Reggae Album Reviews

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

Jah Hammed Champion Sound Review by Gav Pauze for Pauzeradio.com. The brand new release of Jah Hammed Champion Sound, released on the 1st September 2019 features a variety of songs and a couple of really tight collaborations, with each song having the Total Satisfaction Records defined touch on production. Leading the charge on ‘Champion Sound’, the title track starts out the album perfectly, a smooth and sweet riddim that could almost pass with some nice lovers rock lyrics. When Jah Hammed starts singing, you soon realise that it’s a sound system pleaser. Moving onto the second track, ‘Finding My Way’.

Ras Teo Meets Lone Ark – Ten Thousand Lions – Review for Pauzeradio.com. I’ve been waiting all summer! With its final days swathed in glorious sunshine here in the UK, this is the sound I’ve been waiting for. Sincere thanks go out to Ras Teo Hartoonian. While many will be aware of this artiste via tracks such as Entah, Jah Jah Come and the excellent, Togetherness, this was THE album to restore and compound my faith in the protracted health and future of real Roots Reggae music. And make no mistake; there still exists a massive chasm of divide between

YT No Wata Down Ting Review for Pauzeradio.com. From its opening track, ‘God Bless Pickney’, which reminds of reggae classic, ‘I’m Gonna Send Him To Outta Space’, to its closing ‘At Dem’, this superbly constructed album screams a defiant message of ‘VARIETY’ at those seeking out a truly eclectic sound. This isn’t one of those patched together albums with only two, three, or even four sounds of note, but a serious competitor for one of the best put out in the reggae ether for a long, long age. And ‘No Wata Down Ting’, with its ”We don’t want no ice