Reggae & Dancehall 223 Items

With Happy Hour, her ravishing new LP, Hollie Cook matures into the queen of modernday "lovers rock"... the lush girly harmony reggae style beloved in Britain since the 1970s. Evolution rings from the bittersweet opening title track; tender yet assertive, Hollie's voice caresses evocative lyrics through the arrangement's tumbling changes. Hollie dares to invite listeners into her true personality through these alluring songs, which she co-produced with her General Roots band members Ben Mckone and Luke Allwood, and executive producer Youth. "Particularly with the songwriting, I was trying to really push myself and be open, to not be restricted in any way. I have always been a fan of theatrical pop music and wanted to experiment more with the song form." Indeed, the dizzying arrangement of "Gold Girl" shows Hollie as boldly orchestrated, cinematic. "Now I don't shy away from it when I want to be dramatic," she declares. Full of emotion, leaning into healing and understanding, Hollie's lyrics on Happy Hour speak directly to our pain and confusion and steer us towards resolution on tracks like "Moving On," "Unkind Love," and "Love in the Dark." Touring as a teenager with punk legends The Slits encouraged the fierceness within her sweetness. Hollie's mentor was Ari Up, the band's lead singer and a lifelong friend of Cook's parents (Sex Pistols drummer Paul and her singer mother Jeni). "My father always said I would be a singer. But I discovered lovers rock on my own. I heard it on pirate radio and at friends', and I was bewildered, enchanted," she recalls. "The Slits are the reason I have pursued this career. I was surrounded by powerful women at a young age, and when my time came, I was never fazed by male dominance. They were my wall of courage." From those feisty roots, Hollie has only grown. Her soulful directness on Happy Hour is relatable and authentic.

2002 UK press / sleeves have age wear

Tribase is a heavyweight Dub trio from Valencia with the Jamaican Kung Fu Ras as lead singer. This EP produced by La Panchita Records is the first business card for this band will already confirmed for some big festival in this summer as the International Dub Gathering

Recorded early in 1976, apparently ‘Born Free’ was never released in Jamaica, but went straight to the UK market as a 7’’ on the obscure ‘Boss’ label, and reissued as an Attack 12’’ few years later. While production details are somehow puzzling, with British sound operator Fatman sometimes credited among the producers and the riddim re-surfacing within Yabby You’s catalogue, what remains undisputed is the King Tubby’s studio stamp on the mix, emphasised by the raw cymbals on the B side. Michael Rose’s incredibly inspired voice floats over a stripped down roots rhythm singing timeless lyrics of freedom that will inspire Black Uhuru’s hits Willow Tree and Peace and Love in the Ghetto.

Released in 2012 as the opening song of the CD album " Far Eye " featuring Daba Makourejah, Calabash Rock have remained unknown for most rockers reggae aficionados. And that was a shame. The Rockers Disciples and Dig This Way Records decided then to strengthen their collaboration by releasing this wonderful instrumental piece of music, deeply influenced by Aswad’s « Warrior Charge '' and Rico Rodriguez’s vibrant music. A 7 ‘’ record, including a vertiginous dub version on the flip. Enjoy the Calabash style!

On the third and final part in the series of updates of The Pass The Kouchie riddim, Kasi teams up with the great Tippa Irie for a version of the Faith Evans classic, backed with a drum & bass style mix with Mr Williamz vocalling ‘Tommy Ranks’.

Stamped White Label