Review: Dubwise by name, dubby and wise by nature, Totally Dubwise Recordings continue to expand the jungle side of their repertoire with two juicy numbers from RCola and Ranking Joe. 'Champion Selecta' is a soundboy call to action. Big beats, rapid vocals and a triumphant feel running throughout, it's an instant anthem for this summer's festivals. 'Chant Down' creates instant uplift with its shimmering guitars and positive chord pattern. Fused by great harmonics and live rolling percussion on the fills, this is the type of tune that could get the most cynical jungle critic skanking like their life depended on it.
Review: Rcola and JungleXpeditions is a combination that goes back to the heady days of jungle 15 to 20 years ago, and this nostalgia trip takes the form of 12 refined, stripped back and heritage-heavy cuts. It revives the dying art of jungle music that does a lot with very little, jungle music that shys away from over the top frills and brightly coloured extravagances. Just listen to 'Coded Riddim', which has a rolling bongo line over the top and bouncing bass stabs at the bottom; that's all that's needed to create a vibey little number with kindness in its heart and music in its soul. The amens come out on the darkness of 'Amen Meyer', the Caliber-esque licks on 'Latin Breeze' and the halftime steps on 'RPM'. Classic stuff.
Review: Something for the old skool jungle heads, here, as producer RCola revisits the glory days of skanking jungle/reggae blends. His version of Tippa Irie's "Rebel On The Roots Corner" is a classic example of the skanking jungle sound - all relentless Amen breaks, dubwise bass, bouncy chords and, of course, Irie's classic vocals. Also included is a "Reggae Re-Version", which switches the Amen break for straightforward, steppin' reggae riddims. In truth, it's arguably slightly better produced than the D&B version, though it lacks the sheer dancefloor power that delivers.
We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you've provided to them or that they've collected from your use of their services.