Reggae Album Reviews

Matt Hoy: Touch review – Steve Topple for Pauzeradio.com. It’s a bold move when a member of a legendary group releases a solo project. But UB40 featuring Ali Campbell and Astro’s Matt Hoy has taken the plunge with his debut album. Don’t worry – he’s pulled it off with aplomb. Touch, released via Mana Records, is a smoky, smouldering Soul affair, drawing on the influences of various artists and genres. But it’s also a distinctly British Reggae Pop record, taking you back to the sound made popular by the likes of UB40; a sound that you don’t hear so much

Sevad: Black Man’s Government Review – Steve Topple for Pauzeradio.com. There are times in music when someone’s talent catches you off guard; when you don’t know what to expect, and that expectation is met with a pleasant surprise. The latest album from Sevad is the perfect example of this. Sevad Black Man’s Government is a potent, conscious affair, taking numerous genres and styles and mashing them up to create an inspired project. It’s almost impossible to pin the album down to one genre. But what is possible is to say Sevad Black Man’s Government makes for fascinating listening. The album

Jonathan Emile: Spaces-in-Between review – Steve Topple for Pauzeradio.com. It’s perhaps a measure of an artist who can go from Hip Hop and Rap to Roots without blinking. Legendary Bay-C did similar with his move from Dancehall to Roots/MENA-inspired music on Holy Temple. So, enter stage left Jonathan Emile – who just made this musical transition perfectly. Spaces-in-Between, released by MindPeaceLove and Tuff Gong International, is quite the departure from Emile’s previous work, which was heavy on the Hip Hop and RnB. But that’s not to say this latest project doesn’t encompass those genres, either. Because Spaces-in-Between showcases this artist’s

Christos DC: Self Evident review – Steve Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Christos DC has come a long way since his 2008 debut album Time To Rise. And, for want of a better pun, it’s ‘self-evident’ that this accomplished artist is at the peak of his powers. Because his latest album displays his musical prowess to the full. Christos DC Self Evident, released by Honest Music, is of course what we’ve come to expect from this versatile artist. Fusing different genres to create skilled, musically pleasing sounds, Christos has created something of beauty, finesse and delicate intricacy. The album opens with Silence.

Mungo’s Hi Fi x Eva Lazarus: More Fyah review – Steve Topple For Pauzeradio.com There’s a constant ramming down our throats of everything ‘British’ at present. Obviously, this has a lot to do with Brexit, and not a lot to do with what being ‘British’ actually means. But if you do want something that is properly UK, then look no further than More Fyah from Mungo’s Hi Fi x Eva Lazarus. The album, Eva Lazarus More Fyah, released via Scotch Bonnet Records, dropped last year to widespread critical acclaim. And it’s deserving of this, as More Fyah is an abject

Verse iTal: 100% Roots review – Steve Topple For Pauzeradio.com So, I’m a bit behind the times. But often something is so good it’s worth coming back to. And that’s certainly the case with Verse iTal 100% Roots, his 2018 seminal release. Musically, the album kind-of does what it says on the tin. Lyrically it’s true to its title as well. But it’s Verse iTal’s precocious talent which makes 100% Roots a must-have in anyone’s music collection. Verse iTal 100% Roots opens with the title track. And it sets the tone for the rest of the project well. A pure

Bost & Bim, various artists: Dreamcatcher Riddim review – Steve Topple For Pauzeradio.com. If you’ve ever woken suddenly in the middle of a dream, you’ll know that ‘otherworldly’ feeling when you’re not sure if you’re still awake or asleep. Well, the latest riddim from Bost & Bim musically encapsulates that experience perfectly. But the track and its interpretations are no nightmare. Dreamcatcher Riddim, released via The Bombist, is a curiously enthralling creation. It sits somewhere between Roots and Dub, probably being at home in the Revival movement. But you get the feeling Bost & Bim took a little bit of

Seani B, Don Chandler and various artists: Freedom Horns Riddim review – Steve Topple For Pauzeradio.com. The ‘old ones are the best’, allegedly. Not always the case, maybe – and five, short years is hardly ancient. But one of the most recognisable riddims of the 2010’s has just got a fresh outing. And the result is a delicious expansion on a classic. Freedom Horns Riddim, released by Bruk Out, is an exquisite piece of work by Seani B and Don. Musically intricate, it harks back to the golden age of Reggae while simultaneously rooting itself firmly in the 21st century.

Various artists: World A Reggae riddim review – Steve Topple For Pauzeradio.com. (Songs On This Riddim Are Available In The Pauzeradio Vinyl Shop) If ever the title of a track summed up not only its content, but also the musical genre, it was the World A Reggae Riddim. Because you can chart the history of the music, and its true meaning, across all the artists’ interpretations. It’s a bold move for World A Reggae, one of the leading websites for the genre, to release its own riddim. But given the roll-call of artists who have put their talents to it,

Prince Allah: Stand Firm review – Steve Topple for Pauzeradio.com. To say Prince Allah is a veteran of the Roots movement is probably an understatement. But this legendary artist has lost none of his spark, as his most recent project demonstrates. Stand Firm, released by Sunvibes Music, may be small. But to coin a cliché it is perfectly formed. And moreover, its four tracks accompanied by four Dub versions encapsulate Prince Allah perfectly. The album opens with Some A Dem. It’s pure, classic Roots. The musical arrangement uses an extremely effective one tone chord drop-down across each bar. This gives