Single Reviews

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

Jhazahra: Headline Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Jamaican songstress Jhazahra brings life to the latest riddim from Iffa Cush – and it should be making the headlines. Headline, released via Iffa Cush Muzik Group, sees Jhazahra take on the Kaya Blazing Riddim from Jamaican producer Cush. The overall mastering of the track is slick – honing in on the deep and unsettling sound that the composition provides so well. Headline is a deep dive into brooding, resonant Roots. Across the track some traditional musical devices are in play. The bass runs a drop-beat rhythm. It’s rich and played

The always versatile, ever-reliable LawGiver the Kingson is back with a new track from his forthcoming album Creation (set for a summer release) – and here, we’ve gone down a yard. Down A Yard, released via Imperishable Uprising, sees LawGiver team up with KJahSound from Poland, who provides the music, a particularly Dub-heavy and ominous Roots track. The song was mixed at Cleveland Browne’s Up Suh recording studio by Marvin Jackson – while the mastering by Jemoi Monteith is slick, efficient, and focuses well on the Dub layers to the track. There are classic elements at play, here. First, the

Zambeze: This Is The Night 7” Vinyl Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. A recent track from the house of Lone Ark is another pleasing and vibrant affair – and now it’s available in the Pauzeradio vinyl shop. This Is The Night, released via Mozambique Records, sees Zambeze team up with Lone Ark’s Roberto Sanchez across an interesting and varied track. There’s something rich and rounded about the final mixing and mastering – with a real focus on the lower kHz instrumentation – while those with higher registers come through at important moments. Musically, the original side A version of