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Sweet grooves from the great Bob Marley – a set cut at a time when Marley was really riding his international fame – and able to create the kind of music that reached out way more than conventional reggae! The Kingston roots of the sound are still very firmly in place – but there's also a more globally-expansive vision here too – partly the tight production on the music, partly the warm feelings that ebb and flow throughout the entire set – a vibe that's very different than American soul, and which has turned out to be surprisingly encompassing over the years. Titles include "Is This Love", "Running Away", "Kaya", "Satisfy My Soul", "Easy Skanking", "Sun Is Shining", "She's Gone", "Misty Morning", "Crisis", and "Time Will Tell" – plus this reissue adds "Smile Jamaica" as a bonus track.

Sweet grooves from the great Bob Marley – a set cut at a time when Marley was really riding his international fame – and able to create the kind of music that reached out way more than conventional reggae! The Kingston roots of the sound are still very firmly in place – but there's also a more globally-expansive vision here too – partly the tight production on the music, partly the warm feelings that ebb and flow throughout the entire set – a vibe that's very different than American soul, and which has turned out to be surprisingly encompassing over the years. Titles include "Is This Love", "Running Away", "Kaya", "Satisfy My Soul", "Easy Skanking", "Sun Is Shining", "She's Gone", "Misty Morning", "Crisis", and "Time Will Tell". 2CD version features the bonus track "Smile Jamaica (version)" – plus 13 more tracks recorded live in Rotterdam in 1978 – "Jamming", "No Woman No Cry", "I Shot The Sheriff", "The Heathen", "Positive Vibration", and "Exodus".

You could go 'round and 'round with music historians arguing whether or not this album, Java Java Java or Aquarius Dub was the first full length dub LP, but it makes no difference to us – as this is one mighty set of Perryisms – wrought in the pre-Black Ark era. There's a dozen of the Upsetter's finest rhythms rendered in dub versions here, and though he's uncredited on the sleeve, we've read that King Tubby was responsible for the wonderful reverb and mixing console action taking these tracks to the next level. Essential! Includes "Blackboard Jungle Dub (version 1)", "Rubba, Rubba Words", "Cloak A Dagger (version 3)", "Dreamland Dub", "Fever Grass Dub", "Sinsemilla Kaya Dub", "Moving Forward", "Kasha Macka Dub" and "Setta Iration Dub". Amazing package – comes in a box, with 3 vinyl 10-inch LPs.

You could go 'round and 'round with music historians arguing whether or not this album, or Java Java Java or Aquarius Dub was the first full length dub LP, but it makes no difference to us, this is one mighty set of Perryisms, wrought in the pre-Black Ark era. There's a dozen of the Upsetter's finest rhythms rendered in dub versions here, and though he's uncredited on the sleeve, we've read that King Tubby was responsible for the wonderful reverb and mixing console action taking these tracks to the next level. Essential! Includes "Blackboard Jungle Dub (version 1)", "Rubba, Rubba Words", "Cloak A Dagger (version 3)", "Dreamland Dub", "Fever Grass Dub", "Sinsemilla Kaya Dub", "Moving Forward", "Kasha Macka Dub" and "Setta Iration Dub".

Great early work by Bob Marley & The Wailers – some of it produced by the legendary Lee Perry, too! Some of the tunes are early takes on later famous versions – but in a way, they're actually more definitive – in that they tie Marley back to the rich Kingston culture, instead of making him some beatific figure who emerged to greatness on his own. The rougher edge is a great contrast to Marley during the Island years – as you'll hear on tunes that include "Lively Up Yourself","Small Axe", "Duppy Conqueror", "African Herbsman", "Sun Is Shining", "Keep On Moving", "Don't Rock The Boat", and "Kaya".

You could go 'round and 'round with music historians arguing whether or not this album, or Java Java Java or Aquarius Dub was the first full length dub LP, but it makes no difference to us, this is one mighty set of Perryisms, wrought in the pre-Black Ark era. There's a dozen of the Upsetter's finest rhythms rendered in dub versions here, and though he's uncredited on the sleeve, we've read that King Tubby was responsible for the wonderful reverb and mixing console action taking these tracks to the next level. Essential! Includes "Blackboard Jungle Dub (version 1)", "Rubba, Rubba Words", "Cloak A Dagger (version 3)", "Dreamland Dub", "Fever Grass Dub", "Sinsemilla Kaya Dub", "Moving Forward", "Kasha Macka Dub" and "Setta Iration Dub".

Beautiful Persian pop from Faegheh Atashin, aka Googoosh (alternately, Gougoush)– and like some of the best, adventurous pop music from around the world at the the time, it's steeped in myriad styles – from emotionally string-laden to funky and danceable! Googoosh is a genuine cultural icon in the realm of period Iranian pop music, but even with that status, some of her most amazing music is stunningly rare. Finders Keepers focuses a bit on the rare stuff for this incredible set – all from the early to med 70s – and it's one of their best ever releases. We don't speak the language, but there's no mistaking the genuine soul at the center of the songs. Really great stuff! Includes "Shekayat", "Talagh", "Mano Tou", "Pishkesh", "Mano Gonjishkaye Khooneh", "Digeh Geryeh Delo Van Menikoneh", "Gharibe Ashena" and more.

An excellent 70s European session recorded by Waldron – featuring a quintet with Steve Lacy on soprano sax, Manfred Schoof on trumpet, Jimmy Woode on bass, and Makaya Ntshoko on drums. The tracks are all long – with an approach that's in that later Waldron modal mode on the rhythms, but which gets freer and more open on the solos. Titles include "The Seagulls Of Kristiansund", "Hurray For Herbie", and "One-Upmanship".

Early Hat Hut work by McPhee – recorded in Willisau, Germany – with a trio that includes John Snyder on synthesizer and voice and Makaya Ntschoko on drums. Titles include "Voices", "Touchstone", "Bahamian Folk Song", and "Harriet".

Key work as a leader from Johnny Dyani – the legendary bassist from the pioneering South African combo The Blue Notes – recorded with a great quartet featuring Don Cherry, Makaya Ntshoko, and Dudu Pukwana! The album features a wonderful extended tune, running for all of side two, entitled "Jo'Burg–New York" – a musical journey that's worth the price of the album alone – and the set also features a number of great shorter tunes that include "Wish You Sunshine", "Song For Biko", and "Confession of Moods".

A sweet overview of work from the second stretch of the career of Gilberto Gil – and a set that's worth it alone for two of the five albums in the package! The set begins with Refazenda and Refavela – both fantastically funky albums that have Gilberto Gil hitting a soulful style that's very different than before – a mode that's more Jorge Ben than any of Gil's previous work – yet still with some of the sharper, more creative edges that always made him one of the leading lights of 70s MPB! Realce manages to capture a lot of the warmth and imagination of Gil's earlier work. The production's a little smooth in parts, but Gil's beautiful voice and guitar playing are still right out front, especially in some of the more stripped-down tracks. Raca Humana is pretty compelling stuff – almost a new wave album of sorts, recorded with lots of tight guitar work by producer Liminha, and plenty of catchy tunes that sparkle like some lost gems from early 80s radio. And Kayangandaya is a real surprise – an album of reggae tracks, mostly by Bob Marley, recorded in Kingston at the Tuff Gong Studios, with help from the Rita Marley, Marcia Griffiths, Judy Mowatt, Sly & Robbie, and others. The record's actually pretty nice – a good blend of the dub-heavy sounds of Jamaica, with some of the rougher soul stylings that Gil was crafting in earlier years – a combination that shouldn't work, but which does nicely.

Scattered Melodies spun from traditional Korean Kayagum Sanjo recordings – and the deepest vinyl excavation to date by Sublime Frequencies – the label's first compilation material culled from rare 78s! The music is mostly from the 20s & 30s, but it has at least one piece from the 50s - all spare, hypnotic string melodies and raw drum accompaniment! The titles refer to tempo and rhythmic patterns, as opposed to standing as subjective song titles, with the slowly plucked "Chinyangjo", the faster "Chungmori" and the even faster "Chungchungmori" alternately played by Kim Hae Sun, Jung Nam Hee, An Ki-Ok, Kim Chongi-Ki and Shim Sang-Gun, plus some additional/alternately-titled movements. It's a riveting look at a Korean folk tradition that we'd never had the pleasure of hearing before this – and another great reason to cherish the deep diggers at Sublime Frequencies – with a concise, yet informative set of notes. 13 performances in all – each as captivating as the one before!