Reggae Album Reviews

Jaesinco: Jaephoria EP Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Meet Jaesinco: a brand-new artist to emerge from Jamaica. She’s recently released her debut EP. And if it’s anything to go by, then there could be a star in the making beginning to shine brightly. Justina Sinclair (AKA Jaesinco) was 16 years-old when she released her first songs in November 2020. Raised in Portmore, Jamaica she is from a family of six children (three brothers and two sisters) and credits her maturity to “loving and caring parents” whose tolerance has allowed her to eye a career in music while focusing on

Don Fe: Youthful Riddim Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Don Fe is a talented soul; not least in terms of his ability to turn his hand to many instruments. But he’s also an expert composer, as one of his recent works shows. Youthful Riddim, release via Jah Catalyst Records, is an intriguing and intricate mix of genres. Overly Roots and Dub, it has inflections of other styles brought in. The production is first rate, as expected. It has an unsettling quality, focusing firstly on the bass but cleverly also putting the higher pitched instruments to the fore as well.

Various Artists: Forgive I Jah EP Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Anotha One Productions certainly don’t do things by halves. Because its latest, upcoming riddim release is a sweeping, expansive project where veteran artists meet up-and-coming names across a rich and inspired composition. Forgive I Jah Riddim is set to be released via Anotha One Productions on 3 July. The project is a collaboration between the label’s founder Milan Ivkovic (who composed the piece) and House of Riddim (who provided the instrumentation). Originally, Ivkovic wrote the riddim in 2005 – with it sitting on the backburner until 2019, when

Ras Teo: Celestial Rockers EP Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Zion I Kings need to be set a challenge: to produce something that isn’t of the upmost quality, inspired and infinitely listenable. Because as their latest work with Ras Teo shows, doing something average is simply not in this outfit’s DNA. Ras Teo Celestial Rockers, released via Zion High Productions, sees Teo team up for the first time with Zion I Kings. The majority of the production comes from David “JAH David” Goldfine; interestingly programmed, not live, drums were used throughout – a first for Zion I Kings. Not

Tomi Thomas: Hopeless Romantic EP Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Tomi Thomas has come a long way from his beginnings in 2009 with the collective Loud On Sound (LOS), and then his debut solo EP – 2014’s Patience. Now, he’s back with another EP – and once more Thomas shows he’s one of Nigeria’s classiest and most accomplished acts. Tomi Thomas Hopeless Romantic is a six-track masterclass in how to produce a quality, engaging record without seeming pretentious or over-wrought. It could be compared to what Protoje and In.Digg.Nation Collective have done for Reggae; that is, Thomas and the

Akae Beka Polarities Album Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. The late Vaughn Benjamin’s (Akae Beka) final project with I Grade Music has been highly anticipated. It is entirely worth the wait. Because it is nothing short of a moment in history. Akae Beka Polarities, released via I Grade Music, is the final work from Benjamin and Tippy I Grade with Zion I Kings, as a collective. I Grade, who co-produced and was also responsible for the pitch-perfect mixing and mastering, is referred to in this review as part of Zion I Kings. And to say the album is revelatory

Various Artists: Gee Wizz Riddim Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. 2021’s stellar line-up of innovative, quality riddims continues to grow at a pace. This time, a label has lined up a mammoth roster of top-calibre artists to contribute across a brand-new Roots offering. And the effort has entirely paid off. Gee Wizz Riddim, released via Rastahood Productions, sees the label also known as Robinhood Productions, take the listener on an expansive and rich journey. Across an impressive 14 interpretations, the riddim delivers something fresh and new. The musicians working across Gee Wizz Riddim are stellar: drums from Rimbim, the

YT: Moment for Change EP Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. UK-based YT is perhaps one of the most seasoned Reggae/Dancehall artists to emerge from these shores in the past few decades. And now, he’s just cemented his status as a legendary name with the release of his new EP. Moment for Change, released via Oneness Records, sees YT team up with the also legendary label across six tracks. It’s a bold move from the artist who started off on Sound Systems. But it has totally paid off – because it has shaped up to be one of the best

Various Artists: Stella Green Farms Riddim EP Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. April 2021 is shaping up to be a quality month for new riddims. First, we had Ambassador Musik’s Road Tripp. And now, DJ Oddio is back with a new offering, too: a musical vehicle for a weed production farm. And he’s got some top artists to collaborate across it. Stella Green Farms Riddim, released via Oddiowave Records, sees Oddio, along with producers Shield and Buckler Music, take a deep dive into funky Roots. It’s a complex affair, littered with multi-instrumentals and also variations on the basic riddim

Various Artists: Road Tripp Riddim EP Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. The latest release from Ambassador Musik is a timely affair. Because as parts of the world emerge from the coronavirus pandemic, the label takes us on a musical ‘road trip’ – and the result is a very pleasing and affecting journey. Road Tripp Riddim, released by Ambassador Musik, is a rich and potent affair. Upbeat and uplifting, it features some strong use of traditional Roots devices along with flourishes of ingenuity. Production comes from Ambassador Musik and Sarge Onewise – and they’ve done a superb job in creating