Single Reviews

Kingston Express & Lutan Fyah Roots Woman Review by Dan Subtifuge for Pauzeradio.com. Hop on board the Kingston Express as we travel on a rootical journey from Birmingham to Jamaica. UK-based Kingston Express Label, the brainchild of Joe Simpson, links up with veteran reggae vocalist Lutan Fyah for their brand new single ‘Roots Woman‘. The riddim The riddim track is a modern roots one-drop composition that wastes no time establishing its tonal identity. A reverb-heavy one-drop beat functions as the rhythmic heartbeat of the track, steadily driving the arrangement forward. Sporadic cymbal splashes, dubbed out rim-shots, and toms/timbale fills accentuate

Blackout JA & Rob Ellington Masters of Time Review by Dan Subtifuge for Pauzeradio.com. Blackout JA and Rob Ellington come together for a timeless international collaboration with their brand new single Masters of Time. Masters of Time, produced, mixed, and engineered by Connecticut-based Courtney “Coozie” Mellers, is instrumentally a modern roots re-interpretation of the classic Ken Boothe‘s hit “When I Fall In Love“. However, rather than just leaning heavily into the warmth and romance of the original version, Mellers strips the instrumental right back to its foundation, resulting in a much more serious, austere sound, reframing it as a vehicle

LawGiver The Kingson One Common Good Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Multi-talented signer, songwriter, and producer LawGiver the Kingson has returned with another new track – this time, with a roster of support across a rousing anthem for our time. One Common Good, released via Imperishable Uprising, sees LawGiver team up with Cleveland “Clevie” Browne across a fast-moving and evocative Roots track – which also displays inflections of Dub. Across the cut, some Roots sensibilities are present. Owen “Bassy” Rennalls bass runs a drop-beat rhythm that skips the second across a winding melody that moves around the lower end

Diamond Stone Dance The Night Away Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Emerging artist Diamond Stone has been steadily making waves on the US Reggae scene – and now, he is back with a new track which is availble to stream or you can purchase the vinyl here. Dance The Night Away, released via RuffCompany Records, Is an Old Skool Reggae track that is filled with classic touches along with some nice arrangements. The choice of minor key is interesting, given the lyrical content is positive – but it adds a further dimension to the overall vibe of the track.

Solo Banton Sound Teachings Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. The wonderful Solo Banton recently returned with another new track, and Pauzeradio is pleased to say the 7” vinyl is now available in our online shop. Sound Teachings, released via Reality Shock Records, sees Banton team up with the superb Kris Kemist across a classic Roots track mixed with some strong elements of Dub. There’s a lovely nod to N.W.A (or perhaps in this context Diana King) from Banton at the beginning, before the track begins properly. It is a clear Roots/Dub hybrid -where the bass is central. Here, it

Shami Bey Ring Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Californian-raised Shami Bey is back with another blend of her signature Reggae meets 90s RnB sound – this time, with some Dub thrown in for good measure. Ring, released via RuffCompany Records, sees Bey strip things back to something from the 70s, with a track which is pleasing and engaging in equal scale. The track is a curious Reggae-based creation, built around some key elements which at times feel almost Dub and Rocksteady in formation. The bass runs around a drop-beat rhythm that skips the three and runs a melodic form

Christos DC & The Ligerians Law Of Creation Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. With the new album from Christos DC and the Ligerians soon to be released, the third single from the project has been delivered to the world – and it’s a stunning and evocative affair. Law Of Creation, released via Soul Nurse Records and Honest Music Production, sees the collaborative swerve once more in terms of style – here, providing a rich and intricate musical palette that has inflections of Roots and Dub. The track is undoubtedly grounded in Roots. Keys run a bubble rhythm which here

General Jah Mikey The Power Of Love Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. General Jah Mikey is another legend of Roots Reggae – having been active since 1985 and being nurtured early on by King Tubby. Moreover, he’s still here, and still going strong – as his latest single shows. The Power Of Love, released via RuffCompany Records, show Mikey at his best as well as demonstrating what he has always done: diversified his sound to maintain relevancy. Here, the track is a Reggae one on the face of it, but there are modern touches thrown in to give it

Papa Michigan Mango Season Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Papa Michigan – one half of the legendary duo Michigan and Smiley, for whom we have to thank for the phrases ‘Rub-a-Dub Style’ and ‘Nice up the Dance’ – is back with a new track, but this time a cover of one from a long-passed artist. Mango Season, released via RuffCompany Records, is a cover of the General Echo track of the same name. The latter is, as best as Pauzeradio can tell, unavailable online. Of course, Jamaican police killed General Echo in 1980 at the age of just 24

Don Hartley Zion Gate Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. The wonderful Don Hartley has recently returned with another glorious track – this time, focusing on smooth Roots vibes that contain pertinent lyrical messages. Zion Gate, released via World One Entertainment, sees Hartley team up with producer I-niverse for this sumptuous Roots Reggae cut. As is always the case with anything Hartley does, the mixing and mastering – here from I-niverse – is spot on: sympathetic to the overall instrumental arrangement, while also giving breathing room for the various lines as well as Hartley’s vocal to come through. The track