The Dub Invasion Festival is a 10 day long excursion into the international musical phenomenon called dub, a style characterized by heavy bass, drums and copious use of effects, where the producer becomes the artist and the mixing board becomes an instrument. From its roots in 1960s Kingston reggae studios to its evolution into the digital age, dub has given birth to modern remix culture and its influence and production techniques can be heard across countless genres, from hip-hop, electronica, to punk and rock.

Out of the original Jamaican dub culture, a new generation of international producers and artists have infused the original sound with diverse influences, pushing the boundaries of the music throughout Europe, Japan and Latin America. Our goal is to introduce world class talents to a wide audience in New York and Boston and develop an infrastructure and platform for global collaboration and creative exchange.

The Dub Invasion Festival is jointly produced by Brooklyn-based music activists Sound Liberation Front and NYC’s Dubwise label Subatomic Sound.

This 5-part short documentary from director Adam Glickman, seen here in an early rough cut, explores the history of Jamaican sound system and dub culture. The film uses interviews with Paul Simonon, So Solid Crew, Sly Dunbar, David Rodigan, DJ Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash, and more to explore the roots of this music and the influence it had around the world. [courtesy of Pitchfork.tv]

PART 2:


PART 3:


PART 4:


PART 5:

A gift from us to you: this exclusive mix chalk full of the sounds of pure dub reggae; past, present, and future. Running just over an hour with 21 irie tracks for your listening pleasure during the rest of these winter days. Bless.

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1. Gorillaz Vs. Space Monkeys - Strictly Rubbadub (Slow Country Remix)
2. Culture - Apply Within
3. Dubmatix - High Crimes Dub
4. Sizzla - Love In The House
5. Capleton - See Dem
6. DJ Spooky - Strykly Turn Table Eyzd, Umm
7. Linton Kwesi Johnson - Bass Culture
8. Rusko - Action Dread
9. Katchafire - I And I (Mad Professor Dubtronic Remix)
10. Skream - Sub Island
11. Gorillaz Vs. Space Monkeys - Dub Ø 9 (Starshine Remix)
12. Pink Floyd - Money (Easy Star All Stars Dub Take)
13. Bob Marley & Sublime - Do It Twice
14. MRK1 - Steppa's Delight
15. Matty G - Amen
16. Aswad - Warrior Charge
17. Bobby Blue/GCORP - Liberation Dub
18. Sola Rosa - Sleepwalker
19. Hepcat - Gimme A Little Sign
20. Digital Mystikz - Anti War Dub (Ft. Spen G)
21. Conquest - Forever

MySpace

Big tings a gwan up in the Pacific North West. This one large from man dem Sublo reppin' from Seattle. One of our own Bassfaced posse bringing you this exclusive mix tap featuring dancehall riddims, grime mc's, and unreleased dubstep. Stay fresh the bassfaced massive.

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Tracklist:
1. Sleng Teng Riddim - Riko Dan "Informer Must Dead"

DEM TIME DEH RIDDIIM
2. Bounty Killer - "Folitician"
3. Esco - "No Caine"
4. Elephant Man - "Gyal Bruk"
5. Vybz Kartel - "No"

SAND FLY RIDDIM
6. Shano ft. Sean Paul - "Girls Territory"
7. Left Side - "Cologne"
8. Aidonia - "Putty"
9. Bling Dawg - "Licky Licky"
10. Mad Cobra ft. Tina Nunnezz - "Like This"

DI URGE RIDDIM
11. Beenie Man - "No Phobia"
12. Hot K - "Crazy"
13. Lady Saw - "Be Mine"
14. Vybz Cartel - "Position"

PURGE RIDDIM
15. Movado - "Nuh Badmind"
16. Iyara - "Tighter Di Sumting"
17. Bounty Killer - "Top Killa"

INTERCEPT RIDDIM
18. Einstein - "Freeze Up"
19. Aidonia - "Head Shot"
20. Bramma - "Neva See"
21. Rally Bop - "Knock It Off"

PUM PUM RIDDIM
22. Tinchy Strider - "Nug Tings"
23. Jamakabi - "Zoom 4 Pum"
24. Flow Dan - "Galist"
25. Dutty Goodz - "Pum Pum Stealer"

26. Low Deep ft. Gappy Ranx - "Gone Again"
27. Alborosie - "Police Polizia" (Noah D and Roomate RMX)
28. Sublo - "Colder"
29. XL - "G Funk 3000"
30. N.E.R.D. - "Everybody Nose" (Roll Deep RMX)
31. Swizz Beatz - "Blow Ya Mind" (Starkey RMX)
32. Kano - "Paper"
33. Kid Sister - "Pro Nails" (Rusko Rmx)
34. E 40 - "Break Ya Ankles" (Sublo RMX)
35. Joker and Rustie - "Play Doe"
36. Rustie - "Cafe De Phresh"

Army of Dub- Alton Ellis vs. Kromestar (Luisao bootleg)


via the BBC:

"12 October 2008 - Reggae singer Alton Ellis died of cancer in a London hospital at the age of 70 on Friday 9 October 2008.

Tributes have been pouring into the Jamaican singer's MySpace site, many commenting on how Ellis' music will 'live forever'.

Alton Ellis moved to Britain in the 1970s and became known as the 'Godfather of rocksteady' with a string of hits including I'm Still In Love, Dance Crasher and I'm Just A Guy.

His manager and agent Trish De Rosa, of Roots-Rockers Promotions, said he was a prolific artist and a key figure in the history of Jamaican music: "He has been my guiding star and my inspiration from the moment I met him," she said.

"His life was the music and the stage. He was getting a tremendous amount of work right up to the end - it was very difficult to get him to slow down. He wanted to do as much as he could and leave a strong legacy."

De Rosa added that the Jamaican authorities were considering giving Ellis a state funeral.

Ellis was diagnosed with multiple myeloma last year, underwent chemotherapy and returned to the stage before he collapsed during his final performance in central London in August.

Laurence Cane-Honeysett, Jamaican music consultant for Trojan Records, said the label had been associated with Ellis throughout his career and that he was a pleasure to deal with: "He was a genuinely lovely man and his songs were heartfelt," he said.

"He was a seminal figure in terms of popularising Jamaican reggae music. His death is a terrible loss."

The sweetest in the reggae world - Delroy Williams


Jamaican reggae singer Delroy Williams, who had been friends with Ellis and worked with him since the 1960s said, described his voice as "the sweetest in the reggae world".

Ellis began his career in the late 1950s, before Jamaican music had earned a worldwide following, and recorded for many local producers before launching his own All-tone label.

He had several hits while fronting the vocal group The Flames and many more as a solo artist. Ellis moved to Canada and then to London in the 1970s as his career went into decline.

He enjoyed renewed popularity in the last 15 years thanks to a rocksteady trend in Jamaica and Europe.

Ellis, who lived in Northolt, Middlesex, leaves more than 20 children."

Here's another big set from the soundsystem known as Mungo's HiFi out of Glasgow, UK. This set was recorded live at this year's Shambala festival in the UK at their performance in the Roots tent. Expect to hear a lot more reggae and roots than their recent dubstep material, irie riddims abound. You can preview cuts off of their new album 'Soundsystem Champions' on their Myspace now, with cuts featuring Top Cat, Ranking Joe, Mikey Murka, and many more.

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Mungo's HiFi- Around the ReDub ft. Suncycle



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Nothing but high energy and enticing dub rhythms on this track, a vinyl-only dub of the original "Around the World" cut off Scotland-based soundsystem Mungos Hi Fi's Soundsystem Champions release. The crew has existed since 2001 and been loved and played by the likes of Mr Scruff, and the late John Peel, as well as dropping releases on Solid Steel and Ninja Tune. The group is equally well-known for dropping vinyl-only releases via its own Scotch Bonnet imprint, which is exactly where you can pick up "Around the Redub" once you've hit download here and given the track a whirl.

You can preview their forthcoming album Soundsystem Champions on their Myspace.

For some more Mungo's, be sure to check out the Mungo's HiFi live at SubDub 10 Year Anniversary DOWNLOAD

Skrewface- Coconut Wata Sessions, Week 33

Tracklist:

warrior king - make a joyful noise
vibronics - rastaman's story
roots radics meets king tubby - the highest
sammy dread - old time days
rod taylor - lazy woman
pablo moses - proverbs extractions
batch - lift up
warrior king - empress
voicemail - love me now - forever riddim / big ship
sean paul - the right time - forever riddim / big ship
nahswitch - cant win them all - forever riddim / big ship
shema - caught up - forever riddim / big ship
morgan heritage - yutes dem share - forever riddim / big ship
anthony b - fool for love - forever riddim / big ship
freddie mcgregor & maxie priest - make it happen - forever riddim / big ship
nicky b - forever - forever riddim / big ship
singing sweet - cherish the love - forever riddim / big ship
beenie man - the more they fight me - how can i riddim / prod. by buggy
here - move like me - how can i riddim / prod. by buggy
lukie d - fight no more - how can i riddim / prod. by buggy
sizzla - do it to me - how can i riddim / prod. by buggy
sugar roy & conroy crystal - blood shed - how can i riddim / prod. by buggy
tony curtis - heaven only knows - rock steady riddim
sandy smith - make it with you - rock steady riddim
lady hype - love you so - rock steady riddim
ghost - reach out - rock steady riddim
bitty mclean - walk away from love - rock steady riddim
frankie paul - love somebody - rock steady riddim
kelly makeda - easy - rock steady riddim
lady lex - breaking up - rock steady riddim
ziggi - need to tell you this - i love riddim
luciano - jah deliver us from all evil - i love riddim
jah mason - yours forever - i love riddim
natural black - be careful of your enemies - i love riddim
million stylez - oh jah jah - i love riddim
ginjah - society so mess up - i love riddim
natty king - slew u in the open - i love riddim
anthony b - cant stop the fire - i love riddim
sean paul - hold my hands - relationship riddim
voicemail - grow old with you - relationship riddim
baije - thats life - truck back records
sandra cross - someone special
roger robin - right decision
lloyd brown - show me that you love me
tarrus riley - she's royal
tarrus riley - save the children
tarrus riley - love created i
dycr feat. singing melody - love is the answer - wonderland riddim
ice man - i want her back - wonderland riddim
natural black - joy and pain - wonderland riddim
lady patra - first night - wonderland riddim
barbee - love you anyway
alaine - spin mi - stimulant riddim
vybz kartel - never turn a raper - stimulant riddim
tok - come ya mi gal - stimulant riddim
munga - knock it like a hammer - stimulant riddim
don corleon - hear bout the winery - stimulant riddim
bling dawg - where mi come from - stimulant riddim
elephant man - name brand clothes - stimulant riddim
bounty killer - bait up - retro black widow riddim
i-wayne - warriors - retro black widow riddim
lutan fyah - hard on them - retro black widow riddim
munga - nah sell out - retro black widow riddim
munga - regular basis - tiger balm riddim
vybz kartel - million by a morning - tiger balm riddim
chino - she want di work - heatstroke riddim
esco - sexpert - heatstroke riddim
laden - early on - heatstroke riddim
voicemail - close to drunk - heatstroke riddim
delly ranx - wine for me baby - heatstroke riddim
bramma - shake up yuh body - heatstroke riddim
elephant man - di way yuh wine - heatstroke riddim
konshens - hear dem talkin - heatstroke riddim
munga - she say harder - heatstroke riddim
vybz kartel - wine up yuh body - heatstroke riddim
bounty killer & einstein - tell dem - soulseeka riddim
black rhino - dare to try - soulseeka riddim
teflon - dem a talk - soulseeka riddim
bramma - run inna yuh house - soulseeka riddim
alaine & 8 bars - flash back to dancehall - 10 pounds of kush riddim
don corleon & sean paul - sweat - 10 pounds of kush riddim
beenie man - jiggle up - 10 pounds of kush riddim
enur feat natasja - calabria
mr vegas, opal & hottaball - hot fuck (remix)
aidonia - bush cash (remix)
ding dong - go away (remix)
pitbull feat. lil jon - the anthem
enur feat natasja - calabria (mims remix)
movado - nah bleach with cream - daybreak riddim
bramma - mi nah play - daybreak riddim
laden - gyal coward - daybreak riddim
aidonia - bruk it off - daybreak riddim
teflon - di thing them - daybreak riddim
mrg - pree life - daybreak riddim
jay mckay - fluffy - gutterball riddim
voicemail - mi nuh see mr. bwoy - gutterball riddim
mr evil - mek she bawl - gutterball riddim
demarco - excellent hole - gutterball riddim
fambo - gully crawler - gutterball riddim
rdx - so high - gutterball riddim
malica - hey mr dj - gutterball riddim
versatile - dusk til dawn - gutterball riddim
beenie man and voicemail - whine and move ur waist - gutterball riddim
tok - you have the best - gutterball riddim
sample 6 & unicorn - gutterball riddim
beenie man - badman - nyc riddim
demarco - dem a fool - nyc riddim
spraggan benz - dem bow - nyc riddim
erup & mr peppa - survival - nyc riddim
versatile - make money - nyc riddim
vybz kartel - nah hold we down - liberty riddim
cush heights - got to be free - liberty riddim
konshens - ago kill me - liberty riddim
patexx - free speech - liberty riddim
sarah couch - oh no - liberty riddim
bugle - russian roulette
allo star - wine - warn dem riddim
ghandi - pure gal - warn dem riddim
nahswitch - my fren dem - shadow riddim

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Spannered.org stream

Bristol-based dub and dancehall don Dub Boy returns to Spannered with a second speaker-quaking mix-up of bassline styles.
Hot on the heels of his mix for Spannered from October last year, Tim Rayner, aka Dub Boy, graces the site's radio section once more, this time dropping a wide range of original and contemporary roots, dub & dancehall, from both Jamaica and Europe — with plenty of Bristolian goodness sprinkled throughout.

Beenie Man — Pardon (Taxi)
Lady Saw — Married Man (Taxi)
Mr Vegas — Lean Wid It(Taxi)
Sugar Minott — Tune In (Taxi)
Sugar Minott & Bounty Killer — Tune In (Taxi)
Taurus & Jimmy Riley — Pull Up Selector (Taxi)
Shabba Ranks — Respect (Shang)
Barrington Levy — Murderer (Jah Life)
Carlton Livingston — 100 lbs of Collie Weed (Jah Life)
RSD — Murderah (Unreleased)
Mungo's Hi Fi ft. Mikey Murka — Back on the Scene (Scotch Bonnet)
Mungo's Hi Fi ft. Soom T — Did you Know? (Scotch Bonnet)
Mungo's Hi Fi ft. Rock — Inna Dancehall (Scotch Bonnet)
Mungo's Hi Fi ft. Brother Culture — Ing (MJ Mix) (Scotch Bonnet)
Mungo's Hi Fi ft. Carl Meeks — Higher Level (Scotch Bonnet)
Mungo's Hi Fi ft. Top Cat — Herbalist (Scotch Bonnet)
Junior Delgado — One Blood (Fashion)
Junior Reid — One Blood (J.R. Productions)
Junior Delgado — Dub School (Fashion)
Junior Byles — Fade Away (Jama)
Disrupt — THC 1138 (Werk)
King Tubby — Fade Out (Firehouse)
Disrupt — Riddim Grid (Werk)
Mikey Dread — Saturday Night Style (Auralux)
RSD — Prophecy (Angels Egg)
Luciano — Just Hold On (Charlie's)
Chezidek — I Won't Change (Charlie's)
Fantan Mojah — Hold Dem Heads (Charlie's)
McPullish — Dub Change I (Charlie's)
McPullish — Aerophonic Dub (Charlie's)
Henry & Louis ft. Prince Green — Love Like (2 Kings)
System Error ft. Michael Rose — Time Bomb (Universal Egg)
VC — Gone (Dig Dis)
Rootz Underground — Victims of the System (Rootz Underground)
Dark Angel — Cool & Humble (Boka)
Mungo's Hi Fi — I Love Jah (Unreleased)
Etherealites — El Toro (Roots Garden)
Nick Fantastic — Kingdom Riddim (Massive B)
Collie Buddz — Let Me Know (Massive B)
Chezidek — Call Pon Dem (Massive B)
Richie Spice — Rooted & Grounded (Star Trail)
Richie Spice — The Plane Land (VP)
Richie Spice — Earth A Run Red (Henfield)
Taurus Riley — She Is Royal (Cannon)
Disrupt ft. Mikey Murka — Empress (Scotch Bonnet)
Henry & Louis meet Blue & Red ft. Willie Williams — Plastic World (BSI)
VC — Deeds Dub (Dig Dis)
Gussie P — Chill Out Dub (Sip A Cup)
Steretyp ft. Tikiman — Fling Style (G-Stone)
Smith & Mighty — Brain Scan (Angel's Egg)

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Dub Boy myspace

CARIFEST C.A.R.E.S is a Reggae Benefit Concert that has joined forces with KEEP A CHILD ALIVE to help fight the war against AIDS in Africa.

KEEP A CHILD ALIVE is an urgent response to the AIDS pandemic ravaging Africa. With more than 28 million dead and 15 million orphaned, the disease continues, wiping out whole societies, threatening economic infrastructure and creating tragic family devastation. They provide life-saving medication, support, and orphan care, to keep these children and families alive. KEEP A CHILD ALIVE gives 100% of public donations to their cause. For more information on Keep A Child Alive please visit www.keepachildalive.org.

A percentage of all proceeds from the concert will go to Keep A Child Alive AIDS Organization

TICKETS can be purchased HERE



reggaecarifest.com

"These Are Some Serious Times" - Gyptian

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irie love - put jah first
pressure - fire is getting redder (the shining riddim)
jah mason - never get me down (the shining riddim)
abja - in the ghetto streets (the shining riddim)
al pancho - bruk yu bread and share (the shining riddim)
lutan fyah - kingston 7 to 13 (happiness riddim)
warrior king - where colour is an issue (happiness riddim)
mr perfect - the king (happiness riddim)
natural black - another picture (happiness riddim)
norris man - time shall reveal (happiness riddim)
etana - closer
etana - more & more
tanya stephens - what about you (new day riddim/don corleon)
vybz kartel - standing in the rain (new day riddim/don corleon)
pressure - keep your head up (new day riddim/don corleon)
freddie mcgregor - we dont need no fuss (higher meditation riddim)
queen ifrika - love is the only solution (higher meditation riddim)
fiona - not enough (higher meditation riddim)
sadiki - love in your eyes (higher meditation riddim)
wayne wonder - apart (higher meditation riddim)
gyptian - bingimans wife (grow with me riddim)
jah cure - hold on (grow with me riddim)
black dillinger - its all right (grow with me riddim)
sizzla kalonji - most high (grow with me riddim)
gregory isaacs - rumours
jc lodge - telephone love
lady g - nuff respect
mighty diamonds - heavy load
admiral tibett - which one
r.kelly feat shaggy - flex (promo)
konshens - real rasta (promo)
stephen marley, damian marley & snoop - traffic jam remix (promo)
konshens - have me things (tear up jeans riddim/ward 21 prod.)
voicemail - booty call (tear up jeans riddim/ward 21 prod.)
natalie storm - back it up (tear up jeans riddim/ward 21 prod.)
elephant man - bad man she want (tear up jeans riddim/ward 21 prod.)
bugle - say say (tear up jeans riddim/ward 21 prod.)
serani - youre the only one (tear up jeans riddim/ward 21 prod.)
harry toddler - nuh tearing (record shop riddim)
konshens - garrison (record shop riddim)
vybz kartel - dandy shandy (unfinished business riddim)
erup - set the pace (unfinished business riddim)
monsta empire - bad fi who (unfinished business riddim)
buju banton - water man (unfinished business riddim)
harry toddler - real friends (unfinished business riddim)
chico - no weak heart (unfinished business riddim)
beenie man - since him dis (unfinished business riddim)
bugle - what dem doing (unfinished business riddim)
assassin - guide & protect (unfinished business riddim)
buju banton - you a go happen (golden tree riddim)
new kidz - flavour (golden tree riddim)
beenie man (gear box riddim)
vybz kartel (gear box riddim)
erupt (gear box riddim)

Catch Skrewface's Coconut Wata Sessions every Thursday from 6-8pm @ Sensimedia.net

Coconut Wata Sessions: May-15-08

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Tracklist:
tarrus riley & queen ifrika - stay with you (promo)
uncle sam - hurt me (promo)
busy signal - we burn dem (heart strings riddim)
chino - pretty ladies (heart strings riddim)
rupee - living lies (heart strings riddim)
uncle sam - be happy (heart strings riddim)
tami chynn - what do i do now (heart strings riddim)
leftside - from a magazine (heart strings riddim)
lutan fyah - overcome
derrick parker - mr big man
norris man - longing for the day
junior culture - pretty dunce
pressure - can you hear my cry (far away riddim)
voicemail - far away (far away riddim)
tarrus riley - backbiter (far away riddim)
morgan heritage - i know (far away riddim)
alaine - love (far away riddim)
sadiki - one touch (grooving riddim)
fiona - changes (grooving riddim)
mikey spice - when im with you (grooving riddim)
glen washington - game of love (grooving riddim)
mega banton - sound boy killing
pan head - bun it dunn
dennis brown - stop fussin and fighting
admiral tibet - cant hold me
louie culture - rudie dont fear
mega banton - buggerism
terror fabulous - drop it cool
spanner banner - teaze me (storm riddim)
pinchers - bandolero (storm riddim)
cocoa tea - im the roughest (storm riddim)
mad cobra - gundelero (storm riddim)
gregory isaacs - put some loving in the mail (storm riddim)
gregory isaacs - storm (storm riddim)
gregory isaacs - border
capleton - raggy road (raggy road riddim)
cocoa tea - wicked man (raggy road riddim)
shabba ranks - so jah say (raggy road riddim)
sizzla - positively clear (raggy road riddim)
morgan heritage - live up (raggy road riddim)
shabba ranks - dem bow
spragga benz - dem flop
shabba ranks - cant do the work
henkel irie - jamaican girl
johnny p - cant wash and cook
admiral bailey - a no sin
ninja man - run taxi
shabba ranks - gone up
mr easy - warning
general degree - giddy up giddy up
mr vegas - model pon dem
sanchez - im never gonna fall in love
little lenny - bum flick

Coconut Wata Sessions is live every thursday at http://www.sensimedia.net 7-9pm CET

Sensimedia.net

This past April, seven of Reggae's biggest soundsystems from around the world came together for the 7th and final installment of the UK Cup Clash. In this battle royale soundclash, soundsystems are voted out round by round based upon crowd reactions as they try to win over the crowd with exclusive riddims and dubplates. After the 4th Round, soundsystems are no longer allowed to play dubplates, and must only spin released 45s until a winner is decided. The final battle, the top two systems battle back to back, tune for tune and spin 10 tracks each until there is a winner.

This year the competition was comprised of:

Jamaica's Bass Odyssey
Japan's Mighty Crown
UK's David Rodigan
Jamaica's Black Kat
Jamaica's Tony Matterhorn
Germany's Sentinel
Jamaica's Killamanjaro

with Jamaica's Bass Oddysey taking out David Rodigan in the final round, and winning the UK Cup Clash for the third consecutive year.

BBCRadio: UK Cup Clash 2008 [part1]



BBCRadio: UK Cup Clash 2008 [part2]

article by Dave Stelfox for Pitchfork.

"Despite having made a big deal out of the downturn in Jamaican vinyl production over the past few months, the fact remains that reggae continues to produce music at a pace that, although somewhat diminished by its own uncommonly high standards, would still be seen as furious by any other genre. As a result, even though it's taking rather less music far longer to be blessed with a 45rpm release, both roots and dancehall look to be in pretty good health right now. And, as reggae is now a truly global phenomenon, plenty of solid material is coming from the music's centers on other shores.
First up this month, for instance, is something straight out of my own backyard, with occasional Month In guest contributors Gabriel Myddleton and Gervase De Wilde of the Heatwave DJ crew dropping their first original production on vinyl. Although pieces have been trickling out on the Piano riddim for a couple of months since the appearance of Warrior Queen's "Things Change" on Soul Jazz's England Story compilation, now all the vocals are available on wax.

Warrior Queen- Things Change (Piano Riddim)



Instead of aping the plasticky jackhammer riddims now ruling Kingston's dancehalls, the Heatwave have come up with an idisosyncratic and typically London-centric interpretation of the genre, teaming punchy reggaeton-flavoured beats with organic splashes of titular instrumentation and a selection of high-quality, locally sourced voicings including the sound system's own Rubi Dan with "Higher Heights" and Roll Deep MC Riko Dan, hot on the heels of his own mixtape The Truth, with the rough and ready "Mid How You A Talk". It's a great first effort, made all the better by its hazy summery vibe and a scorching update of the Warrior Queen version by Mashit crew member DJ C.

Rubi Dan- Higher Heights / Riko Dan- Mid How You A Talk (Piano Riddim)



Over on the island, meanwhile, Stephen "Di Genius" McGregor is still living up to his nickname. Despite being barely of school-leaving age, this young studio don has turned out some of the most notable music of the past 18 months, with riddims such as the Power Cut (host to Busy Signal's song of the same name), the Tremor (Mavado's "Amazing Grace", Sean Paul's "Watch Them Roll") and the Dark Again (Elephant Man's "All Bad Man") placing him in a position to rival such established players such as Donovan Bennett for the title of Jamaican production's man of the moment. Still, it's hardly surprising that he knows his way around a good tune or two. The 17-year-old's dad is veteran singer Freddie McGregor, after all.

Now he's back with the Chiney K riddim, a steely and propulsive instrumental that perfectly shows the stone-cold, baroque nature of his work. Best of the voicings come from perennial Month In favorite Anthony B with "Wine U" and Mavado with a mournful, yet spine-chilling title track.

For the pick of this month's albums, thanks go out to VP Records. Etana has been around for a little while now, dropping fulsome and soulful voicings on a variety of riddims, including No Doubt's Rub A Dub (incidentally now available on vinyl after an apparent eternity on CD and MP3) and the Stainless crew's High Grade. Now she shows her mettle with a terrific, if somewhat sugary in places, debut of her own. This album is worthy of such high praise at least in part because it's important to remember that syrupy love songs have as much of a place in Jamaican culture and the dance itself as conscious or badman tunes.

In fact, on The Strong One, the singer takes several bold steps, opting not for a cut and dried approach and instead blending several of these. While "Jah Chariot" is all rootsy skank, "Wasting My Time" is pure bashment stomp. Still, "Don't Forget" sees her at her strongest, owing way more to Celine Dion than Tanya Stephens.

Unfortunately, it seems that I've picked the wrong week to arrive in New York City. One day earlier and I'd have been able to report on the May 10th Mother's Day Concert at Madison Square Garden featuring Super Cat, Buju Banton, and Barrington Levy. Still, it is heartening to see that Jamaican artists are able to play on North American shores after several years of controversy and visa refusals, not least that of Mavado who was turned away from New York last month thanks to previous gun charges back in Jamaica – even though said charges had already been dropped by authorities on the island.

Obviously I'll be heading out to Jamaica Queens as usual, so hold tight for a stack of brand new material in next month's column. For the time being, though, I'm just going to sit here on a friend's Brooklyn stoop with my laptop, listening to a brand new culture mix by UK Cup Clash winners Bass Odyssey bought from a shop around the corner with my breakfast milk. Now that's something you can't do just anywhere…"