Single Reviews

Nga Han and The Co​-​Operators: Tek a Chance Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. Nga Han, hot off the heels of his sophomore album The Living Stream, has for the first time joined forces with The Co-Operators. The end result is a deep-dive into haunting Roots. Nga Han Tek a Chance, released via Waggle Dance Records on a limited 7” press, sees Han and Bristol, England-based The Co-operators team up with producer Eeyun Purkins. The first thing to note is the quality of his engineering and mixing, and Pressure Mastering’s mastering. The attention to detail here has created a

Upper Cut Band feat. Kabaka Pyramid: Light It Up Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. London-based Upper Cut Band will be back with a brand-new album in the autumn. But first, they’ve just released a new single featuring the legendary Kabaka Pyramid. And it’s fyah, as the bun the system down. Kabaka Pyramid Light It Up is the first track to drop from Upper Cut Band’s forthcoming album. Called Painting on Silence, it’s produced by Nick Manasseh and features Big Youth, Kabaka Pyramid, Glen Washington, Luciano, Carroll Thompson, Max Romeo’s daughter Xana, Horseman, Earl 16 and more. So, how

Ras Midas: Let the People Go/Rain and Fire 12” Review by Mr Topple / Pauzeradio PR Services. Some classic Ras Midas tracks have been given a 21st century refreshing. And the legendary artist sounds as good as he ever did. Ras Midas Let the People Go/Rain and Fire, released via Roots Vibration Records, sees Midas at the peak of his powers. With both tracks originally being composed by him, and production from Harry Johnson (along with Midas on Let the People Go), they really are this fine artist in a nutshell. Let the People Go is pure Roots with elements

Treesha: Rehab Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. It would seem obvious that much of Rihanna’s back catalogue would lend itself to Reggae and Dancehall. But to pull it off well would be no mean feat. Fortunately, we have Treesha on hand to show us how to do it with style and flair. Treesha Rehab, released via BuffBaff Records, sees her once again team up with the label after their successful 2020 cover of Eternal’s Angel of Mine. The backstory to the track is as fascinating as the finished result: Treesha heard the riddim on BuffBaff’s live Twitch session

Iotosh FEE FI FOE Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. It’s always interesting to hear one of the most skilled producers in the business branch out into solo work. So, enter Iotosh with his third individual outing: a brilliant adventure in the realms of fairy tales. Iotosh FEE FI FOE, released via SOUND TING, sees Iotosh spread his own wings. Having already made a name for himself as an inventive and inspired producer (working with Protoje, Lila Iké and Jesse Royal/Vybz Kartel among others), his third solo single builds on the sound that has gained him such a positive

Warrior King x MzVee: African Love Single Review By Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. What happens when you sample a classic Reggae track, throw in a global superstar and add some legendary production? Warrior King’s latest track is what happens – and it’s a success all round. African Love, released via Crawba Productions, sees Warrior King team-up with Ghanaian superstar MzVee and producer Jermaine ‘Crawba Genius’ Henry (of Crawba Productions). King and Henry first worked together on the 2016 cut Moonlight Bright. Now, African Love samples the legendary Garnett Silk’s 90’s hit Hello Mama Africa. But Henry, King and MzVee have

Chaka Demus: I Will Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. One of the most recognisable names in Reggae has put his talents to a limited edition 7” vinyl press. But given the quality of the track, these records won’t be around for that long. I Will, released via Ram Goat Records, sees Chaka Demus take the vocal lead. Production comes from Adam Prescott – and it’s a brooding, almost throwback Roots-Dub affair which grabs a hold of you from the off and doesn’t let go. Splitting the track into its component parts, first off and Prescott has included some

YT: Moment For Change Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. UK-based artist YT is back with the second single from his forthcoming EP – in this case, the title track. And once again, all the signs are indicating that this new project will be fyah. YT Moment For Change, released via Oneness Records, sees YT again team up with master producers Oneness (co-responsible for the whole EP). This means the production and engineering are top-class. And the composition and arrangement themselves are also of high quality: boding well for the full EP, given this is the title track. The

Blackout JA: Crying War Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. UK-based Totally Dubwise Recordings are back with another sterling effort. 
This time, the track features some forthright vocals from Blackout JA and an appealing base riddim.
 What more could you ask for? Blackout JA Crying War, released via Totally Dubwise Recordings, sees Dan Subtifuge and The Grampians construct a timeless yet fresh riddim. The production from them is, as you’d expect, top-notch.
The detail of the composition is of a high standard, too – filled with nice detail and some well-placed intricacies. The basic construction of the composition (the Crying

YT: Pressure Buss Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com. One of the UK’s most pioneering Reggae artists, YT, is back with a bang in 2021: a new EP, Moment for Change, forthcoming via one of the biggest labels in the business. And, if the first track is anything to go by, it’s going to be a scintillating affair. YT Pressure Buss, released via Oneness Records, plays to both YT’s and the label’s strengths extremely well. Roots in its formation, it is an atmospheric and brooding affair littered with attention to detail and a quality of production and engineering YT