2025 was the first year in a long while where I spent more money on new dub than archival releases, but here are a selection of the delay-drenched reissues that I was into. 

LPs & 12s

Drug Free America / Baby Doll & The Dolphin Burger

An epic indie-rock dub oddity, dating from 1995, recorded in Leeds, and uncovered by Miami’s Noir Age. Yet (another) Tom Dubwise tip.

Dub Specialists / Murderous Style 

A strong EP of dub meets funk breaks from Dougie Wardrop and his Conscious Sounds crew, produced in the late 90s and cherry-picked, and re-edited, for reissue by Mysticisms. Co-founder Chuggy’s take on Murderous Style is my favourite. I could quite easily imagine Weatherall playing, giving it up, on Kiss FM. 

Dub Syndicate / Out Here On The Perimeter 

I have a vested interest in this, since On-U honoured me with a shot at the sleeve notes. The research gave me an excuse to go back and listen to all Dub Syndicate’s early 90s LPs, and realise how many of their songs had seeped into and become staples of my own soundtrack during those barmy, druggy post-university days / daze. Stoned immaculate, indeed. The commission also allowed me to investigate the life and work of Style Scott. Opening my eyes to the considerable legacy of legendary drummer. The driving force behind not only The Syndicate but also Roots Radics, a band who reshaped, and for a while, pre-digital, ruled Jamaican reggae.  

The Infinite Wheel / Java Dub

A slo-mo, progg-y, druggy monster from a pair of former Pig Bag members, reissued on the mighty Midnight Drive. 

Little Axe / If You Want Loyalty Buy A Dog

Little Axe is Skip McDonald’s blues-based project. In 2025, two of the outfit’s archival On-U Sound albums finally made it to vinyl. Both are really interesting experiments that draw a clear line between the blues and reggae – If You Want Loyalty Buy A Dog, in part, is built on Dub Syndicate rhythms – highlighting their shared African roots. The weight of both genres complimenting, augmenting one another. 

Mad Professor / Avianca Dubs Vol.1

Mad Professor gives Marvin Gaye a couple of cracking dub makeovers. Sublime sunset / sunrise synergy from 2 absolute masters. 

The Ullulators / Simply Conscious Dub

Spiritual World continued to release a lot of cool, new stuff in 2025: N_1 Sound’s Din Sync Dub, a very heavy collaboration with IJAHBAR, Teal’s Original Watercolour and veteran MC Ras Yunchie’s recorded debut. However, this reissue from The Ullulators was my favourite thing they did. One side of hefty, hulking, post-punk flavoured skanking, and another of Orb-esque ambient house. I would also like to thank Spiritual World for tipping me off to Ethereal Logic’s excellent Slow Life EP.

REISSUE 7s

Alpha & Omega / One Culture 

Alpha & Omega with a cool, characteristically mystic cut that mixes heavy dub with Hindi mantra. Cherry-picked from 1993 and pressed onto a 45 by the ever essential Partial. 

Black Slate / Sticks Man

Early proponents of recorded UK reggae, Black Slate, self-released this anti-“taxing” triad back in 1976. Lyrically pulling away from Jamaican roots, to produce something uniquely British, and reflecting the streets that the 5-piece grew up in, this,  in my humble opinion, is a landmark single.

Sonia Ferguson / I’m Still Waiting

Japan’s Jetset put two of Sonia Ferguson’s lovers classics on a 7”. On one side was a cover of Diana Ross’ Motown tear-jerker I’m Still Waiting. On the flip was Sonia’s blues dance shake of Love Don’t Live Here Anymore, the heartbroken Rose Royce hit. Rose Royce were also versioned – in an early 90s digital, loon-bird featuring fashion – by Kim Mulligan, whose Wishing On A Star was revived by London label 333. 

Glen Hutchinson / We Need Some Satisfaction

It was a relatively quiet year for 333, with only a trio of 45s released. Apart from the aforementioned Kim Mulligan, there were 2 more singles licensed from Brooklyn label, Flames. For me Glen Hutchinson’s dread, horn-led We Need Some Satisfaction was the standout. 

Lloyd & Glen / No More Trouble

Glen “Dub From The South East” Brown and Lloyd “Cuss Cuss” Robinson bring a melodica honking rocksteady call for calm from `67. Repressed by Stag, in Japan.

“Time to get civilised, and stop taking others’ lives.”

Freddie McKay / Mope & Cry

Freddie McKay’s fierce, funky delivery carries this Top Ranking tune from 1974. Reissued by Jah Fingers. 

Leroy Smart / Pride & Ambition

Originally cut by Augustus “Gussie” Clarke for Bob Marley’s Tuff Gong in 1972, an alternate take, and version, of Leroy Smart’s Pride & Ambition appeared on Clarke’s own Gussie imprint this year. Smart’s smooth, pleading, longing vocal elevating the gentle laidback groove way out of the ordinary, and sticking the single firmly in connoisseurs’ wants lists. 

TRACK-LISTING

PART 1

Dub Syndicate – Stoned Immaculate

Infinite Wheel – Java Dub

Prince Jammy – turn The Radio On Version

Freddie McKay – Mope & Cry

Glen Hutchinson – We Need Some Satisfaction

Leroy Smart – Pride & Ambition

Alpha & Omega – One Culture

Drug Free America – Baby Doll & The Dolphin Burger

The Ullulators – Simply Conscious Dub

Paul Blackman – Earth Wind & Fire

PART 2

Paul Blackman – Earth Wind & Fire Version

Eva Keyes – Meditation

Ijahman Levi – Moulding

Black Slate – Sticks Man

Mad Professor – Avianca Dubs Vol.1

Little Axe – Tight Like That

Dub Specialists – Murderous Style

Dub Syndicate – Plains Of Africa