False Alarm - a 2011 Roots & Culture Mix

Download here

Yes, yes yes, back once again for 2012. Happy new year to one and all.

Got another killa reggae mix to start the year off from a man like BMC (Better Must Come), who posts their own mixtapes on a blog, spreading the sweet musical love for all to hear.

On this mix, BMC goes for a modern mix using all recent tunes, playing one or more tracks on the same riddim. It definitely has that rootsy vibe to it though; new tunes on an old skool tip. BMC has helpfully provided us with a comprehensive tracklist, giving the riddim title followed by all the songs played under that riddim.

Like all good mixes you don't notice the tracks change from one to the other, and the riddims have got that nice concious feel all the way through, underpinned by the fact that BMC clearly loves that Dancehall style. Checking out some of the other mixs on the blog are ample evidence of that, and they are all well worth a listen, but this blogger doesn't half love the roots reggae, and thanks BMC for providing us with a nice fresh mix for you welcome in 2012. It'll keep ya head nodding till well into February...

Boulevard Soundsystem

Link to the mixtape
(Scroll down to the MIXTAPE section, stop when you see this picture)

Straight back in on a strictly reggae vibe! This time from a man like Boulevard Soundsystem, a self-confessed sociologist by day and renegade reggae selector by night, who started out in North Wales and now spins his discs in Athens, Greece. Nice and simple this one, just good solid reggae, track after track.

BS does have a some help along his lickle reggae journey from his buddy MC Brother Culture, who your'll hear bigging up this here blogger's own postcode if ya listening keenly. In general, the mix does trend towards a lover's reggae vibe, particularly on the vocal side; which, if like me, you like a more rootsy consious vibe, can be a bit samey. But the riddims are well selected and nicely mixed, and you'd be have to be a right ole cynic not to enjoy this mixtape. BS seems to know just when to wheel out that next big tune, and without realising it, you'll keep going back to this mix again and again. Serious tricks....

Dub Kweli

Link to the download

Mash ups. When they are good, they are very very good, and when they are bad they are Franz Ferdinand vocals laid over an Public Enemy beat so peeps in Camden can actually dance to it. However, there are some true classics out there; personal favs include The Grey Album by Danger Mouse (The Beatles' White Album cut with Jay Z's Black Album) and The Kleptones' A Night at the Hip Hopera (Queen tracks mashed up with Hip Hop (Yes it really does work!)), both 2004 releases.

This one is a bit younger (2010), but in the spirit of trying to bring you free downloads both past and present, it is a goodun. Our Mashupist is a man like Max Tannone, and if you ain't guessed yet, he very ably lays Talib Kweli tracks over some crucial roots music. Most mash ups works cos they blend elements of two quite difference genres, but good hip hop in the form of Kweli's ever-tight vocals and some nice heavy Jamaican riddims seem like they always belonged together. I always wondered why more straight up hip hop isn't backed by reggae music, some UK hip hop does dabble in it, for example. Maybe it's just that ragga, with that fierce snappy toasting just kinda queue jumped it, but with a quality mix like this, you wonder why it doesn't happen more often.

Max Tannone has cut up other artists in the same vein, includes Jaydiohead (Jay Z and Radiohead), Ghostfunk (Ghostface Killah vs African funk and highlife) and Mos Dub (Mos Def and reggae). All of which are very listenable, but while they sound awesome on paper, the mixing is a little clinical with not much interaction between the two mashed up tracks, leaving them sounding not quite as fresh as Dub Kweli, which is why I brought that one, in particular, to your attention. Enjoying listening to Kweli banging on your eardrum.

Inna a dub style

 

Inna Dub Style by Mr Jim



Ok, so it was only a matter of time, but I've ventured into the Soundcloud realm. Still gonna be selecting strictly downloadable mixes for ya mind, so watch out!

This one is a heavy heavy dub selection from your man like Mr Jim outta Bristol. Mr Jim definitely knows how to select a tune. He has got a load of mixes up on Soundcloud, all on a reggae vibe, and they are all well worth a listen, but this one is a nice-and-tight sweet sweet dubby sound.

Turn the volume up peeps, all killa...

Essential Reggae Show #6

The mixtape
(Click on 'Radio Shows' in the top menu bar)


Ok, so welcome! The very first mixtape comes in with the natty little title of 'Essential Reggae Show #6'. It's a radio show hosted on the website of Scarborough-based record label Aerosolik. It looks like they mainly release hip hop, but they've hosted a cracking reggae mixtape too.

Our DJ/MC on this one is a man like Carlton 'Killawatt' Valley, who has a John Peel-like charm when he messes up a fast forward of a record early on; however, he does know how to select a wicked tune and lines the records up to create a nice seamless vibe throughout. It's mainly rocksteady and roots reggae, but there is a lickle bit of ska and dub in there too, giving us a nice rounded selection of all things Jamaican.

There isn't a tracklisting, which is a shame. I've got to pick out the last track in particular, despite it being the most incongruent tune in the mix. It is quite a dubby track, but with a much lighter vibe than most of the dub you'll hear, bought about by some echo-y guitar and great, well-produced percussion. All of which make it a lovely ethereal sunny-day tune that leaves you with a big smile on your face, wanting to thank Carlton Valley for all his efforts.

The other shows

I'm about to break one of my rules on my first post by covering the other two radio shows hosted by Aerosolik, shows #5 and #4. I've no idea what happened to #1-3, but it is a shame they aren't available. Still, I don't reckon it is worth covering #4 and #5, but I'll give you a little taste here.

 Show #4 has more of a Lovers Rock/Digital reggae vibe, which can be a bit sickly for me, but still worth a listen. Look out for the cover of Peggy Lee's version of Fever about half way through the mix. It is a great example of a good reggae cover, and boy do those Jamaicans like covering songs!

Show #5 sounds like it could be as good as #6, but quite soon in we find that the file is corrupted and unlistenable. What a pity! It is worth downloading for the first track alone, now I say track, it could be a mix, so those of you with a keener ear will have to let me know. Anywaaay, we start off with the familiar whistling used by Morricone in The good, the bad and the ugly soundtrack, which and is underpinned by a lovely slow dubby rhythm that you can't quite place. After some less recognisable lyrics, the singer launches into a reggae version of Billie Jean, and you instantly recognise that elusive melody. This along with the good vocals, slower pace, Morricone's whistling and heavy bassy production make for an absolutely blinding track. Just a shame, once again, I have no idea what it is, but maybe that adds that adds to the mystic.