Single Reviews

Roadblock Dub Collective: Sepinggungan Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Indonesia has thrown up some inspiring Roots-derived artists in recent years; not least among these being Ras Muhamad and another, fascinating act. Enter Roadblock Dub Collective, with their latest track and accompanying video. Roadblock Dub Collective Sepinggungan, a self-released track, sees Roadblock (Yulius Samiaji and Hidayat Surodijoyo) tread a Dub-led yet musically interesting path which touches on numerous influences to create a wholly unique sound. With vocals from activist and singer Terranova (from Sound System outfit Anjing Dub) it’s brooding, intricate and unsettling – cleverly crafted around several component

Cenza: Thriving Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. At Pauzeradio, we’re committed to thinking outside the Reggae box when it comes to artistic talent and supporting emerging acts. With that in mind, here’s introducing the latest track from New York-based Cenza. And it’s dynamite. Cenza Thriving, released via MGNancy Records, sees Cenza team up with Jean-Luc McMurty and Mike Abiuso across production duties, with the song being penned by herself. It’s atmospheric, brooding and unsettling – and draws on various genres to create a thoroughly modern yet classic sound. Because there’s something of the ‘Jhené Aiko meets James Bond

Prezident Brown: Son of a Gun Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Ahead of its forthcoming EP The Message, CKM Infinity Studio has dropped the second track from the release. And if this new cut from Prezident Brown (and the first single from Trudii Harrison), are anything to go by, the full record should be an impressive piece of work. Prezident Brown Son of a Gun, released via CKM Infinity Studio, sees label founder Cliff Manswell at the production helm again. It follows the same compositional riddim as Harrison’s Black Voice. But what’s lovely to see is Brown’s completely

Lutan Fyah: Never Give Up Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Lutan Fyah must be one of the busiest artists around, because he’s back with another fresh cut. But this time, he’s tackling a subject not often discussed in Roots: mental health and depression. Lutan Fyah Never Give Up, across the Reggae Star Riddim and released via Reggae Vibes Music, sees Fyah and the team at Reggae Vibes put together a highly impressive, utterly complete package – from the composition, to the lyrics and via the accompanying video from Lonewolf Filmz. The track itself is ostensibly Roots, with elements

Akae Beka ft Tiken Jah Fakoly: Everything Bless Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. There’s something inherently moving about hearing Vaughn Benjamin (Akae Beka) posthumously; remembering what an inspiring talent he was. And the latest release, thanks to Zion I Kings and I Grade Music, is no exception to this. Akae Beka ft Tiken Jah Fakoly Everything Bless, released via Schethlya Publishing, Sotigui Editions et Production, I Grade Music, Galactic Soul Music, Haile Tabernacle Music and Haze Street Publishing, is perfection personified. Delicately and intricately arranged, sympathetically produced by Zion I Kings and beautifully performed by Benjamin and Fakoly

Iba Mahr: Fully Advanced Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Conscious artist Iba Mahr has returned with another new track – following quickly on from his July cut Smart and Brave. Those two words sum him up well – as this latest song is both in droves. Iba Mahr Fully Advanced, distributed by 21st Hapilos, sees Mahr team up with the talents at One Time Music and Island Wav (here, its co-founder RiddimBoss) – the team that brought us Kabaka Pyramid’s Babylon Fallin. The track treads a different path completely to Smart and Brave’s Roots and Dub-led flavours. Here,

Fabio Battista: Get Enough Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Former lead singer of Furasoul Fabio Battista has returned with a fresh cut; a track that uses one of the most exciting riddim projects of 2020. It is, of course, fyah. Fabio Battista Get Enough, released via Groove Attack, uses DJ Densen and .MLND’s Lockdown Riddim; part of the former and Riddim Mag’s Lockdown Riddim Challenge which was launched amid the coronavirus pandemic. Both Lutan Fyah and Kenny Smyth have also released cuts on the riddim. And Battista’s stand up with them perfectly. The riddim itself is great, combining

Tarrus Riley: Remember Me Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. The oh-so-Royal Tarrus Riley is back. After 2019’s storming EP, B.L.E.M. he’s once again returned with another fresh track in preparation for his new album, dropping at the end of August. And, of course, we should expect nothing less than gorgeous perfection. Tarrus Riley Remember Me, released via Jukeboxx Productions and Zojak World Wide, sees Riley team up with Shane Brown and Dean Fraser from BLAKSoilMusicGroup (BSMG) on production duties. The track is actually quite an unexpected surprise, because Riley has banished a predominantly Reggae or Dancehall sound for

Protoje ft Popcaan: Like Royalty Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. To complete the trio of ‘In.Digg’s’ releases in 2020, Revival movement legend Protoje is dropping a new album shortly. So, to give us a teaser of what’s to come he’s teamed up with Popcaan – and the result is royally sumptuous. Protoje ft Popcaan Like Royalty, released via In.Digg.Nation Collective and RCA Records/Sony Music Entertainment, sees the incomparable talents of composers and producers Winta James and Ziah, with Protoje and Popcaan bringing the lyrical prowess to proceedings. It builds on the precedent that label mates Lila Iké and

LawGiver The Kingson: Liveth and Reign Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Ahead of the release of his new album, LawGiver The Kingson has just dropped the second track from the project. And if it and his previous single are anything to go by, it’s shaping up to be an impressive release. LawGiver The Kingson Liveth and Reign, released via Imperishable Uprising, sees Lawgiver again team up with Cleveland “Clevie” Browne, Owen “Bass Face” Rennalls and Kardi Tivali. What stands out first is that the track is completely different to LawGiver’s previous release, Jah Neva Fail I – boding