JUNIOR DREAD 黑胶唱片和CD

Review: Sao Paulo's Junior Dread brings his world reggae excellence to this latest gem from Red Peak Sound. The collaboration began when J.Brenner met Junior at Minneapolis' Word Sound Power Festival back in 2022 and soon after they began making music and it led to two powerful tracks act were finely crafted through extensive mixing and testing. On the A-side here is a slow, heavy stepper evoking a vision of resilience atop Babylon's heart, paired with a dubwise mix that strips the rhythm to its core. The B-side offers a meditative one-drop rhythm and uplifting lyrics and is also accompanied by a swirling dub version that transcends space and time.

Review: There's a lot to like about this expansive EP from lyricist/vocalist Guux and producer Mr Ites. Guux naturally takes centre stage on vocal opener 'African Blood Defender', a jaunty and attractive number in which stirring synth strings and jangling piano stabs rise above a sturdy riddim. Mr Ites delivers two heavier, echo-laden dub revisions, with the weighty-but-melodious 'Afrikan Raw Defender' being our pick of the pair. Over on the flip, legendary Jamaican toaster Junior Dread lends a hand on 'This Road', which is then stripped-back and beefed up for the dance by Mr Ites on the equally impressive 'Dub Road' and 'Raw Road' versions.