Single Reviews

Various Artists: Richie Culture Bag of Herb Remixes Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Totally Dubwise Recordings are back – this time with a big selection of remixes across a track from 2020. And it shows the breadth and depth of the outfit’s capabilities – as the remixes cover various genres really well. Bag of Herb was originally released by Richie Culture in 2020. The track is in a classic Reggae formation: drop-beat bass, those call and response horns, skanking guitar and bubble rhythm on the keys. Culture’s singjay-come-vocal is expressive and engaging – and the track is a very

Norris Man Shine Your Light Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Ahead of the release of his forthcoming album Deep Conversations, Pauzeradio is humbled to take a look at one of the lead tracks from the release – and it’s a gorgeous offering. Shine Your Light is from the Train Line Records-produced and released Deep Conversations, which is out on 20 May 2022. Production comes from founder Real Mckoy and there are three legendary musicians adding their talents to the track (and the album): Sam Gilly, Dean Fraser and Dave Richards. The overall engineering, mix and master are of

Uwe Banton: The People Need To Be Free Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. German Roots legend Uwe Banton is back with a fresh track for 2022 – and as is always the case with this consummate artist, he blends musical ingenuity with lyrical power to create something magical. The People Need To Be Free, released via Ancient Mountain Records, see Banton’s song and lyric writing skills combine with Markus Dassmann and Martin Musch – the latter also producing the track. It’s currently available as a limited edition 7” press in the Pauzeradio shop, here. It’s firmly a Roots

Chyna Nicole: My Heart Will Go On Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. How do you take a Celine Dion track and turn it into a Dancehall-led fusion cut while keeping the melody the same? The answer is you get Chyna Nicole and Jumpout Productions on the case. My Heart Will Go On, released via Jumpout Productions, sees Nicole swerve into uncharted territory. The track is based on the 2018 release the Matrixx Riddim, written by Jamaica’s Mark Clarke with production and engineering coming from Tuff Gong alumni Gary Sutherland. Now, the riddim is being re-released, with Nicole’s cover

LawGiver The Kingson: The Ruler (Live Acoustic) Release Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Not one to sit on his laurels, LawGiver The Kingson is back, but this time with something slightly different – a filmed ‘live’ performance of a track that he’s reinvented over the years. The Ruler (Live Acoustic), featuring Yaksta and its accompanying video are available on YouTube from 1 April. LawGiver first released the track as a straight Sound System affair in 2011. Then, he reimagined it for his recent EP The Kingson From Kingston. Now, it’s been given the ‘live’ treatment. First off, and the

Anthony B – Good Time Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Ahead of its full release on 1 January 2022, an up-and-coming label has exclusively released the first track of its brand new riddim via Pauzeradio. And who better to launch it than Anthony B with the perfect track for the holiday season? Anthony B Good Time, released via Train Line Records, is the lead single from the forthcoming Night-in-Gale Riddim. The full EP features the talents of huge names like Busy Signal, Lutan Fyah and Pressure Busspipe. But in this first instance, Anthony B delivers a storming opener

Anotha One ft Naptali & Luciano: Struggles of Life in Dub Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. After the success of the Forgive I Jah Riddim earlier in 2021, Anotha One Productions are back with a series of releases – Dub versions of some of the original tracks, to be precise. And a legendary producer has come on board to breathe new life into the riddim. Anotha One Struggles of Life in Dub, released via Anotha One Productions, sees Roberto Sanchez take the lead on reworking the original track from Naptali and Luciano. Slick mastering is provided by another

Prince Livijah Red Alert Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Kingston Echo has made a name for himself producing quality, pleasing and intricate music which always respects the origins of Roots while keeping it fresh. And a 7” vinyl with Prince Livijah is no exception to this. Prince Livijah Red Alert, on a limited release from Dub Up Records and available in the Pauzeradio shop, is a rich and thoughtful track. Like his recent work with Nga Han and the Hi-Flyers, the Emergence album, Echo recorded the entire track on 16 track tape – giving the music an authentic

Sevad: Freedom Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. After the success of his 2020 album Black Man’s Government, Sevad has returned to his genre-defying style of music. And with his latest release, he’s cleverly fused various styles to deliver a powerful message for our times. Sevad Freedom, released via Sevad Music House Records, sees this up-and-coming artist tread a deft and emotive line between Trap (similar to Drill in the UK) and RnB. Sevad has dramatically improved his production skills since Black Man’s Government, with the quality of the final mix and master being on-a-par with many major labels. This

I-Octane: Stop Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. After the success of his woman-focused Moods album, I-Octane has turned his attention from singing female praises to addressing systemic inequality and poverty. And it shows the breadth and depth of his artistic skill – but is also perhaps lyrically his strongest (and given his status, bravest) in recent years. I-Octane Stop, released via Conquer The Globe Productions, sees I-Octane return to his conscious Roots. The track is produced by Troyton Music and Mari Muziq – who have created an effective and engaging musical backdrop, focused around the smooth, RnB-driven end of