artist in today's media being influenced a genre which is different to her own.

It all started however for Tenor Saw the year with his first single, "Roll Call" recorded for George Phang's Powerhouse label, on the Queen Majesty riddim. From here he moved on, with his friend Nitty Gritty, to work with Sugar Minott's Youth Promotion sound system and label and scored huge hits in Jamaica with "Lots of Sign", "Pumpkin Belly", "Run Come Call Me", and "Fever". This then led to “Ring the Alarm” and its success led him to work with Prince Jammy, recording "Pumpkin Belly" on Jammy's (then) new and popular Sleng Teng riddim. The hits kept coming in 1986 with the Mad Mad riddim tune “Golden Hen" on the Uptempo label with producer Keith ‘Gorgan’ Wignall, plus Minott issued Tenor Saw's debut album, “Fever” that year, which by then was almost something of a ‘best of’.

However by the time of the albums release, Tenor Saw had relocated to Miami, joining the Skengdon crew, where he recorded "Dancehall Feeling" and "Bad Boys". He also recorded "No Work On a Sunday" for Donovan Germain, before moving to New York, where he worked with Freddie McGregor on "Victory Train" plus he made his last ever recording, "Chill Out Chill Out", a duet with General Doggie, because in the August of 1988 while in Houston, Texas he was found dead on the road side, apparently killed by a speeding car in a hit and run, he was just 22 years of age. No one has ever faced charges about that night and conspiracy stories abounded and led to Nitty Gritty recording "Who Killed Tenor Saw?". He was highly regarded with King Kong recording a tribute and Supercat's singing "Nuff man a Dead" about the death of Tenor Saw and other superstars of the time.

Tales From Dis Yuh Underground Download

It’s been airing at United Reggae since 4^th July and celebrates some of Gibsy’s favourite underground reggae/dub works over the past couple of years and it is now available to you to download for free!

Please it would be nice if you do take a slice of this to hear your comments whether they be good, bad or even indifferent!

SpringlineJamaica Mixtape Tracklist



1. Planet Exile Willie Steen (UK) 2010
2. Crombie Rock Yabass & Oldwah (UK) 2010
3. I'm Free Iditafari Family (Germany) 2010
4. The System Sammy Gold & David Pablo (U.S) 2011
5. Speaking Toys Battle Anti Bypass (FR) 2010
6. Zion Gate Yabass & The Manor (UK) 2011
7. OutaSpace Dub Willyman 2010
8. Tyrant David Pablo & Steve Steppa (U.S) 2010
9. 4 Horseman demo Yabass (UK) 2009
10. Sweet Jamaica The Manor / SpringlineRecords (UK,FR) 2011
11. Ghetto Dub The Manor / SpringlineRecords - overmix by Gibsy (UK,FR) 2011
12. Lo Fi Test Dub Alchemist (U.S) 2010

Jah Army Mixtape 2011 - Free Download!

Jah Army Highwear, the top-notch online source for the most rootical Reggae Clothing for all souljahs inna Jah Army, have made their recent 2011 Mixtape avail;able for free download as a massive thanks for all the positive feedback they received on it. It includes tracks from many great names in the Reggae arena including Earl Sixteen, Al Campbell, Solo Banton, Errol Dunkley, Freddie McGregor, Peter Tosh and many more.


You can get the download link by visiting The Jah Army HQ

Invasion Of The Mysteron Killer Sounds

Soul Jazz have over the years garnered quite a name for themselves when it comes to compilations, go listen to their Studio One or Dynamite series for proof and this impressive look at a musical genre that is sometimes cheaply regarded as being cold and soulless completely disproves that theory. The cuts here are varied and exciting slices of technological wizardry and with the majority of songs coming in at just over 3 minutes none out stay there welcome. Although not what I’d call a regular reggae album the traditions and influence of it can be felt in every electronic beat and note and highlights the profound influence that digital reggae music has over many modern dance music styles.

Read More At......

Springline C90 mixtape Side1

Available for freedownload now

Springline mixtape


Mixed by Gibsy
1 CHANNEL 1 - YABASS (released on Real People Reggae - Now deleted)
2 TEACHERS AND FARMERS - STEVE STEPPA (from album 'Flow Like Version')
3 MY ALL - LYRIKILL (as above)
4 VERSION - FLOW PROD (as above)
5 A SMILE DEM FATHER WANT - I REBEL (as above)
6 MI CANT BELIEVE IT - LION I LEVI (as above)
7 ROCKING THE HILLS - SAMSON (as above)
8 REVELATION - THE MANOR (released on Revelation Congo)
9 KING TUTS REVENGE - HIMPERIAL ROCKERS (released on New dub Evolution)
10 NEW PHAROAHS DUB - HIMPERIAL ROCKERS (as above)
11 NO SOLUTION - STEVE STEPPA (from album 'Flow Like Version')
12 VERSION - FLOW PROD (as above)
13 I AM - LYRIKILL & SPLIFFINGTON (non release)

The "Free The World" Riddim

This single riddim album from UK DJ Kris Kemist’s Reality Shock production house was recorded at the House Of Hits studio in Spanish Town, Jamaica and features vocal performances from some of the islands leading reggae artists including Jah Mason, Junior Kelly, Lutan Fyah, Jah Mali, Tony Curtis and more that all deliver in fine style.

Read more at ........

Dubmatix "Champion Sound Clash" Available for Free Download.

Canadian reggae maestro Dubmatix has just made his debut album from 2004 "Champion Sound Clash" available for free download.

All 15 Tracks are included on 320k MP3s with a promise to keep it available until he heads out for some dates in Europe between Aug 6-20th at least.

Download now from Sound Cloud

TOUR DATES


Reggae Geel - Belgiem Dubmatix w / Tippa Irie Aug 6th
Reggae Roast - London, CAMP Basement Aug 12th
Endorset in Dorset w/ Ramon Judah - Aug 14th
Endorset in Dorset DJ Set - Aug 14th (Nite)
Summer Vibes Festival - France - Aug 20th
Festival De Marne - France, October 8th

Jayaben Riddim From Sama Roots Records

Based in Sheffield England Sama Roots Records, who were responsible for the popular Light Switch riddim championed by Channel One Soundsystem last year, will this month be releasing their second riddim.

The Jayaben riddim is named after Jayaben Desai the Asian worker who led a walkout, by around 100 mainly Asian, female employees at the Grunwick Film Processing Laboratories in Willesden, North London on Monday 23rd August 1976 in a row about working conditions, pay inequality and institutionalised racism within the company. The dispute by the women, who became known in the press as "strikers in saris”, lasted more than two years where there were frequent confrontations between hundreds of trade unionists and the police

 
 

Read more and hear samples at

Takana Zion – Rasta Government

Rasta Government is the third album from the young and increasingly impressive Guinean artist Takana Zion. This album sees him move away from some of the West African influences to a stronger ‘70s Jamaican rootsy feel, enhanced by the fact that it was recorded at the legendary Harry J studio in Jamaica with producers Sam Clayton and Stephen Stewart using musicians such as Sly Dunbar, Sticky Thompson and Robbie Lyn. The album is also mainly in English which suggests that Takana is hoping to appeal to wider audience and gain more of the international recognition he so rightly deserves.
He has been at times described the African version of Sizzla but this singjay star proves he can sing as well. Just listen to ‘My Music’, which sounds like a lovers tune, but the love here is not of a woman but of music and its qualities for spreading messages of freedom, hope and healing as a “medicine for the hopeless”. Elsewhere the lyrics tend to stick to good old Rasta subjects of praising Jah on ‘Give Thanks To Jah’ and ‘Glory’, a duet with Caplton. Slavery is tackled on ‘Stolen Family’ which harks towards Peter Tosh’s 400 years, while the title track ‘Rasta Government’ sings of a utopia a where a “natty dread government rules the world” and everyone lives in harmony with equal rights for all.
This album could no doubt bring comparisons to Marley with its musical sound and content but that would be a discredit to Takana who has self penned this album and is striding to make a mark for himself with what has to be one of the albums of the year so far.

Go Here to hear snipets from the album

Zion Train Dub Revolutionaries

A 2CD “best of” from one of the most forward thinking British reggae influenced acts of the last 20ish years. This album is a decent retrospective look at Zion Trains previous varied and boundary pushing work and with a new album reportedly out in the autumn this collection acts as a nice prelude to its release and leaves me wondering with some interest as to where they may go next.

Read the full review at

Tales From Dis Yuh Underground

Visit United Reggae Now To Hear The Latest Gibsy Mix Tape

celebrating some of his fav underground reggae/dub works during the past couple a years, non label ,just what's out there!!

01 Planet Exile Willie Steen (UK) 2010
02 Crombie Rock Yabass & Oldwah (UK) 2010
03 I’m Free Iditafari Family (Germany) 2010
04 The System Sammy Gold & David Pablo (U.S) 2011
05 Speaking Toys Battle Anti Bypass (FR) 2010
06 Zion Gate Yabass & The Manor (UK) 2011
07 OutaSpace Dub Willyman 2010
08 Tyrant David Pablo & Steve Steppa (U.S) 2010
09 4 Horseman demo Yabass (UK) 2009
10 Sweet Jamaica The Manor / SpringlineRecords (UK,FR) 2011
11 Ghetto Dub The Manor / SpringlineRecords - overmix by Gibsy (UK,FR) 2011

12 Lo Fi Test Dub Alchemist (U.S) 2010

Mungo's Hi Fi - Bogle 12"

The Bogle 180g, vinyl 12”, out on 4th July, is the latest Mungo's Hi Fi release on Scotch Bonnet Records and features vocalists I Bogle and Kenny Knots

This dirty bass fatty, deliciously stripped riddim track is their most pulled up this year, with vocals recorded in Jamaica and Glasgow from undiscovered raw talent I Bogle, and UK veteran Kenny Knots.

to hear visit youtube

“Bites like a bee, stings like yellow wasp”