New
Junior Roy & Dub Shepherds – Trodding On Showcase (LP)
€24.50*
Junior Roy and Dub Shepherds have taken their chances and announced the release of a showcase album this spring! TRODDIN
ON, as it's called, brings together the best tracks from the fruitful collaboration between the young singer and the
Shepherds. After a notable debut 12-inch single - Junior Roy at Bat Records - the three friends couldn't stop there.
This new album confirms their long-term partnership, etching the grooves of five tailor-made tracks into wax. And since
the Dub Shepherds don't do things by halves, the musical encounter is presented in a showcase format, associating each
song with
its Dub version, for a generous album, and always more Hardmix!
Bob & Marcia / Marcia Griffiths – Young Gifted And Black / Working To The Top (7")
€12.90*
Bob & Marcia's Young Gifted & Black album on Trojan came back in
1970 and was produced by Harry J. It included the title track, which
was a UK top five hit that has remained a favourite. The cool and breezy
groove carries a potent socio-political message and lo-fi drums that
lodge deep. It is reissued here on anew 45rpm that is featured alongside
Marcia Griffiths' soulful 'Working To The Top' which mixes authentic
reggae and slightly more swaggering ska vibes and heartfelt, steady
groove. Together, these tracks take it back to a golden age of reggae
and are perfect for loud plays on sound systems this summer.
Feel Free Hi Fi – Voyageur / Underground (7")
€12.90*
It says a lot about the interconnectedness of the global dubwise
underground that it took downtime with Bristolian Neek in Portland to
spur the link between ZamZam and Feel Free Hi Fi out of the Minneapolis
Twin Cities. Once he put us on to them we were hooked- not only by their
brilliant music but by their rigorously DIY approach and aesthetic.
Heavily inspired by the more esoteric angles of early digi-era JA
dancehall and UK dub (Shaka, Disciples, Mixman and Gussie P being some
touchstones) the duo create a sound both reverential and unique, steeped
in the traditions but striking out hard left into idiosyncratic
territory all their own. Releasing all of their works up to this point
on their own fantastic Digital Sting label, we’re excited to showcase
them on ZamZam.
In “Voyageur” an ominous mid-range figure, heaving synth bass and
complex intertwining melodies drive the tune into heavily cinematic
territory, thick atmospherics and strange synthetic animal calls like a
lost John Carpenter soundtrack-in-dub. The duo says, “Voyageur in its
title speaks a bit to the mythic, mysterious, but also very real wild
places of the North Country where we live… and how it all rubs up
against the contemporary urban environment.”
“Underground”s opening stabs, bassline and drums could have
time-travelled from Unity Sounds or Jammys, but bring an eerie darkness
in their deployment that is unmistakably now. Feel Free Hi Fi explain,
“Underground in its title is a tribute to the spirit of underground
music, of the DIY non commercial ethos… So the tunes together kind of
speak to time and change, and the struggle of what’s going on now.
Trying to preserve the environment and and also the wild places of
basement and warehouse gigs, and the outsider mentality of underground
music that also seems like it’s fading away but hopefully isn’t lost.”
The Wailers – Back Out / Can't You See (7")
€12.90*
Jamwax Records proudly presents this historic reissue, featuring two
timeless tracks from The Wailers’ legendary album The Best of The
Wailers: "Can't You See" and "Back Out". While these songs have long
been cherished as classics, this marks the first time they have ever
been available on a 7-inch vinyl single. Even though some books about
Bob Marley & The Wailers list them as having been released on
7-inch, I have never seen a copy for sale. Produced by the visionary
Leslie Kong with co-producer Warwick Lyn, the album captures The Wailers
at their soulful, raw best. These songs predate the group’s later
partnership with Lee Perry and Island Records, offering a purer, more
unembellished sound. The harmonies are flawless, the arrangements simple
yet deeply powerful, and the performances utterly timeless. "Back Out"
highlights Bob Marley's unmistakable voice, brimming with the confidence
and charisma that would later make him a global icon. Bunny Wailer and
Peter Tosh's harmonies add depth to a track that perfectly embodies the
spirit of early reggae. "Can't You See" showcases Peter Tosh on lead
vocals, supported by the sublime harmonies of Bob Marley and Bunny
Wailer. These recordings, crafted with a four-track setup and featuring
some of Jamaica’s finest musicians—including Mickey ‘Boo’ Richards on
drums, Jackie Jackson on bass, and Winston Wright on organ—are testament
to a moment in time when reggae was still raw, revolutionary, and
evolving.
Laurel Aitken & The Soulmen – Last Night / Don't Break Your Promises (7")
€12.90*
Jamwax proudly presents the reissue of Laurel Aitken’s iconic 1966 single, showcasing two R&B dancefloor gems: Last Night and the soulful classic Don’t Break Your Promises. Originally released on the Rainbow label in the UK, this 7-inch record captures the essence of Aitken’s versatility and his pivotal role in bridging the Jamaican and British music scenes. Last Night draws direct inspiration from the sounds of The Mar-Keys (1961) and Georgie Fame (1966), reflecting the influence of R&B rhythms on Aitken’s work. This release marked a milestone in his career as he gained increasing popularity in the UK, particularly among the mod and skinhead subcultures. As for Don’t Break Your Promises, it is a cover of Milson Luce’s 1956 release on the Argo label. The song was already a hit in Jamaica, having been licensed the same year by Dada Tewari on his Downbeat imprint. Following Aitken’s rendition, the song inspired several Jamaican covers, including versions by Dandy (1972, Trojan), The Chosen Few (1973, Studio One), and John Holt (1973, Bunny Lee). Nicknamed the "Godfather of Ska," Laurel Aitken was born Lorenzo Aitken on April 22, 1927, in Cuba. He moved to Jamaica at the age of 11 and became a central figure in the development of ska during the 1950s and 1960s. Before shaping the emerging ska sound, he recorded mento and calypso, laying the foundation for his ground breaking contributions. His prolific recording career in England included numerous singles on legendary labels such as Blue Beat, Pama Records, and Trojan Records. Aitken’s legacy as a pioneer of Jamaican music and his influence on British subcultures firmly establish him as a key figure in the global evolution of ska and reggae.
Prince Buster – Funky Jamaica (LP)
€34.90*
Rock A Shacka presents the long-awaited third release of Prince BUSTER's
treasured music! The album contains a total of 12 songs, covering
everything from Jamaican funk to rock steady to early reggae. Including
seven previously unreleased or alternate versions of songs, the
selection is more than funky and does not betray its title. Buster chose
the ghetto cemetery where the Rude Boys who had gone before him were
laid to rest. He was a legendary man who never forgot his rude boy
spirit until the end.
VA – Dubs From the Foundation (DOLP)
€44.90*
Building on the massive success of the Greensleeves and Channel One
Soundsystem collaboration "Down in The Dub Vaults', we now join forces
with the iconic Iration Steppas for another deep exploration into the
world of Dubs, the second release in our "Soundsystem" series. - The
masterful selector Mark Iration has been given full access to the
Greensleeves archives, carefully curating a powerful selection of Roots
and Dub treasures that have long been staples of the Iration Steppas
soundsystem. - This collection features legendary Jamaican vocalists
such as Michael Prophet, Johnny Osbourne, and Wailing Souls, among
others. The second disc takes you into the Echo Chamber, show casing Dub
versions from Heavyweights like Roots Radics, Augustus Pablo and The
Revolutionaries-complete with Tony McDermott illustrated inner sleeves
and photos from the Iration Steppas archives in this gatefold package. -
The first edition of our Soundsystem series (with Channel One
Soundsystem) flew off the shelves, with demand far exceeding
supply-don't miss out this time!
VA – Big Bamboo Sample (LP)
€34.90*
- Limited Edition-
Green vinyl
Wicked collection of early 70s Studio One
tunes w/ highlights including alternate takes of Ken Boothe's Moving
Away and Im and David's classic Heavy Beat. Also includes The Mystic
Revelation of Rastafari's So Long Rastafari, The Heptones Suspicious
Minds plus lots of rarities.This album was meant to come out on
Bamboo in the UK in 1971 as a sampler for Studio One tracks released in
the UK on Bamboo but never came out as the company went bust - but was
instead released on Attack in 1974. Has been out of print for 50 years -
Studio One are releasing the original album also with 2 bonus tracks.
What's not to love?