Postcards From Jamaica #7 / R.I.P. Gregory Isaacs
Andy M reports direct from Jamaica on the passing of Gregory Isaacs – The Cool Ruler. I feared the worst when I woke up, turned on the radio and instead of the usual payola stuff it was wall-to-wall Gregory. I changed station and there he was again. His death is front page news here and...
Postcards From Jamaica #6 / Strictly Rub A Dub
A cheer came up from the crowd as U-Roy (above) walked on stage and announced: ‘The youth dem don’t understand Stur Gav sound. We don’t play hip hop, we don’t play funky, we don’t play soca. We only play rub a dub.’ Thankfully the last part of that was true, but the first bit was...
Postcards From Jamaica #5 / The Pelican Bar
When you need a break from the city and a rejuvenating beer in beautiful surroundings, the Pelican Bar is the place. The best bar in Jamaica is a mile out at sea, off the south coast of the island. Local fisherman Floyd had the vision to build a wooden bar on stilts on a sand...
Postcards From Jamaica #4 / Clarks In The Dancehall
Andy’s back with more reportage on life in Jamaica, this time its back to ’88 in Jamaica as Wallabies hits the dancefloor. You can’t keep a design classic down: the Clarks revival is not just a British phenomenon. Vybz Kartel has once again shown the popular influence of dancehall artists with a trilogy of songs...
Postcards From Jamaica #3 / Tribute to Count Ossie
Andy’s back with more reportage on life in Jamaica, this time with a report on what looks (and sounds) a perfect night out… Count Ossie and the Mystic Revelation of Rastafari: there are not many better names for groups. I found some footage on You Tube this week of an amazing Tribute to Count Ossie...
057 / Postcards from Jamaica #2 / What Did You Do For Reggae This Weekend?
Happy to welcome Andy M back with more stories on island life and a mix of favourite dub sounds. Saturday night – ‘Soup and sound’ with Dexter Campbell (below), the Ska Professor. Now, as multi-sensory concepts go, soup and sound leaves Jean-Michel Jarre’s son et lumiere trailing in its wake. A low-key downtown bar in...
Postcards From Jamaica #1 / Reggae Heroes
Andy M moved to Jamaica in 2007 and will be sending occasional postcards from the land of wood and water to Test Pressing on music and island life. Today marks the start of reggae month in Jamaica. An odd concept in an island where music infuses life 365 days a year, but a fitting way...