A list of largely leftfield-leaning reggae and dub selections that roots rocked 2025.
LPs & 12s
A collection of cuts of very cool echoed bongos and congas from legendary jazz man / saxophonist Nat Birchall. The record is heavy as slate, and the sound incredible. A highly polished take on Nyabinghi grounation, with more than its fair share of funky mixing desk trickery.
Woodleigh Research Facility’s Nina Walsh creates a cracking electro-roots reading of Coreysan’s call for strength and positivity in the face of adversity for Grant Dell’s Nine Channel.
Omid Geadizadeh / Like The Sea Knows Blue
Co-founder of Dublin’s Wah Wah Wino, Omid Geadizadeh with a trio of deep Iranian-flavoured dubs that reference the 13th-century Afghan poet Rumi. Taking influences from On-U Sound and Jahtari, and serenaded by melancholy brass and zither strings.
Elijah Minnelli / Clams As A Main Meal
Caanan Land, sung by Dennis “Blackbeard” Bovell, is the kinda pop hook that’ll pull people in, but this second LP from Elijah Minnelli revealed real depth, and development, on repeated listens. If I’m honest nothing impressed me more than Elijah’s steadfast decision to plot and steer his own course. Such independence demands to be supported. I was made up when John Matthews managed to secure an interview.
Richard Norris / Oracle Sound Volume Four
A forth shot from this unshakeable series of “Outernational Psychedelic Rockers”. With its roots in reggae, and the odd echoed Rasta, this was dub derived from modular synths and vintage keys. This time touching on trip hop and even dance floor house tempos. More of this stuff, Richard, please.
Om Unit / Acid Dub Versions III
This amazing set of remixes covered every conceivable corner of modern dub. Everything is heavy and of exceptionally high quality. An essential snapshot / document of where bass has been and where it’s at.
Adrian Sherwood / The Collapse Of Everything
On-U sound main man Sherwood with a stunning new solo album. Something, I think, that in time will transcend genre. The Collapse Of Everything commemorated the loss of dear friends, commented on the dire state of humanity, and consolidated the producer’s powers – where on the fly, improvised, he worked samples and the desk like a jazz instrument.
7s
This was a gift from the mighty Tom Dubwise – he slipped a freebie in with my order – with a note saying, “I think you’ll like this.” He was right, and I can’t thank him enough. Top new roots from Manchester that brilliantly picked up the baton from pioneering poets / activists, such as Linton Kwesi Johnson, to tackle today’s social and political problems.
The Soul II Soul drum-driven bootleg of Edie Brickel’s What I Am is a big Balearic classic. Andrew Weatherall famously looped its beats to create Primal Scream’s Loaded. Dub Pistol’s Barry Ashworth was there at the very start of Balearic in London, as part of South London’s Deja Vu crew and here he pays quality pop reggae homage to the hit that had E-ed up neer do wells doing the Monkey Drum shuffle.
Holy Tongue / The Bigger Tutti
This 45 is currently my favourite Holy Tongue release. I confess that I missed out on the LPs – holding my hands up, I ummed and ahhed, unconvinced by online clips, until all copies were gone – but having witnessed the band live – a dynamic, driving dance of dub and motorik – at this year’s Convenanza – I will be immediately purchasing whatever they do next.
Quasi Dub Development / Let’s Communicate (Elijah Minnelli Remix)
A match made in maverick roots reggae heaven. It’s such a pity that Mr. Minnelli never got to work with the legendary Lee Scratch Perry while he was still alive. Just imagine.
The “Whodemsound” main man with a super spiritual stepper, featuring heavenly, prayer-like vocals and wonderful, wistful flute.
Sade’s back catalogue is constantly being plundered by DJ / producer fans – folks making – usually – deep house or lovers rock flavoured remixes. This year was no different. I think I picked up 3 likely illegal reggae rubs of Cherish The Day, but this cover by Sailor Jane was legit, and flipped by a heavy version, care of Jallanzo The Dub Wizzard.
This brilliant new outfit from Brixton arrived with 2 boss 45s full of bottom heavy music that drew influence from jazz, post-punk, post-rock, and Jah Shaka’s electronic steppers.
TRACKLISTING
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