Single Reviews

GC (Gate Citizens) featuring Emmillienne: Right Path Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. January 2024 sees the release of another track from an inspired series by a US-based producer and a cannabis brand – pushing the boundaries of modern Roots Reggae. Right Path, released via Oddiowave Records, sees producers DJ Oddio and Bonzai Cannabis founder Bonzai Caruso drop the second cut from the Bonzai Cannabis Brand Riddim: a selection of tracks aimed at promoting the brand. The first release, Bless Up by International GT and Demarco, was a slick Revival Reggae affair. Now, Right Path shows that this project

Maia The Toad: Fever Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. What happens when you take an industry-standard track and mix two classic interpretations of it together? You get Maia The Toad’s latest release. Fever, released via RuffCompany Records, sees Maia partially take on the Horace Andy/Studio One interpretation of this classic track – courtesy of producer Errol ‘General Smiley’ Bennett. However, we’re getting two for the price of one, here – because she also brings in the Peggy Lee version. To begin with, the musical backdrop from Bennett is based around the Clement ‘Coxsone’ Dodd version – but with

LawGiver The Kingson: Creation Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. LawGiver The Kingson is starting November 2023 strongly, releasing a song off his new album – which is also the title track, nonetheless. Creation, released and executively produced by LawGiver’s own label Imperishable Uprising, sees the artist team up with musicians Cleveland ‘Clevie’ Brownie and Owen Rennalls. LawGiver has already dropped two cuts from the album: the fresh, summery Welcome To Jamaica, and the intricately orchestrated Irie featuring Matthew Bento. What firstly stood out about these tracks was the clean, detailed, and well-considered mixing and mastering – where levels

LawGiver The Kingson x Matthew Bento: Irie Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com LawGiver The Kingson is back with a fresh cut – this time, taking what on the face of it is a Lovers Rock track, and turning it into something slightly different. Irie, released via Imperishable Uprising, sees LawGiver team up with Bermuda-born, Cali-based Matthew Bento. The track is the creation of him, UK selector Lady Dee and producer Junior L Murray. LawGiver got involved after his cousin who lives in the UK sent him the riddim. Irie is taken off LawGiver’s upcoming new album, Creation –

Anotha One Productions featuring Roberto Sanchez: Jah Bless The Rastaman Dub Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Following on from the success of the late Tabby Diamond’s final track, with Gregory Isaacs’ nephew Ray, the label responsible for it has released a Dub version – and it’s a scintillating listen. Jah Bless The Rastaman Dub, released via Anotha One Productions, sees the outfit join forces with well-respected producer and engineer Roberto Sanchez. As Pauzeradio said of the Diamond/Isaacs version: “Jah Bless The Rastaman is excellent work from all involved – particularly the Reggaement Band and Anotha One’s sterling commitment

Ray Isaacs and Tabby Diamond: Jah Bless The Rastaman Single Review by Mr Topple For Pauzeradio.com. The last song ever recorded by Donald “Tabby Diamond” Shaw has finally been released, over a year after his murder. It serves as a fitting memory of the man and the artist – but also a glimpse of what he still had to offer, and what was cruelly taken. Jah Bless The Rastaman, released via Anotha One Productions, sees Diamond team up with Ray Isaacs – nephew of Gregory. It was recorded on 28 March 2022, after Diamond called up Isaacs wanting to come

Sid Buck Records featuring the Ebony Sisters: Tell Love Hello 7” Vinyl Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. The recently launched Sid Buck Records is remastering and reissuing the legendary producer and engineer Sid Bucknor’s work, thanks to his son Byron. So, the Pauzeradio shop is humbled to stock another one of these classic tracks, reimagined. Bucknor should need no introduction. Over the years, as Sid Buck Records note in a press release, Sid: “was the most prolific sound engineer and composer of the time. He started his career at Studio 1 with his cousin Coxson Dodd and soon became

Sid Buck Records featuring Spanky Brown: Come Out Of Darkness 7” Vinyl Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. The legendary yet under-recognised talents of Reggae producer and engineer the late Sid Bucknor have recently been reinvigorated, with the launch of a label dedicated to re-releasing his groundbreaking work. Pauzeradio is proud to have in its shop several of these releases – with a classic from the early seventies being one. Come Out Of Darkness, now released via Sid Buck Records, was originally published in 1972 via Bucknor’s JamCam Records with vocals by Spanky Brown – on a double A-side with

Derajah and Inna De Yard: Africa Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Derajah has gone back to his roots (in this case, his earlier musical ones) – by once again collaborating with the rest of the Inna De Yard collective across a track off their latest album. Africa, released via Chapter Two Records and Wagram Music, sees Derajah and Inna De Yard take on the Gaylads classic, which was originally produced by Clement “Coxsone” Dodd and released via Studio One. It’s off the collective’s latest album, Family Affair – which was a retrospective of its members’ timeless work, as

The Phonosonics: The End of the World Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Canadian west coast Roots Reggae veterans the Phonosonics’ latest single is an 80s-inspired, dystopian Roots nightmare – but in a very good way, of course. The End of the World sees the band continue to move forward from their original early Reggae and Rocksteady sound – here, creating something dark and brooding. Written by the group, and produced by members Spencer Cleave and Anthony Shackell, the mastering by Brock McFarlane is a slick and efficient affair – focusing on the overall, unsettling landscape of the main