Single Reviews

Ras Teo: Inhaling Your Ocean Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Ras Teo is never one to shy away from breaking away from Roots as a genre – as his latest single shows. Inhaling Your Ocean, released via Teo’s own label Forward Bound Records, sees the artist join forces with the extremely talented Greg “Jah Greg” Tate and Zachary Tate across the composition. Production comes from Humbl Sohl and Teo, while the slick mastering comes from Joe Bozzi at Bernie Grandman Mastering (Los Angeles) – known for mastering Prince and Micheal Jackson. The track, from Teo’s perspective, is revelatory

Jhazahra: Sound Killa Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Up-and-coming artist Jhazahra certainly cannot be boxed in. After the 2023 track Headline with Iffa Cush, she returned in 2024 with something completely different. Sound Killa, released via Treydrumz/Blak Yaad Productions, sees Jhazahra take on a sound which can’t decide if it’s Reggae, Dancehall, or something nearer Alt RnB – which is a very good thing – although it’s definitely rooted in a Sound System vibe. Written by Jhazahra, the track opens as something Old Skool Dancehall with that recognisable rhythmic clave along with some forthright horns from the legendary

Jhazahra: Headline Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Jamaican songstress Jhazahra brings life to the latest riddim from Iffa Cush – and it should be making the headlines. Headline, released via Iffa Cush Muzik Group, sees Jhazahra take on the Kaya Blazing Riddim from Jamaican producer Cush. The overall mastering of the track is slick – honing in on the deep and unsettling sound that the composition provides so well. Headline is a deep dive into brooding, resonant Roots. Across the track some traditional musical devices are in play. The bass runs a drop-beat rhythm. It’s rich and played

The always versatile, ever-reliable LawGiver the Kingson is back with a new track from his forthcoming album Creation (set for a summer release) – and here, we’ve gone down a yard. Down A Yard, released via Imperishable Uprising, sees LawGiver team up with KJahSound from Poland, who provides the music, a particularly Dub-heavy and ominous Roots track. The song was mixed at Cleveland Browne’s Up Suh recording studio by Marvin Jackson – while the mastering by Jemoi Monteith is slick, efficient, and focuses well on the Dub layers to the track. There are classic elements at play, here. First, the

Zambeze: This Is The Night 7” Vinyl Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. A recent track from the house of Lone Ark is another pleasing and vibrant affair – and now it’s available in the Pauzeradio vinyl shop. This Is The Night, released via Mozambique Records, sees Zambeze team up with Lone Ark’s Roberto Sanchez across an interesting and varied track. There’s something rich and rounded about the final mixing and mastering – with a real focus on the lower kHz instrumentation – while those with higher registers come through at important moments. Musically, the original side A version of

Rafeelya: Tek Your Position Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Boston-born, UK-based songstress Rafeelya has been paying her dues for a while, now – after winning 2017’s Reggae’s Got Talent. Now, she’s back with another stellar cut. Tek Your Position, released via Sir Coxsone Outernational, sees Culture B from legendary sound system Kings Hi-Fi take the executive production lead, while Vinney Satta produces and mixes. The 7” vinyl is now available in the Pauzeradio shop. It’s a great team that’s assembled here, and Tek Your Position is s storming, brooding piece of Roots. The track is an interesting mix

GC (Gate Citizens) featuring Emmillienne: Right Path Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. January 2024 sees the release of another track from an inspired series by a US-based producer and a cannabis brand – pushing the boundaries of modern Roots Reggae. Right Path, released via Oddiowave Records, sees producers DJ Oddio and Bonzai Cannabis founder Bonzai Caruso drop the second cut from the Bonzai Cannabis Brand Riddim: a selection of tracks aimed at promoting the brand. The first release, Bless Up by International GT and Demarco, was a slick Revival Reggae affair. Now, Right Path shows that this project

Maia The Toad: Fever Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. What happens when you take an industry-standard track and mix two classic interpretations of it together? You get Maia The Toad’s latest release. Fever, released via RuffCompany Records, sees Maia partially take on the Horace Andy/Studio One interpretation of this classic track – courtesy of producer Errol ‘General Smiley’ Bennett. However, we’re getting two for the price of one, here – because she also brings in the Peggy Lee version. To begin with, the musical backdrop from Bennett is based around the Clement ‘Coxsone’ Dodd version – but with

LawGiver The Kingson: Creation Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. LawGiver The Kingson is starting November 2023 strongly, releasing a song off his new album – which is also the title track, nonetheless. Creation, released and executively produced by LawGiver’s own label Imperishable Uprising, sees the artist team up with musicians Cleveland ‘Clevie’ Brownie and Owen Rennalls. LawGiver has already dropped two cuts from the album: the fresh, summery Welcome To Jamaica, and the intricately orchestrated Irie featuring Matthew Bento. What firstly stood out about these tracks was the clean, detailed, and well-considered mixing and mastering – where levels

LawGiver The Kingson x Matthew Bento: Irie Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com LawGiver The Kingson is back with a fresh cut – this time, taking what on the face of it is a Lovers Rock track, and turning it into something slightly different. Irie, released via Imperishable Uprising, sees LawGiver team up with Bermuda-born, Cali-based Matthew Bento. The track is the creation of him, UK selector Lady Dee and producer Junior L Murray. LawGiver got involved after his cousin who lives in the UK sent him the riddim. Irie is taken off LawGiver’s upcoming new album, Creation –