UK Ska, Reggae Britannia & Bass

UK 2Tone ska is alive – as you can see from the video below. Well, 2Tone with a little grimey rap mixed in for a perfectly 21st century stylistic mash-up!

Below is the first video from Gentleman's Dub Club courtesy of Ranking Records and filmed and edited by The Odyssey Media Collective. The good folks at Ranking are also offering a special drum & bass remix from the mighty Octane & DLR -- FOR FREE! 





 

Rankin Records also have a very deep (pun intended) EP forthcoming by Bristol's Dub From Atlantis. The "SIlly Little Things" EP (out Feb 14) blend authentic reggae dub vibes with UK bass music in the tradition of Bristol greats Smith & Mighty, Massive Attack, Pinch, etc.


Hear a preview on Soundcloud -- and trust me, you want to hear this!

Tracklist:

1. Silly Little Things (ft. Celestine) – Dub From Atlantis

2. Silly Little Things (ft James Gardiner Bateman and Josh...) – Dub From Atlantis

3. Silly Little Things (Cymantic Remix) – Dub From Atlantis

4. Silly Little Things (Khan remix) – Dub From Atlantis 

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I've written previously about great British Jamaican historical and fiction writer Colin Grant. His new book I & I: The Natural Mystics (Jonathan Cape press) examining Bob Marley & The Wailers just came out, and it's likely to be a must-read! 

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Speaking of innovative UK things: Lets take it back to 1977! That what BBC4's Reggae Britannia does, a crucial documentary about how reggae transformed British popular culture in the '70s & '80s. Lovers Rock, The Clash, The Specials, Steel Pulse, Misty In Roots, Soul II Soul, Jah Shaka, yes even Culture Club all came out of the Jamaican influence in British popular music. And February 11 at the Barbican in London UK reggae legend Dennis Bovell will lead a live performance with some of Britain's best reggae singers.
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And hopefully by now you've caught the truly amazing live figure animation series Rastamouse, a reggae crime fighting hero that your kids will love.