Laurel Aitken
The Fantastic Laurel Aitken

'Based On A True Story' aka BOATS is the debut studio album from Fat Freddy's Drop unleashed ten years ago in May 2005. The album debuted at #1 and went Gold on its first release day in New Zealand, and won the band a stash of NZ Music Awards and a legion of fans worldwide. BOATS album features 10 fresh slices of future funk, with surprises, fakes & freaky sidesteps throughout. There are new versions of previously released singles like 'This Room', 'Hope' & 'Ernie' [also known as 'Willow Tree'], alongside the recent 12 inch 'Flashback' & six completely new tracks, all mystic supernovas of soul.

Recording and touring together on and off for several years now, sonic journeyman DJ Vadim and Californian songwriter Katrina Blackstone unveil their long awaited full-length album ‘Double Sided’, released on BBE Music. After providing a pair of stellar guest appearances on Vadim’s 2014 ‘Dubcatcher‘ album, Katrina Blackstone joined Vad on tour and the duo have been steadily laying down tracks ever since. Eschewing samples in favour of drum machines, guitars and a dizzying array of synths, Vadim’s compositions on ‘Double Sided’ range from dubby down-tempo grooves to upbeat afro-boogie business. Katrina’s crystal clear vocals, catchy melodies and highly relatable lyrics provide the perfect foil for Vadim’s raw productions.Katrina Blackstone has previously worked with cult downtempo artists Bluetech & Dr Israel, as well as appearing alongside Killah Priest on the sadly unreleased “Legba’s Light” project created by Ron Carter, Brian Jackson and Mike Clark. Born in Tennessee, she studied vocal performance and jazz at the prestigious New School University in New York before moving the San Francisco, where she continues to record and perform tirelessly.Russian born, London bred and now residing in Barcelona, DJ Vadim has built a formidable reputation as one of the world’s hardest working DJs and producers. During his long and fruitful career he’s worked with artists as varied as Stevie Wonder, The Roots, Prince, Kraftwerk and Paul Weller. Constantly touring and creating, Vadim has been working with BBE since 2007’s ‘Soundcatcher‘. Ten years later, ’Double Sided’ will be his 7th album on the label.

The second volume of the HOT SAUCE compilation dedicated to the Trojan related UK labels between 1965 and 1975.HOT SAUCE VOLUME 2 features outstanding original Rocksteady, Boss Reggae and early Reggae (“Reggay”) tracks including rare songs, overlooked gems, hidden treasures and a couple of hits. The record labels showcased on this volume are Amalgamated, Beverley’s Records, Blue Cat, Clan Disk, Downtown, Doctor Bird, Harry J, Duke, Randy’s, Smash, Spinning Wheel and Treasure Isle.The tracks here have been selected according to their musical interest firstly, their rarity, and their complementarity. These tracks are all outstanding tracks, “killer tracks”, there is no “filler” whatsoever. Particular attention has been paid to the way the songs are sequenced (or “mixed”) so that the album builds up nicely and gradually, generally starting with the Rocksteady songs on the A side and the 70s songs on the B side.HOT SAUCE is a musical journey across early Jamaican Reggae – highlighting its diverse musical genres and outstanding artists – as it was once published by the U.K. record labels during this golden decade…

As the 1970’s turned into the 1980’s Reggae’s beat took another turn,slowing down to allow more space for the music to breathe. The new sound became Reggae’s focus and the Roots Radics one of Jamaica’s finest session / backing bands were at the forefront of this radical change. The Roots Radics were based around the nucleus of Errol ’Flabba’ Holt( bass), Lincoln Valentine ‘Style’ Scott (drums) and Eric ‘Bingi Bunny’ Lamont (guitar). Holt and Bingi Bunny had previously been involved in the Morwells label set up and had cut some popular tunes such as Swine and Dine,They Hold Us Down and the great Kingston Twelve Tuffy.Before this Bunny had played for one of the other great Reggae sessions band the Channel One based Revolutionaires. It was the demise of this legendary band due to Sly and Robbie’s commitments to their own Taxi label that led to the formation of the Roots Radics. The Radics have worked with many different producers over the years including Linval Thompson with the series of alums Space Invaders Destroy the World and Win the World Cup. They also worked as Gregory Isaacs backing band and were responsible for the rhythms that made up his seminal Night Nurse set. Jamaican recordings have caught the Roots Radics for this set cutting rhythms in their favourite environment the famous Channel One Studios. On this occasion working with producer Ossie Thomasfor his own Black Solidarity label,a match made in Heaven.