Ban Ban Ton Ton is looking back on the musical year. Since Japanese superstition holds 7 as her luckiest number, we’re gonna try to keep each selection tight to this total, in the hope that our conjuring of 7 X 7 X 7 X … will collectively manifest some magic for 2025. You may witness some attempts to creatively bend the rules, blur / invent genres and rinse formats, in order to squeeze in as many great releases as possible…

A couple of years ago, as the pandemic / lockdowns lifted, a sharp and provocative pal visited my yard, on a visit from Porto, to find it littered with hoarded roots 45s. He pointed out that it was kinda strange that non-believer like me sought sonic solace in songs that are essentially Rasta hymns of protest and praise. On reflection, it’s the protest part, and the calls for unity that are key. That, and the bass. Here’s some vintage vinyl, reissued over the last 12 months, that fits that bill. 

7”s

Disrupt / Arcade Addict 

Two tracks from the Jahtari archive celebrating Space Invaders and home computers. The maestros of “digital laptop reggae” also dusted off their hugely influential debut physical release. 

Hortense Ellis / Hell & Sorrow

Just one of many essential 7s issued / reissued by the 333 imprint this year Hortense Ellis’ Hell & Sorrow is a fine funky cut, with a brilliant Blues-y delivery – a la her cover of Woman Of The Ghetto. It’s the sort of tune I associate with Soul Jazz’s 100% Dynamite shindigs. On the flip you’ll find Big Youth’s landmark toast, Tribulation. 

Georges / The Light

Georges is a one-off alias of New York band, More Relation (check out their smash Jahoveah’s Kingdom). Released in 1979, The Light features beautiful yearning lead and backing vocals, and perhaps takes its cues from contemporary sides by Bob Marley & The Wailers, and The Wailers’ mentor, Joe Higgs. 

The Love Grocer / A Little Rain Must Fall

The Love Grocer was a collaboration between trombonist Chris Petter and trumpeter Dave Fullwood that ran through the 2000s. A Little Rain Must Fall originally appeared on a 10” on London label, Dubhead, and its horns, slo-mo skanking and echoed shouts, to my ears at least, have a very similar vibe to Sabres Of Paradise’s Wilmott II. 

Nkrumah / Congo & Rough And Rugged

A couple of 45s from Toronto DJ / MC Nkrumah, because I couldn’t decide between the 2. Both got a tiny, micro press by label Local Dish in 2022, but were made more widely available by Shella this year. Congo is a deep, slow almost somnambulant stepper, while the autobiographical Rough & Rugged is more than a tad funkier. 

Pre Historians / Free Yourself

No details on Discogs, but this one dates from1975. Grounation that calls for emancipation and equality, freedom from slavery and Babylon. 

Dennis Walks / Waste Time In Babylon

More from 333. This time mining their ongoing collaboration with Prince Jazzbo’s Ujama imprint. An impassioned protest against poverty and an unjust system set to a mid to late ’80s digital dancehall rhythm. 

12”s (including LPs)

Alpha & Omega / Pure & Clean (Dubplate)

A melodica-led uptempo Far East frug that was a Jah Shaka favourite. A solid steppers, from 1989, it’s dub that’s definitely meant to be danced to. 

Dennis Bovell / Sufferer Sounds

I was lucky enough to speak to Dubmaster Dennis “Blackbeard” Bovell, who gave me a ton of background on these early productions and his soundsystem Jah Sufferers Sound. The comp is essential, packed with quality, and also a real sonic snapshot of a time when UK reggae was finding and defining itself. 

Johnny Clarke / Babylon

Cha Cha released Johnny Clarke’s Babylon in 1980. Jah Shaka then recut the song in 1984. This repress, however, makes the original dub – featured in the seminal film of the same name – available again. You’ll have to add your own sirens though. 

Etherealites / Creation

Some serious Sci-Fi skanking from 1997. Digital bass shakes the building and circuitry twittering like alien birds dodges laser blasts. I had an edit of his on a single split with Dub Syndicate, but honestly you need the full 8 minute-plus version. 

Vin Gordon / Grass In The Sun

Very, very groovy late 70s gear from trombonist Vin Gordon. Home to an extremely catchy horn hook. 

Sgt. Pepper / Time A Go Dread

Shit! OGs of this 1983 Mad Professor 12 go for nearly 200 quid.   The first main draw is 3 dubs of Bengali Skank – whose weird warped melody and barmy bottom end formed the basis of another Jah Shaka spin, Sister Audrey’s socially conscious English Girl. Sgt. Pepper’s Time A Go Dread, however, tops even that, with a classic call for unity in the face of adversity, sus laws, Thatcher’s bleak Britain and the rise of the National Front. 

Sound Iration / Orthodox Music

As I come to the end of this list, the underlying theme seems to have been “tunes that Jah Shaka played”, revealing the driving force behind the vinyl cherry-picking that my pocket money pays for. Similar in style and execution to Alpha & Omega’s aforementioned Pure & Clean, this is another package of ravers roots that Shaka used to shake Babylon’s foundations. Again recorded in 1989, the 12 contains several dubplate mixes and is distinguished by choir-like chanting from the mighty Tenastelin.