Review: What a fantastic project we have here as French heavyweight soundsystem killers OBF deliver an outstanding 22 track album. There is no better way of describing this project as it encapsulates the full spectrum of modern reggae music, welcoming the likes of Charlie P, Irah, Killa P, Tippa Irie, Jah Mason, Biga Ranx and more to a fantastic track listing. Daddy Freddy & Junior Roy's marching masterpiece in 'My Sound' is an initial highlight, alongside the incredible vocal lines of Belen Natali & Sr. Wilson on 'Musica' and the rootsy orchestration of 'Rebell Daawtaz' alongside Aza Lineage. It's a project we have to recommend taking in on a long play session, just to soak up just how solid a project it is!
Review: It's been just a month since the loose musical collective centred around Greek producer Angelos Stoumpos released their fourth long-player 'Theory Of Revolution', and now here comes what is effectively Part Two, featuring instrumental versions of seven of the original 19 tracks. As per the album proper, reggae and dub vibes predominate, with the well-chosen title track and the Afro-influenced 'Restart' particularly deserving of your attention, but for funkateers the standouts will be lead single 'Realistic' (which sounds a lot more funk/hip-hop-oriented when stripped of its doo-wop vocal) and the lounge-y, Hammond-tastic 'I'll Be Okay'.
Review: With the whole mash-up thing, it's nearly always rock, pop or electro-pop tunes that tend to get spliced together. Here though, we get an interesting twist from Krakowski with familiar songs by the likes of The Doors ("Break On Tru"), Robin Thicke ("Blurred Lines") and The Fugees ("Fu Dollars More") are given a soft reggae lilt for maximum fun.
Review: Music For The People return with their eighth release by none other than main edit man, Krakowski, who has already injected a great deal of boogie retouching into the label thanks to his previous EP. "Skabotage" opens things up in true stepper style, bringing in those brass horns and placing them over some Beastie Boys lyrics to mix things up more than ever before! "The Final Skankdown" is more of a lover's rock ting, re-hashing a track that's almost too famous to name, whereas "Dubbing My Religion" adds a roots-style percussion work over yet another pop anthem. Finally, "La Bambska" slows the original "Bamba" down to blissful reggae tones - incredible
Review: The undisputed king of reggae versions, Mato returns with his sixth series of dubbed out hip-hop covers. Far from the crass, crude mash-up culture, Mato's original instrumentation ensures a much more natural remix feel which, in some cases, sounds better than the original. Across the 10 track set we're treated a bouncy, sun-kissed take on Eve's "Gangsta Lovin", a tight skank-flexed take on The Beatnuts "Off The Books", a Vadim-style contemporary digi dub take on Nate Dogg's "Good Life" and a very authentic rendition of "Still Dre". Essential listening for both hip-hop and reggae heads.
