Roots ‘n’ Reggae

I always enjoy searching for new music, but if I’m perfectly honest, there are some genres I just don’t seem to delve into as much as others. I wanted to try and put that right, deciding this week to explore two relatively unknown styles to my ears – roots and reggae music. Whilst I’m sure we all know what reggae is, the term roots can apply to a particular form of reggae music, or a type of soulful Americana. Here, I’m aiming for the former, although if you choose to listen to every act in this review, there are a few surprises to be had!

Review by Jane Howkins

Photo by Eddie Witz and the Most High

Eddie Witz and the Most High – Jamaica Time

California-based act Eddie Witz and the Most High is rather interesting, as their music has elements of both roots genres! Jamaica Time starts out sounding like a traditional folk/Americana track at first, but the addition of the steel drums is a nice touch, making for something really unique! It’s a pretty darn catchy song too, making you want to sing along to Eddie’s vocals on the very first chorus! As you might expect, Jamaica Time is a pretty chilled-out tune, perfect for relaxing to after a long hard day at work. I really want to visit Jamaica now too!

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Marisol La Brava & A Flor de Piel – Relájate

Relájate is one of the most unique tracks on this list, created by Chicago-based group Marisol La Brava & A Flor de Piel. It’s more reggaeton than straight up roots or reggae, but I still felt the track deserved to be heard, as it’s really well written! A tantalising array of synth melodies and keyboard chords play around in the background against the drums and the bass, as the vocals carry over the top. They’re mostly sung in an ethereal way, but there’s also a small rapping section towards the end, adding more variety into the mix.

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Mighty Joshua – Beware

Beware is a track created by Mighty Joshua, taken from his new album, Dreaducation. It’s a great record, but this opening song sets the tone nicely for what’s to come, having a distinctive dub/reggae sound. As you might expect, the drums and bass sound awesome here, although there are also some unexpected little sounds that play in the background, adding more to the melody of the tune. Joshua has a nice voice too, singing throughout the track until he reaches the chorus, where he repeats the titular refrain. One of my favourite songs in this review!

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Ari Joshua – One Dub

We’ve featured Ari Joshua a few times in recent months – now he returns with an entirely different sounding song titled One Dub. As you might expect from the title, the track mixes elements of reggae and dub together, creating something that just oozes cool. It sounds fairly minimalist at times, with several sections consisting of just the bass and drums, but the organ and guitar strokes really add something wonderful when they appear, keeping your interest peaked throughout the tune. A lot of thought and imagination has clearly gone into this track, making it well worth a listen!

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Etienne Siew – Chasing Dreams

Next up is Etienne Siew with a bluesy rock and roll tune titled Chasing Dreams. This track has more of an Americana style roots sound, but it’s an awesome tune, so you really must check it out! The track features some amazing guitar work, performed on both an electric and acoustic guitar, simply oozing a sense of cool attitude throughout. Etienne’s vocals are really strong too, sounding crisp and clear against the music, making you really feel everything contained within the lyrics. This is definitely a must listen track from me!

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François Marius – I Shot The Sheriff

We don’t normally share that many covers here, but upon listening to Canadian reggae singer François Marius’ version of I Shot The Sheriff, I couldn’t help but add it here! François has really made the song his own, turning it into something completely different whilst also retaining the vibe of the original tune. It’s really upbeat, seeing a gospel choir sing the title of the song in a nice way against the reggae-style music, as François raps over the top of it, mixing things up nicely. It’s a really quirky sounding version of the track, but it all works surprisingly well together!

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Judy Granville – Be Still and Wait

Never one to be boring, Be Still and Wait is one of the wackiest tracks produced by Judy Granville. The Brighton singer-songwriter has produced something really cool here – it’s certainly on the more experimental end of things, but there’s plenty to love. The music is fairly sparse and minimalist at first, with some guitar chords occasionally appearing in a surprising manner, shaking things up nicely. The bass is really prominent, adding more of a ska-style with the guitar and drums, as Judy whispers the vocals along in her unique way.

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Paul Lupa – What’s the Dealin’

On What’s the Dealin’, Paul Lupa incorporates the Flashlight Riddim’, dedicated to reggae photographer Nazar Moawad. As you might expect from that description, it’s a fully-fledged reggae track, harking back to the glory days of the genre. Paul has created something suitably atmospheric, as his groovy guitar stylings match the bass and beat in a near perfect way. Jah Mason adds his vocals to the tune, singing along with a great deal of passion and emotion, matching the music in a powerful way. This might just be my favourite song here!

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The Phensic – War Inside (Live)

We have another DCxPC track for you from The Phensic – War Inside (Live) is taken from their fabulous live album, DCxPC Live Vol. 23. It’s a song that mixes together elements of ska and reggae, also adding in a slight ska-punk edge. Despite the live setting, the track sounds really good – the vocals are really clear, showing some real talent from The Phensic! The organ is a nice touch, performing a couple of nice solos against the rhythm section. The guitars have that classic ska sound, but the bass is the real focal point here, pulsating along in an awesome way.

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The Little Guy – Iain Fauseidou

The Little Guy is a musical collaboration between David Messer, David Duloy and Robert Scott, with Iain Fauseidou being our first introduction to their sound. It’s a pretty experimental sounding tune, opening with a cool bassline and some unique drum rhythms, as some recorded spoken French vocals play over the top. It’s possibly the most avant-garde song on this list, but it somehow works, creating a really cool atmosphere. The little spaghetti western style guitar licks and the flowing piano melody make it all worthwhile – why not give this distinctive number a go below?

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Thy Veils – Sunvault

Sunvault is taken from Thy Veils’ new album Next Forever, perfect for fans of world music and the roots genre. The drums that open the piece up sound really epic, setting the tone for the piece well. The rest of the instrumentation kicks in pretty suddenly, including a funky bassline, some brass instrumentation and a cool guitar lick, making for another unique sounding track. The vocals are pretty darn cool though, adding an extra touch of melody into this awesome seeming piece of music. It’s another slightly experimental tune, but one well worth your listening time!

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