REGGAE RUNNINGS -- 20 June 2007

By Jesse I

 

Big up to Sydney's Surgeon General Sound (Nick Toth and K-Note) for bringing their dancehall party Make It Clap down to Melbourne on the long weekend - and to Kay-Z and Nukc for helping to make it happen, and providing top selection of their own. Madisons was rammed for this one, and the vibes almost reached fever pitch for Melbourne's first ever "Dancehall Queen" contest (well hosted by Damajah and Momo despite the ensuing chaos). Big up to Lydia who was a clear crowd favourite, and should be heading up north to bring it to the Sydney gals dem!

This Saturday brings another interstate sound crew to town, as Byron Bay's Rub A Dub Sound (Krazy Dayv and Lennox Dread) return for Pressure Drop at Laundry. Rub A Dub made a strong impression in February at the Sound Summit, and should go down aq treat at this one alongside residents Natty Sistren, Nich Power, and local guests Rise Up Sound.

Mista Savona is back in town after an extensive Australian tour, and he'll be playing with his full band at the East Brunswick Club on Saturday. With guest vocalists Vida Sunshyne, Damajah and Mantra, plus support from Spoonbill and I, this should be another good night of live roots and dancehall.

After a longer than usual break, Chant Down's monthly More Fire party returns to Brown Alley on July 14, for the annual Rastafari roots dance. This is always one of the best sessions of the year, as Chant Down pull out the heaviest dread selections in honor of Haile Selassie I's earth month. Special guests include Traffik (an all-new vocal set), Troublemaker, Glen Irie, Twist, and Toola.

Reggae makes a return to First Floor next month, as Players Ball bring back the reggae winter-warm up on Sundays from 9pm-midnite. Upcoming guest selectors include Bellyas, Troublemaker, Fee, Ras Crucial and I, and it should be noted that residents Ms Butt and Bass Bin Laden always make sure to keep the reggae in rotation.

PBS radio festival kicks off soon, from June 28 to July 11. This is the time of the year when the station raises the bulk of the income necessary to pay its operational costs and continue broadcasting for another 12 months. PBS is a vital part of Melbourne's music culture, and has always been the biggest supporter of reggae music on the Melbourne airwaves, so please do the right thing and become a member if you're one of those people that tunes in regularly. It costs $70 for a yearly membership, $35 for concession holders, and $25 if you're under 25 - and every dollar goes to supporting independent media, and independent music. Tune in to any of the many shows that play reggae (notably Chant Down Babylon Saturday 5-7pm, Heartical Sunday 8-10pm, Planetary Chaos Friday 11-1pm) and support true community radio.

Another big stack of new roots singles to check this month. The Thriller label has gone back to 1984 to version Black Uhuru's Solidarity, and despite the riddim sounding a bit dated now, these new cuts do provide some punch. Turbulence and Lutan Fyah lead the charge on this one, Capleton joins ex-Uhuru vocalist Michael Rose to reprise the original, and veteran Sugar Minott turns on his best performance in years. The Rafstar riddim on Rafstar is an interesting take on Welcome To Jamrock (aka World A Music) and seems to have imported some of the synth sounds from the 80s also. It doesn't detract at all though - this one is pure killer, with big tunes from Midnite, Lutan Fyah, Natty King, and Jah Mason amongst others. German label Pow Pow is always reliable, and their latest riddim Overstand doesn't disappoint. A slow, down-tempo beat provides a good foundation for the usual suspects like Jah Mason, Norris Man and Fantan Mojah, but we're also treated to strong cuts from the likes of Mr Flash, Gentleman, and Alborosie. Speaking of Alborosie, he keeps the hits coming strong this month with another monster, "Rastafari Anthem" over Collie Budz Come Around riddim. The Kickin label also makes a welcome return also this month, with their strong Rewind rididm. This one combines previously heard vocals from artists like Capleton and Jah Cure with all new material from Jahmali, Lutan Fyah, Jah Mason, Turbulence, and Ras Shiloh. Austria's Irievibrations label presents their best riddim yet, a nice roots piece called the Caribbean , featuring a keyboard sound reminiscent of Wya Lindo's work on the earlier Wailers album - stong cuts from Morgan Heritage, Natty King, Luciano and Jah Mason help make this one. Finally on a roots tip, Penthouse have gone back to the old classic M16 riddim for two wicked cuts from Buju Banton and Pinchers - Buju's "Bobby Red" is especially recommended.

Not much on the dancehall front this month, but check out the Rapid Burse on Young Blood, Bad Dog on Black Shadow (producers of the Buzz riddim and Sean Paul's "Give Me The Light"), Remembrance on Kirkledove, and Hiternal on Heavy Duty.