Diggers Factory Vinilo y CD

Review: Fresh from appearing in Bob Marley biopic One Love (as one of the early, lesser-known members of the Wailers), 30-year-old Jamaican J Written (real name Jason Wright) drop his debut album - a set produced by legendary American reggae mixer Doctor Dread and featuring a stellar line-up of backing musicians (drummer Sly Dunbar included). Sitting somewhere between classic lover's rock and digital roots-reggae, the album's focal point is undoubtedly the artist's rich, soulful voice. While he does 'toast' in patois at times (see 'West Indies'), for the most part Wright showcases his full vocal range. The results are undeniably impressive, with the tender 'We Alright', ska-influenced 'King Kong', vibrant opener 'Work To Do' and exotic 'Keep People Poor' (where sitars and electric guitar solos catch the ear) standing out.

Review: Phillip "Fatis" Burrell was a visionary producer who discovered and nurtured many of Jamaica's top reggae artists, including Luciano, Sizzla, and Capleton. A devout Rastafarian, Fatis demanded integrity from his artists and held them to high standards. He founded the Xterminator label, known for its tough yet soulful music and worked with legendary musicians like Sly & Robbie. Fatis formed a strong partnership and friendship with many reggae greats and collaborated on albums that shaped reggae's international presence. His sudden death at 59 left a deep void, but his legacy lives on through his music and his children, no least with this great compilation.

Review: Yung Bae is the alias of Dallas Cotton, a Los Angeles-based producer with influences that include disco, r&b and Japanese City Pop. He had already proven his capabilities over the past two years, but his album Bae 3 really shows off his mastery in making A-grade funk. There's the boogie-down vibe of 'Back To The Classics', the neon-lit night moves of 'If You Want It', as well as the low slung mood music of 'All Night' and the upbeat horns-driven dancefloor heater 'Fantasy' being just of the highlights.

Review: Yung Bae hails from Los Angeles, California and has always brought plenty of that state's sunshine and good time vibes into his effortlessly feel-good music. B4E is an album he dropped back in 2018 following Skyscraper Anonymous, BAE 2, BA3 and Bae: Side B, all in 2016. He has always mixed up future funk, vapourware adjacent sounds, boogie, disco and soul, most often self-releasing his tunes via online platforms. This album now makes its way to vinyl and we couldn't be happier - it is delightfully bright and colourful with irresistible vocals and hooks across ten life-affirming tunes.

Review: Let's face it, Hollywood director Christopher Nolan broke the mould with his re-envisioning of Batman. Taking things closer to the original comic books, themselves forced to 'go soft' by censors in the early-1950s, his films payed direct tribute to the saga's direction from the mid-1970s onwards. A trilogy of movies that were visually arresting, tonally dystopian, and viciously unhinged. It's not clear if we'll ever get a superhero (or anti-hero) film series of that class and calibre again, the world on screen so immersive you quickly feel like a Gotham native. A big part of that universe-building comes through the music, which enlists two of the greatest names in the history of soundtracks to help weave the tales. Hans Zimmer has composed for more than 150 films, James Newton Howard in excess of 100. This compilation of their shared caped crusader efforts proves why they're so well respected.