by: Jarret Lovell
Willi Williams w/ Yabby You – Unification: From Channel One to King Tubby’s (Shanachie Records): As a vocalist, Willi Williams is responsible for one of the most famous and recognizable reggae anthems of all time: “Armagideon Time.” Yet beyond this track, he never reached the super stardom of his Jamaican counterparts, perhaps because he always stayed very close to his roots (reggae, that is). Nevertheless, he has always maintained a strong following among hardcore reggae fans. So this newfound collection of twelve tracks recorded in 1979 with producer Yabby You is a gift to those who appreciate real roots reggae. For fans of Williams’ latest work with Rhythm & Sound, the title track “Unification” sounds like an early version of his hit “See Mi Yah” accompanied by the Rockford Rock rhythm. “One Destiny” is pure bliss, with a slow pace and chill vibe. “Righteousness” displays William’s vocalizations, and “Any Day” is simply addictive.
The Georgetown Orbits – Third Rock Steady (Ready to Launch Records): From Seattle, this ten piece band specializes in paying tribute to Jamaican ska, and their talents are certainly on display on this – their 3rd record (hence, the name). Horns abound on this release, as is to be expected. But female vocals pepper the album as well, as is the case on “Holding the Key,” a slow jam with organ reminiscent of Jackie Mittoo. Check out the ska version of the classic “Son of a Preacher Man.” Other covers include Dawn Penny’s “No No No” and Lee Scratch Perry’s “Tighten Up.” Fun!
Dubmatix – Rebel Massive (North Fontana Distribution): One of the biggest names in contemporary electronic reggae/dub, Dubmatix is a staple of KUCI reggae programming. His bass heavy production has attracted some of the biggest names in reggae, and his current release (actually released in 2013 as a download) is filled with superstars. Guests include: Horace Andy, Eek-A-Mouse, Luciano, U Roy and Cornell Campbell to name a few. One simply cannot go wrong playing Dubmatix, but to get you started, try “Black Market Dub” for a wonderful instrumental with horns, bass, and effects. “Pull Up Selector” features Eek-A-Mouse – you hear – Eek-A-Mouse! “Ease the Pressure” and “Liberation” border on dubstep, and the final track is a collection of loops for the producer wishing to experiment with remix! Hooray!
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