Almost preposterous, this beautiful snapshot of a US expat community fetched up in Dimona, Israel, in the second half of the seventies, holding faith with its love of Chicago soul and spiritual jazz.

Smoking mid-seventies Latin from Carlos Ruiz’ Ebirac label, headquartered back then in a bustling Puerto Rican community centre on the west side of the city.

French-Belgian electro-samba, cornered. A mini-LP on the Brussels label, Les Disques Du Crepuscule, from 1982; augmented here by the first Antena EP, a few B-sides, compilation tracks, and unreleased cuts.

Characteristically melancholic, wise, masterful singing.
With a bumptious, flirtatious Valentines.

Deeper-than-Spinoza, heavier-than-lead nyabinghi cut of Yabby You’s awesome Love Thy Neighbours (itself produced by Family Man, in 1974). You can’t touch Tubby’s dub on the original Defenders 7”... but both versions here are uncompromisingly dread, and essential in their own right.

Giddily killer, unutterably majestic horns-led instrumental by the legendary bassist, alongside his co-Wailers.
Tubbys murder on the flip.
Brilliantly reissued by Dub Store, in Tokyo.

A sublime, freely creative, dubwise instrumental and its version, from the same hallowed, far-out neck of the woods as the deepest Upsetters and Wackies.

Brawny, get-onboard rocksteady, with nyabinghi drumming throughout — including a tasty break. A first sighting of Solomon, from Police And Thieves.

Hard to resist Junior Murvin in this teasing, saucy mood, on a lovely nyabinghi rocksteady rhythm.
With an alternate take.

Bumping, soulful ska. Plus Tommy McCook’s brilliant Goldfinger, on the flip.

Irresistible mix of sublime, Impressions-style harmony singing, punchy horns supervised by Tommy McCook, soulful existentialism and rocking steady rhythm; beautifully presented by Far East Records.

Scintillating East African dance music, from seventies Nairobi. The band’s name mangles ‘marquez le pas’, meaning ‘mark time’: sure enough, the beat is irresistible.