Carlton Barrett at the Black Ark in 1975, on a spare Upsetters rhythm, with Pablo playing clavinet. Lovely stuff.

Terrific, fresh compilation of rockabilly, country, and early rock instrumentals from this new label, via Mississippi. Graveyards, trains, ghosts, dread…

Next Bunny Wailer installment from Dubstore Tokyo. You know the drill: silkscreened sleeves, beautiful labels, and out of this world selecting, like this limber, jazzy gem, still wiser than Solomon.

Lovely Impressions impressions on the eve of the group’s departure from Brentford Road.

Re-launching the Mittoo classic, aimed one step beyond, with intrepid space synths and drum machine (and mangled chanting on the flip). Strong Upsetters flavours.

Characteristically daring report of Haile Selassie’s visit to JA, kicking off in Amharic. A knees-up crossing of gospel, ska and rhythm and blues — the pianist and drummer taking different views — with vocal backing by The Gaylads. Plus a Soul Brothers on the flip.

A heavy, rumbunctious, rocking version by a young Monty Alexander, with a tasty eastern tang; plus a terrific rolling shuffle, on the flip.

A teenaged Montgomery and friends from school, trying out Wild Bill Davis and stuff from the radio, with a JA twist.

Dynamite, previously unissued rocksteady version of the monumental Skatalites scorcher from a few years earlier.

Rollicking, mid-sixties, post-Skatalites ska thriller, led by Bobby Ellis and Roland Alphonso, with slightly different soloing to the original release.
Backed with a charming, forsaken, rare Summertairs: ‘I love you, Errol… come back today… but not too late… Errol, my dear.’

Stone cold murder. Archetypal, slow-mo, eastern-sounds post-ska from Jackie Mittoo, Dizzy Moore, Roland Alphonso and co, around 1965.

‘A strictly-rockers intermingling of dubstep and d&b, with heavy bass and darkly atmospheric strings. DJ Sotofett falls out of line on the flip, heading off into acidic and 3D soundscapes.’