Single Reviews

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

LEVi ft Iotosh and Indie: Nah Stop Single Review – Steve Topple for Pauzeradio.com. UK-based Crate Classics are at the forefront of progressive, intelligent and classy urban music in the country. And their latest cut is no exception to this – taking the team, along with LEVi ft Iotosh and Indie, into cutting-edge Afrobeats territory. LEVi ft Iotosh and Indie Nah Stop, released via Crate Classics, is a glossy mix of Afrobeats coupled with some Dancehall tricks. The team – Jamie Rodigan and Aaron Horn – are exceptionally good at taking a vibe, mixing it up and producing a unique

Willi Williams: Don’t Show Off Single Review – Steve Topple for Pauzeradio.com. A-Lone Productions is at the top of its game at present. Having recently dropped the superb, reimagined Creation Riddim (based on Shanti Yalah’s 2017 track of the same name), we now have another on-point 7” featuring Willi Williams. Willi Williams Don’t Show Off, released via Empathy and A-Lone Productions, is a stirring, musically interesting and ultimately strong release, led by the ever-excellent Roberto Sánchez. A-Lone has a solid reputation for inventive and original works, and with Williams on the vocal Don’t Show Off is no exception. It opens

Kingston Express and Sticky Joe featuring Horseman: Mr Bigman Review – Steve Topple for Pauzeradio.com. As their recent album The Foot of the Mountain showed, Birmingham-based Roots band Kingston Express are as diverse as they are talented. And this classic track from 2018 shows their deeper, more brooding side as they team up with Horseman. Horseman Mr Bigman, release via Kingston Express Records, once again has Sticky Joe on production duties. He brings an intricacy to proceedings that plays well to the composition – notably raising the levels of certain lines across the track and also applying some deft use

Kingston Express featuring Macka B: Lyrical Chef Single Review – Steve Topple for Pauzeradio.com. UK-based Kingston Express have had quite the year. Their latest album, The Foot of the Mountain, was a classy piece of Roots and Dub-driven music featuring a stellar cast of artists. But their back catalogue is equally delicious, as this track with Macka B shows. Lyrical Chef, released in 2017 via Kingston Express Records, is a whimsical, carefree and entertaining piece from the band and Macka B. Production by Sticky Joe is as you’d expect: carefully measured, with the right emphasis on the instrumental lines that

Jah Mason and Queen Omega: Time is Now Single Review – Steve Topple for Pauzeradio.com. It’s always a pleasure to hear conscious Dancehall-led music. Strong leaders of the movement in 2020 so far include Govana, Jahmiel and Dotta Coppa. But Jah Mason and Queen Omega have just added another worthy track to the community – although calling it simply “Dancehall” doesn’t do it justice. Jah Mason & Queen Omega Time is Now, released via Akom Records, is a raging, forthright yet elegantly constructed track. The production from Dub Akom is stellar: inventive, smart and utterly engaging. It’s one of those

Kaylan Arnold: At All Single Review – Steve Topple for Pauzeradio.com. The influences of other genres across Roots-derived music are not always opaque, but if you listen with an open mind and ear they can often be found. Kaylan Arnold is one such artist who shows this, and her latest track showcases one, often under-used influence – while drawing on a plethora of others. Kaylan Arnold At All, released via Dadason Entertainment, is a furious, heavy, Roots-led cut that pulls no musical or lyrical punches. Complex in its construction, raging in its overall timbre, the track is enthralling and unsettling