Single Reviews

Jah Mex Rootsman Style Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Jah Mex, a seasoned artist, has finally dropped his first vinyl release – and it was well worth the wait. Rootsman Style, distributed by Creation Rebel Sound System, sees Mex team up with DM Khan and Albert Hurtado. Production is slick, as are the mixing and mastering which bring the main instrumental lines nicely to the fore while maintaining the Roots-heavy rhythm section in the background. Side A has the main vocal version. A smooth, meandering arrangement is grounded in (unironically) a Roots style. Keys run a rudimentary bubble rhythm

AbiYah Yisrael: Yah Will Be There Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Dominican-based artist AbiYah Yisrael has returned with another sumptuous Roots Reggae cut which shows the talents of this accomplished artist immaculately. Yah Will Be There, released via ChaYah Studios, sees Yisrael team up with producer and arranger Hilroy “ObadYah” Alfred (who also provides guitars across the track). For what seems like a small studio and production outfit, everyone involved has aimed high – with excellent results; not least across the mix and master which are both proficient and high quality. Meanwhile, Yah Will Be There’s musical backdrop

JayRyme and Hyh Volume: Money Outta Pocket Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Summer may be nearly over in the northern hemisphere, but that doesn’t mean the summery music has to end. And a new track from a brand-new label will help you slide into fall perfectly. Money Outta Pocket, released via new label More Than Music Productions, is the first release off the brand-new Pocket Money Riddim – with further tracks set to be released soon. More Than Music is a new venture, that will bring together producers, engineers, publishers, musicians, bookers, promoters, and all other music professionals

LawGiver The Kingson – One-Ness Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Well-established artist LawGiver the Kingson is back with a new track – partly to celebrate his earthstrong but also to pay homage to a golden era of Roots. One-Ness, released via Imperishable Uprising, sees LawGiver tackle the influences of several genres head-on, across an upbeat and forward-moving arrangement which barely stops for breath -except when it’s designed to. The mixing by Marvin Jackson and mastering by Jemoi Mothieth (Clearsonic Studios) are very strong – creating a rich and vibrant palette of noise, bringing the component parts of the

Karina Nistal – Heaven Inside Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. After around 25 years on the music scene, Texas-based Karina Nistal has returned with another awe-inspiring track that shows her at her very best and is availabe on vinyl in the Pauzeradio vinyl shop. Heaven Inside, released via Music4Life, sees Nistal join forces with the Austin-based label headed up by producer DJ RJ. The final mixing and mastering is of a very high quality, and has created a rich and rounded sound. DJ RJ said of the track: “Heaven Inside comes from my daily meditation practice which I

Rik Jam – Hail The King Forever Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Rik Jam is back with a reworking of his 2023 hit – and it makes for an interesting listen. Hail The King Forever, released via Irie Yute Tapes, takes Jam’s 2023 hit Hail The King (across the Awaking Riddim) and moves it forward. The original was a traditional Roots track, with the signature bubble rhythm keys, drop-beat bass, and one drop drums. However, across the Forever reimagining we see producer Phillip McFarlane bring something more RnB to proceedings – while keeping the Roots basis in place.

JayRyme and Hyh Volume: Skank Pan Repeat Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. German producer Sechs9Studios has arrived with his first official release – teaming up with well-established Anotha One Productions across a cut that perfectly blurs genres ready for summer 2024. Skank Pan Repeat sees Jamaican artists JayRyme and Hyh Volume lend their talents to Sechs9Studios, who also did the mixing and mastering. It’s a hybrid cut that fuses genres together – as well as some solid instrumental work from Robert Wheeler on the drums and Christopher David Sumner on guitar. On a first listen, you’d be forgiven

ZOOLOOK: Soul Rebel Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. We’re taking you back to 2021, today – but for very good reason, as the first track off multi-artist ZOOLOOK’s Jamaican comic book series was a scorcher. Soul Rebel saw California-based ZOOLOOK release the first of nine original tracks from the Jamaican comic book maxiseries, Dread & Alive: Nine Night. The series is mixed and mastered by Dubmatix – and overall, Soul Rebel serves as a stellar introduction to the project. It’s a brooding and unnerving affair – dominated by elements of Reggae, Dub, and Trip Hop at points. For

Ras Teo: Inhaling Your Ocean Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Ras Teo is never one to shy away from breaking away from Roots as a genre – as his latest single shows. Inhaling Your Ocean, released via Teo’s own label Forward Bound Records, sees the artist join forces with the extremely talented Greg “Jah Greg” Tate and Zachary Tate across the composition. Production comes from Humbl Sohl and Teo, while the slick mastering comes from Joe Bozzi at Bernie Grandman Mastering (Los Angeles) – known for mastering Prince and Micheal Jackson. The track, from Teo’s perspective, is revelatory

Jhazahra: Sound Killa Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Up-and-coming artist Jhazahra certainly cannot be boxed in. After the 2023 track Headline with Iffa Cush, she returned in 2024 with something completely different. Sound Killa, released via Treydrumz/Blak Yaad Productions, sees Jhazahra take on a sound which can’t decide if it’s Reggae, Dancehall, or something nearer Alt RnB – which is a very good thing – although it’s definitely rooted in a Sound System vibe. Written by Jhazahra, the track opens as something Old Skool Dancehall with that recognisable rhythmic clave along with some forthright horns from the legendary