Linton Kwesi Johnson - Forces Of Victory

This is an enjoyable album, the key tracks being ''Want Fi Goh Rave'' and ''Fite Dem Back''. The latter track has a really strong militant black liberation message. The whole album works as fantastic music with some poetry over the top, and among this is the title track, which pulses along stoically. The vibe of Forces Of Victory is a strong celebration for black rights. David Bowie included this album on his top 25 albums ever, and one can see why. It was released at a pivotal time in music, where technology was changing the way music was being created, 1979, punk was becoming post-punk, synthesizers were challenging the traditional band dynamics and right at the time Bowie was in his Berlin Trilogy.

Lucky Dube - Retrospective

This is a fantastic release from the enigmatic and irrepressible Lucky Dube, South Africa's reggae king. The release is a series of early afrobeat recordings and some later songs unreleased in the US. The songs to check out are obviously ''Rastas Never Die'', the live cover he does of The Wailer's ''One Love'' is sublime and of course the track ''Guns And Roses''. He is distinguishable from his soulful vocals and large range. The album comes with a DVD, which is of a live concert, which his band are decked out in army surplus gear and it has a very militant feel to it. The track that is personally my most favourite is the track ''Remember Me'', which is very tragic, considering the circumstances in which he died, shot to death in an attempted carjacking in 2007.

Various Artists - The Evolution Of Ska: Calypso, Mento, Jamaican R&B & Bluebeat

Ska, the style of music to first spread from Jamaican shores, has it beginnings from the influence of sonic vibrations of jazz, from American soldier's radios, stationed in Jamaica during World War Two. In fact, most of the early ska was performed by various singers and backed by the ever prodigious and highly talented group The Skatalites, who would apply their magic touch to almost anything that needed it. The key tracks to look out for here are Prince Buster, being an immensely talented ska influence and creative force for the style itself. This release also incorporates early Jimmy Cliff, who among his own fame, discovered Bob Marley when they were both teenagers in 1962, and what a discovery that would prove to be. 

Inna De Yard - The Soul Of Jamaica

Really obscure release from 2017, with basically no electronics, it's all raw bashful roots music; with plenty of percussion, vocals and guitar. The tracks to look out for are "Let The Water Run Dry'' from old school rock steady legend Ken Boothe. The other tracks to look out for are ''Crime'' by Var, and of course, how could one possibly look past the pristine and salient ''Secret'' by Winston McAnuff. McAnuff has been recording been recording on and off since the 70's and although has some fame in Jamaica, has never really reach success in the global market. This album will suffice the needs of any fan of contemporary Jamaican music; it is also deemed quite original in its construction of the music, as the music is much more stripped down and has a 'lounge' feel recording style.

Toots & The Maytals - Reggae Got Soul

The album captures The Maytals in all their guts and glory, with a strong soul influence. The song to listen to is the ''True Love Is Hard To Find'', and ''Reggae Got Soul'', both perennial and exceptional, basically, this is a group that was there from the start and still tour. Their 1968 track ''Do The Reggay'', was, in fact, the first acknowledged use of the term reggae, that would go on to describe the diaspora of Jamaican music throughout the world. ''Toots'' Hibbert, the lead singer, was actually seriously injured and concussed on stage after someone threw a vodka bottle at him at a festival in 2013, and he settled a 15 million pound lawsuit against the bottle thrower. 

Chronixx - Dread & Terrible

So this arrived in the post today, and it's absolutely amazing. This album is austere, tantalizing and reminiscent of some of the old school dancehall greats like Sizzla. Proudly Rastafarian, packed with astute lyrical content. ''Officer ease out and don't you touch me by my hair'', from ''Rastaman Wheel Out'', speaks smartly about police brutality. Chronixx harks back to Rastafarian days of strength and unity, representing good and its struggle in conflict with Babylon and its evils. Musically it's quite dark and sombre, with some interesting dub versions at the end that are endearing. If there was one song to highlight, it would have to be ''Eternal Fire'' which pulses along with a fantastic groove and is filled with enchanting synth sounds.

Linton Kwesi Johnson - LKJ In Dub

This is an incredible album from, as Wikipedia tells me, is the only black poet, and second living poet to be published in the Penguin Modern Classics series. LJK In Dub is a pleasing undertaking, it is not the longest album, but the closing track ''Brain Smashing Dub'' is quite resoundingly enjoyable. The album works as a collection of songs from previous albums by Johnson, in a dub format. There contains barely any vocals, just tracks that have been edited in dub style and effect. The trombone parts are actually played by famous trombonist Rico Rodriguez. ''Bitch Dub'' is also quite satisfying, with a nice groove and off kilter rhythm with some interesting guitar lines. This is an album to be enjoyed on headphones for walks.

Derrick Harriott & The Crystalites - Psychedelic Train

Well this album really strikes a vivid sound through the speakers, envelops your conscience and tickles your ears for a terrific encapsulating experience that will incite the senses of your inner mind. The standout tracks of Psychedelic Train are most definitely the opener, ''Psychedelic Train (Pt. 1)''. ''No Man Is An Island'' is particularly is worthy of an investigation, as is ''Message From A Black Man''. They are well known for the track ''Riding For A Fall'', which hums along pleasantly. ''Born To Love You'' is another gem delivered in sonic form. ''Slave'' also sounds quite lovely. This album just defines the fusion of rocksteady as a style, fused with a pleasurable amount of psychedelic influence. Derrick Harriott would go on to make his name as a producer with some well-known names, being Big Youth and Keith & Tex.

The Pioneers - Battle Of The Giants

Along with the reissue of Long Shot, the label Doctor Bird combined the other follow up release from the early 70's by The Pioneers, Battle Of The Giants, onto the one CD. Battle Of The Giants is a more soulful endeavour, which would highlight their transition to a soul sound in the mid to late 70's. The band underwent numerous line-up changes for a period of 28 years, and actually reformed in 1999, to which they continue to perform. They actually re-located to the UK in 1970 where they received strong acclaim and praise from the skinhead sub culture. The title track is probably the track to check out here. British group The Beat actually covered their track ''Jackpot'' on their 1980 album I Just Can't Stop It.

The Pioneers - Long Shot

This is an absolutely gorgeous album, mostly known for its beautiful, captivating rude boy ska standard track ''Long Shot Kick De Bucket'', which melted hearts and delighted ears in the late 60s. Member of The Pioneers George Agard aka George Dekker, was actually half-brother to the highly successful ska musician Desmond Dekker. The founding members of The Pioneers, Sydney Crooks along with his brother Derrick Crooks also recorded under the name The Slickers with Winston Bailey, mostly known for their track ''Johnny Too Bad'', which features on the soundtrack to the famous movie, The Harder They Come. This is a highly talented group, the songs are fairly simple in their construction, with silk like vocals and grooves that rumble along like a freight train.

Katchafire - Legacy

First studio album from these roots rockers from Aotearoa in eight years, and it proves quite a remarkably enjoyable work, with the standout tracks ''100'', ''Ain't Gonna Give Up'' and ''Addicted''. ''Addicted'' is really lovely, with their trademark choir backing vocals, some of the lyrics are somewhat politically charged. They have a really big emphasis on vocals and basing a song around a groove. The overall sound is quite reminiscent of Herbs in their peak, with multiple singers, soaring bass lines, rhythmic guitar, horn sections, organ parts and some fine lead guitar work. Katchafire are actually touring Australia later this year, so be sure to venture along to one of their gigs if you find yourself in the vicinity.

Chronixx - Chronology

A decent album from a new school young upstart, particularly the tracks ''Spanish Town Rockin’”, “Selassie Children'', ''Legend'', ''Skankin' Sweet'', “Smile Jamaica” and ''I Can''. He is part of the ''reggae revival'' movement. His music sounds like it would be very engaging in a live setting either club or festival. It has a more organic sound to the modern dancehall, which is dominated by synthesizers. Chronixx performs with a live band, and this album may be cast aside as pretentious work paying homage to a bygone era from a youngster, but it has resulted from a newer interest in reggae thanks to the likes of Skip Marley and Hollie Cook. This album proves there is still some good quality reggae coming out of Jamaica.

Various Artists - Once Were Warriors Soundtrack

This is great soundtrack, and great snapshot into the New Zealand history and its cultural influences. Check out the track ''Rua Kenana'' which is based on the real story of Rua Kenana Hepetipa, who was a Maori prophet whose people resisted First World War conscription in New Zealand on his command, and then after an ensuing violent altercation with police, was arrested. The lyrics go along the lines ''He told his people not to go to war, let the white man fight the white man's war''. It's an intriguing story that lives long in the imaginations of the listeners. The style of the music is a more contemporary sound, probably the modern ragga style, the track ''What's The Time Mr. Wolf'' is also worth a listen. One can see that reggae and the influence of reggae has a profound impact on the styles of music that emerged from New Zealand/Aotearoa, intertwined with traditional Maori culture.

Herbs - 13 Years Of Herbs ''The Best Of''

This is a fantastic album, the heights of reggae in Oceania, which have not yet been surpassed from anyone in the region since Herbs radicalized the music scene after a Bob Marley tour that captivated the nation. I really life the track ''Dragons & Demons'' and ''Sensitive To A Smile'' both those tracks are perfect and they could not have been delivered better. They have a really distinct sound that is 70's reggae with a Pacific influence especially in the vocals. They must be 'cashing in' considerably from the royalties from ''Slice Of Heaven'', alas from all those plays on Max. Regardless of this novelty, this album is filled with glee from the pioneering reggae legends from New Zealand/Aotearoa.

Katchafire - Say What You're Thinking

As I mentioned earlier in a previous post, reggae is huge in New Zealand, with many people knowing the words of a lot of songs of the Jamaican legends like Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff. Say What You're Thinking from New Zealand outfit Katchafire has some really good gems of songs that are graced with some incredible backing vocals that sound like the purest of choirs. Check out songs like ''This World'' and ''Hold On''. The lyrics in both of those tracks are very poignant in the case of the latter, and also political in the former. The backing vocals are reminiscent of the choirs in the Dave Dobbyn track ''Slice of Heaven'', which is funnily enough backed by Herbs, the New Zealand reggae pioneers. Both Herbs' and Marley's influence is profoundly heard in Katchafire's music. The legend of reggae lives on in Aotearoa.

Various Artists - Studio One Supreme: Maximum 70s & 80s Early Dancehall Sounds: Soul Jazz Records

This is an interesting compilation with some very good sounds going on, and the highlight being the Horace Andy track ''Show And Tell'', and Horace Andy actually performed at the Albert Hall in Launceston with backing from Melbourne based musicians Mista Savona in 2008. I was actually present as an 18 year old; barely old enough to get my head around Horace Andy's legacy but it was an amazing gig. He played ''Skylarking'' with much applause and the band was tight, and what sticks out from this gig was in fact it was a free event of part of Ten Days on the Island. The gig will go down in annals of Tasmanian music gigs history and is part of folklore. Basically it was the only notable reggae musician to play a concert, let alone a free concert in Launceston. As a young punk rocker this was the highlight of the year, as growing up in Launceston was boring most of the time with not much to do for creative young people. Music was an escape.

Various Artists - Dancehall Reggae Anthems

This is a fun enjoyable compilation I stumbled upon, and showcases dancehall and its origins. To describe the dancehall sound, in its modern form is basically a fusion of electro-instrumentation, including synthesizer etc. It is a fusion of electro and deejaying, which is toasting, which is similar to rapping. So if one was interested in rap, they may or may not appreciate dancehall. I think the best standout tracks are ''Who Am I'' by Beenie Man. Beenie Man is immensely talented and I also like the Sanchez track, he is joyous, and his track ''I Can't Wait''. All in all like many classical reggae fans who disapprove of dancehall and think it's basically rubbish, there are some very talented established artists who carried on reggae's premise and ideology into the future, and it is only natural that music evolves, changes and re-invents itself through time.