Archive for September, 2020

‘Lovers Rock’: Film Review

Monday, September 28th, 2020

Director Steve McQueen conjures the sensual atmosphere and freedom of a 1980 house party in this feature from his ‘Small Axe’ anthology for Amazon about London’s West Indian community. There’s a heady, hypnotic interlude midway through Steve McQueen’s dreamy celebration of Black community and culture, Lovers Rock, when Janet Kay’s 1979 hit "Silly Games" plays [...]

Joe Higgs, the unsung reggae pioneer who schooled Bob Marley, others – Face2Face Africa

Monday, September 28th, 2020

Joe Higgs is a name still uncommon to many reggae fans today despite his vast contributions during a musical career of over three decades. He is described as the “Father of Reggae” by those cognizant and appreciative of his massive input into what is now the world’s most influential music. And while little-known, his influence [...]

Cultural revolutions: how dub reggae’s beats conquered 70s Britain

Monday, September 28th, 2020

Music producer Mad Professor has been mixing dub reggae in his Croydon studio for 35 years. “When dub hits you in the chest you feel it,” he said. “It gets inside you – it shakes your belly.”With its heavy beat of drum and bass, and the hypnotic spacing of reverb and echo, dub is a [...]