Bar your doors: Downyard’s big dogs are out in force.
And right now, no one is bigger than “Lenky” Marsden and Bobby Digital, the producers behind recent boomshots by Sean Paul (dancehall’s first platinum-seller), Wayne Wonder, and others. Expect greatness, then, from their work on Anthony B‘s Street Knowledge (VP), a collection of recent 7-inches by the gritty Rasta, who’s also at the apex of his career.
Lenky’s latest double-vinyl, single-riddim comp (where each track uses a different vocalist but the same musical backdrop) is also due out shortly. If Time Travel (VP) blends inventiveness and accessibility half as well as his Masterpiece (the background for Paul’s “Get Busy”) and Diwali (Wonder’s “No Letting Go”) riddims, it’s a guaranteed floor-filler.
In other good news, Greensleeves’ two latest riddim comps are as nice as summer sunshine. Beenie Man sets his melodic hook deep on “Row Like a Boat” over Bad Company‘s breakneck digital beats and synth fills. And on the Egyptian riddim, VYBZ Kartel — suddenly a premier deejay (vocalist) crew — achieves a hypnotic effect on “Sweet to the Belly” by adding female humming to the unhurried percussion and snake-charmer synth line. These two tracks also appear on the label’s excellent Ragga Ragga Ragga 2003 comp.
Meanwhile, from the land of echoes, Ariwa offers two freaky treats. Mad Professor, Mafia, and Fluxy‘s From Mars with Dub is farther out, and better, than the Easy All Stars’ Dub Side of the Moon (Easy Star), which recently made the connection — ganja smoke — between the audiences for dub and Pink Floyd. Also, Mad Professor Meets Scientist at the Dubtable sets two living masters a-soundclashing in a true tweakfest. Hhheeaddy.
And speaking of heady, give Ghetto Priest props for carrying reggae into uncharted territory, even if Vulture Culture‘s psychodubbic rockhall jams don’t all work as magically as opener “Dungeon.” Like the rest of reggae’s pack, he’s bruk out the yard and coming right for you!
