Single Reviews

Ray Isaacs: Stranger In Town Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Hot-on-the-heels of his recent Roots/Funky Soul cut Chemical Warfare, and Ray Isaacs is back with another fresh track. But the song itself isn’t new – as he’s released it as a tribute to his late and legendary uncle Gregory to coincide with what would have been his 70th birthday. Ray Isaacs Stranger In Town, released via Road Blokk Records, sees Isaacs interpret the track from Gregory’s seminal 1982 album Night Nurse. While the fundamental compositional elements of the music haven’t changed, Road Blokk have played with the instrumentation,

Sevana: If You Only Knew Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Hot-on-the-heels of label mate Lila Iké’s debut EP, The ExPerience, Sevana is back with her first new cut of 2020. And if the track is anything to go by, it may well be a seminal year for Protoje and Co. Sevana If You Only Knew, released via In.Digg.Nation Collective and RCA Records/Sony Music Entertainment, sees the ‘Siren’ team up with Kelsey González of Free Nationals and Oje Ollivierre. It is an exceptionally classy affair: stripped back yet intricate, the fine attention to detail elevating this way beyond standard

Sugar Minott: Holding On Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Just days before the 10-year-anniversary of legendary Sugar Minott’s passing, the world is being treated to a brand-new, never-before released track. And it serves as a pertinent reminder of the great man’s talents. Sugar Minott Holding On, released via DPhil Productions, is a glorious Lover’s Rock affair, doused in the signature style Minott was so well-known and loved for. The arrangement has been beautifully done, and the production and engineering are top-class – with particular note to dB levels and filtering to give a classic, timeless feel to proceedings.

Treesha: Angel of Mine Single Review – Steve Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Treesha is, by anyone’s standards, one of the most exciting female artists in the Roots-led movement. And she’s back, with her first new track of the year. But it’s also a 2020 first for the label that produced it. Treesha Angel of Mine, released via Twende Records and BuffBaff Records (the team who are also Gentleman’s band), sees Treesha take on a track first made famous by UK Pop-RnB group Eternal, and later US Soul singer Monica. Production from BuffBaff’s Giuseppe “Josi” Coppola is first-rate – and the creation

John GQ x Indie Allen: Revelation Single Review – Steve Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Indie Allen is a force to be reckoned with. Having been steadily building upon the success of his debut mixtape, Indie Me Name, the sensational talent is back – with a little help from super-producer Floyd “John GQ” Barrett. Indie Allen Revelation, released via Fams House Music, is an unsettling and ultimately pertinent track. Orchestral and cinematic in its construction, John GQ has managed quite a feat: taking elements of Funky Soul and Roots, creating a track worthy of a film score but one that would also

Ray Isaacs: Chemical Warfare Single Review – Steve Topple for Pauzeradio.com. It can’t be easy treading in the footsteps of a relative who was a giant among Roots artists. But Ray Isaacs, the nephew of Gregory, has thoroughly risen to the challenge – as his latest track shows. Ray Isaacs Chemical Warfare, released via Anotha One Productions, is a slickly-executed, old skool Reggae cut but with elements of Funky Soul interspersed extremely well. As is clearly becoming the case, Anotha One is a production force to be reckoned with – as the composition, arrangement and engineering are all first-rate. The

Chronixx feat Kabaka Pyramid: Same Prayer Single Review – Steve Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Having Chronixx and Kabaka Pyramid on one track together is always a perfect recipe. But combine those two stellar artists with some wholly inspired composition and arrangement, and you’ve got something utterly delicious and compelling. Chronixx feat Kabaka Pyramid Same Prayer, released via Soul Circle Music, is an intriguing and deft mix of Soul and Roots – so, effectively 2020 Neo Soul. That should come as little surprise, as production is from Zion I Kings (the driving force behind Blakkamoore’s recent and stunning album Upward Spiral). It’s

Bella Blair: Gimmie A Light Single Review – Steve Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Bella Blair is back. After last year’s final cut, the haunting Save Me From Myself, one of the most exciting female artists to emerge from Jamaica recently has returned with a new track – taking on Ludwig van Beethoven, nonetheless. Gimmie A Light, released via Frankie Music Production and VPAL Music, sees Bella Blair team up with the always on-point Frankie Music. He’s an eclectic producer, and him and her give themselves free rein across the cut to demonstrate this. The obvious stand-out point of the track is

LawGiver: Jah Neva Fail I Single Review – Steve Topple for Pauzeradio.com. There’s an art to constructing a musically pleasing, lyrically strong Roots track. Some artists do it well; others do it exceptionally. And LawGiver’s new track falls into the latter category. LawGiver Jah Neva Fail I, released via Imperishable Uprising, is a gorgeous Roots cut, woven with elements of Dub and Soul throughout. Production from LawGiver, Cleveland “Clevie” Browne, Owen “Bass Face” Rennalls and Kardi Tivali is perfectly-pitched: levels of dB across the instrumental lines are sympathetically managed, the EQ engineering is delicious and some purposeful use of high-and-low

Khari Kill: Falling Single Review – Steve Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Trinidadian and Tobagonian artist Khari Kill seems to have a tendency to only release music when it’s really worth it. From the stunning 2008 project Picture of Selassie, to his 2019 interpretation across the Uprising Riddim, Protected, quality defines his work. So, it’s no surprise his latest release is stellar. Khari Kill Falling, released via Totally Dubwise Recordings, is a reflective and vulnerable piece by Kill. Produced and engineered by the ever-excellent Dan Subtifuge, the quality is as you’d expect from Dubwise. Session engineering from Mikey Shaw and mastering from