Claude Fontaine Wafts in Tropical Dreamscapes on ‘La Mer’
From the first notes of her sophomore album La Mer, it’s clear that singer-songwriter Claude Fontaine is a chanteuse, and it’s not a role she takes lightly.
reggae
Bad Brains Reissue the Timeless ‘I Against I’
Canonical DC hardcore act Bad Brains remain as vital as ever. Almost 40 years after I Against I’s initial release, it’s remarkable how timeless it sounds.
A Guide to Lovers Rock: Reggae’s Romantic Side
Lovers Rock offers a politics of pleasure, as well as a deep love and appreciation of Black music, culture, and style from all over the Earth.
Slow Burn: Bob Marley’s ‘Catch a Fire’ 50 Years Later
Bob Marley’s Catch a Fire is when the Wailers transformed into the vehicle of his ascent to superstardom and reggae’s assimilation into the global pop music melting pot.
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Steve McQueen’s ‘Small Axe’ Film Series Keeps Chipping Away at Racism
Small Axe fuses the political and poetic and reminds that oppression does not define communities; it is one element of a much richer cultural tapestry and emotional terrain.
The Orb Meet Their Expectations on the Occasionally Funky ‘Prism’
The Orb’s Prism is one of those albums that pleasantly bides its time, waiting for a rush of inspiration that turns out to be only a parade of pretty neat ideas.
Lee “Scratch” Perry: King Scratch – Musical Masterpieces From the Upsetter Ark-ive
One year after his passing, King Scratch fetes the reggae/dub shaman Lee “Scratch” Perry with a multiple-disc, multiple-format, career-spanning collection.
Luísa e os Alquimistas’ ‘Gang da Leoa (Vol. 1)’ Is a Brega Psychedelia Party
Inspired by hippie culture, psychedelic art, brega music, and Latin cultures, Luísa e os Alquimistas’ act is a complicated and brilliant promise of Brazilian pop.
How Catholicism Shaped Sting’s Creative Vision
In Sting and Religion, Evyatar Marienberg explores links between the rock icon’s Catholic upbringing and the religious themes in his lyrics.
Legendary Deejay U-Roy Created ‘Solid Gold U-Roy’ Before His Passing
With an all-star cast helping to perform his classics, Solid Gold U-Roy turns out to be an unexpected epitaph for the legendary Jamaican deejay.
Staring at the Rude Boys: The British Ska Revival 1979-1989
Cherry Red’s latest superb compilation, Staring at the Rude Boys, highlights big hits and lost tracks from the British ska revival.
4 Mars’ ‘Super Somali Sounds from the Gulf of Tadjoura’ Highlights Djiboutian Popular Music
These are recordings prematurely aged, but their grit belies fresh sounds that speak to Djibouti's history as a port region connecting the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean to the Horn of Africa.