United Reggae Magazine #7
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MAGAZINE #17 - March 2012 Bristol Archive Records Tappa Zukie Singing Melody Reggae Regular Mr. Vegas “An artist can’t retire from musical creativity” ALBOROSIE KONSHENS MILLION STYLEZ Burning Spear TAKANA ZION EDITORIAL by Erik Magni SUMMARY 1/ NEWS 2/ INTERVIEWS • Tappa Zukie 18 • Mr Vegas 28 • Konshens 32 • Burning Spear 38 • Singing Melody 46 • Takana Zion 52 • Alborosie 58 • Million Stylez 64 • Bristol Archive Records 70 • Reggae Regular 74 Is the trend turning? 3/ REVIEWS I’ve written about this many times before. I’m talking about the music busi- • Kevin Batchelor’s Grand Concourse 85 • Lee Perry and The Upsetters - High Plains Drifter 86 ness and the decline in sales that has been going on since the early 2000’s • Sizzla - The Chant 87 that saw the launch of file sharing services such as Napster and Kazaa. • Tappa Zukie - X Is Wrong 87 • Necessary Mayhem - Trilogy 88 But now, some people argue that the music business has started to recover • Sly and Robbie - Blackwood Dub 89 and that the worst is over. In this issue we have an example that points in • Konshens - Mental Maintenance 89 this direction. Mike Darby is the man behind the successful Bristol Archive • Stand High Patrol - Midnight Walkers 90 Records. Thanks to the success of releases such as Bristol Explosion 1 & 2 he • Revelation Rockers - Jah Praises 91 changed the direction of his other label, Sugar Shack, from British rock acts 4/ REPORTS to contemporary British reggae. But that’s not all. Mike has also initiated Reggae Archive Records. • JARIA Reggae Wednesdays Week #3 - Reggae Gone Global 92 • Tiken Jah Fakoly in Quebec 94 Experts say that the change comes from new digital streaming solutions such • I-Wayne, Fantan Mojah and Ijahman Levi in Warszawa 95 • Rebelution and The Green in Oakland 96 as Spotify and Deezer and the winners are labels embracing the change from • Prezident Brown and Rivah Jordan In Berkeley 98 acquisition to subscription. • The Making of Clinton Fearon’s Heart And Soul 100 • Ijahman Levi in London 104 That’s probably true, but you must also have luck and good distribution. But • The Caroloregians in Cardiff 106 most important are quality products. Just look at Bristol Archive Records. • Mad Professor and Lee Perry in Paris 107 • Tribute to the Reggae Legends 2012 108 Cover photo by Christian Bordey • One Love Nutrifest 2012 112 • SOJA and Gentleman in San Francisco 116 United Reggae Magazine #17 - March 2012 Want to read United Reggae as a paper magazine? Now you can... In addition to the latest United Reggae news, views and videos online each month you can now enjoy a All the articles in this magazine were previously published online on http://unitedreggae.com. This magazine is free for download at http://unitedreggae.com/magazine/. Not for resale. free pdf version packed with most of United Reggae content from the last month. United Reggae. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited. Blackboard Jungle Mungo’s Hi Fi - Dutty Diseases Chant Down The Riddim Busy Signal Wicked by Karl Pearson Drops First by Karl Pearson Roots Reggae -------------------------------------- Multifaceted French collective Album Blackboard Jungle, who are one by Erik Magni the country’s heaviest sound sys- tems to have played at the Univer- -------------------------------------- Jamaican dancehall champion sity of Dub in London and the Paris comes forward on April 24th Dub Meetings sessions alongside with his first reggae album the likes of Jah Shaka, Aba Shanti which bears the significant ti- I, Channel 1, Iration Steppas and tle ‘Reggae Music Again’. It’s King Shiloh have just released a stark departure from the their latest 12” vinyl ‘Chant Down hardcore beats dominating The Wicked’ which features his three previous albums. Mo’Kalamity and Echo Ranks on Each of the album’s 14 tracks a riddim created by The Rockers is described as “celebrating Disciples (ROCKDiS). This is the the uplifting spirit and tightly fifth 12” from Blackboard Jungle woven grooves that epitomize who compose music in their own Jamaica’s signature rhythm”. studio which they of course then And the album shows both promote through their sound sys- er. This album is like a renais- eration who can sing as well Busy Signal’s spiritual side and tem. Their past collaborations sance for me, a rebirth - reggae as deejay on authentic reggae his sensual style, such as the have included artists such as Afri- style.” The one drop rhythms rhythms.” first single Come Over (Missing kan Simba, Vivian Jones, Empress on ‘Reggae Music Again’ were You). “This album will shock Rasheda, Lutan Fyah, Ranking created by some of Jamaica’s In addition to the full-length al- many people who are used to Joe, Tony Roots, Earl 16, Michael most acclaimed musicians, in- bum, VP Records will release a Mungo’s Hi Fi are getting Scotty also appeared on me just as a deejay,” declares Prophet, The Viceroys, Chris- cluding Robbie Lyn, Dean Fras- vinyl companion piece, entitled the new year underway by this album, but chip in here Busy Signal in a press release, tine Miller, Ras Mac Bean, Kenny er and Kirk Bennett, and were ‘Reggae Music Dubb’n Again’, launching a set of 7 inch vi- with World News and Wicked and continues: “But it shows Knotts and Murry. recorded live at Kingston’s available April 17th, special for nyl’s featuring vocalists YT, Tings A Gwaan respectively. my growth, versatility and the legendary Tuff Gong studios. Record Store Day on April 21st. Daddy Scotty, Mr Williamz, Sister Carol, who began chat- recognition of reggae as the or- “Dancehall music alone cannot The exclusive LP will feature Sister Carol and Daddy Freddy ting after a meeting with Bri- igin of dancehall music. Being sustain Jamaica’s music indus- extended dub mixes for six of riding on their cut of the clas- gader Jerry, gives us Cuture a Jamaican, I feel like it is my try,” explains Shane Brown, the album’s songs, which are sic riddim Dutty Diseases. Mi Vote, while Daddy Freddy duty to highlight and contrib- the album’s primary producer all produced and engineered adds some ragga style on ute to reggae music, and with and engineer, and concludes: by Shane Brown and his leg- The riddim has been a staple Dread Inna Armagideon. the encouragement of my man- “Reggae has more substance endary father Errol Brown. in Mungo’s Hi Fi sets for the agement and musicians who and longevity and Busy is one last year and the Mr Williamz If you’re into your vinyl then played on this record, including of those rare artists of his gen- cut Computer Age appeared visit Scotch Bonnet Records Dean Fraser, it all came togeth- on their ‘Forward Ever’ al- quick as there are only a lim- bum, though here it is in a ited number available. Duttiest mix. YT and Daddy Vibronics’ French Tetrack and Norris Reid of songs that were Showcase Vol 2 by Esoteric bum titled ‘Esoter- and the late Sug- connection Release the Viceroys - a col- originally produced ic’, an album aiming ar Minott, an old league from the by Pablo which Abassi All Stars by Leaf- to increase love and friend of Leafnuts by Erik Magni Unfin- days when both art- were never released by Erik Magni nuts political awareness. and in whose studio ists worked with Au- [“Nah give up” and -------------------------------------- ished -------------------------------------- he made his initial gustus Pablo in the “Shirley”]. These by Erik Magni UK dub champions Vibronics have The Abassi All Stars is a collec- ‘Esoteric’ is pro- recording. Business 1970s. Original Tet- two songs howev- been vibrating the world with bass tive of musicians based around ------------------------ duced by some of by Angus Taylor rack member Dave er I have tweaked Jamaican-born since 1995. And two years later Zion Train’s front man and pro- Sweden’s top pro- ‘Esoteric’ hits the Harvey was initially lyrically. The al- Swedish deejay they crossed The Channel for their ------------------------ ducer Neil Perch’s recording ducers and features streets as CD and on board for the bum also includes Leafnuts – of Chilly first French shows and were mak- studio in Cologne, Germany. guest artists such digital download on project but then left a track “Dread out & Leafy fame – is ing connections with the emerging During the years this outfit has as Million Stylez March 23rd. the group before Deh” from an album back with a new al- Dub Scene. Vibronics latest album put out a number of signifi- the vocals were laid. that Tetrack did for ‘The French Connection’ celebrates cant 7” and 10”. The first batch The tracks were re- Gussie Clarke [Mu- their French links through a series was collected on the Abassi All corded at the Hines’ sic Works label]. til now no material material isn’t some of 15 remix collaborations – one for Stars ‘Showcase’ compilation Jah Artistic Studio in The album was not had been issued by rough demo tracks every year they have been playing in issued in 2006. Praises France. ‘The French Connection’ of- Kingston, with Carl- completed and Gus- Revelation Rockers, best forgotten, but ton’s brother Jimi as sie gave that song by Rev- even though they a fully realized UK fers a wide selection of top French Last year the vin- The second volume has re- engineer. Musicians to the Diamonds. He recorded five tunes roots album. Dub producers, from the electronic tage harmony cently been put out for digital elation included George only changed the back in the 70’s. experiments of Lyon legends High group Tetrack an- download. It collects 17 tunes Dusty Miller on lead vocals.