Marley gift

Damian, the youngest son of Bob Marley in a homely, motivating tune.

track's info
Damian Marley - Living it up
Stony Hill
Republic Records 2017

Safe place

Yesterday I returned to the place I used to have drinks and fun in my college years, probably the darkest (literally) and at the same time the purest reggae joint in Athens, Red Sea. After 17 years, the gang was different, the feeling was kinda weird, but the music was top-notch. Still authentic and awesome.

Reggae is my safe, happy place. It will always be.

track's info
Wackies - African Roots Act 2 Dub
Various - African Roots Act 2
Wackie's 2002

Too little too late

I was a little late to get my hands on this album, as it was released in 2015 and I don't even know why, cause Joss Stone was one of my favorites, whom I've also got the chance to enjoy live in 2009. But you know what they say, better late than never. I'm still enjoying its soulful, reggae, dubbish, rnb tunes and the beautiful voice of Joss Stone, who was just 17 when she released her first album and was one of my first album reviews as a music critic back then.

These are my two favorites: a loving reggae, summerish tune and a more fierce, dubby one.

tracks' info:
 Joss Stone - Love me
Joss Stone - Cut the Line
Water for your soul 
Stone'd Records 2015

Resurrection (?)

Today is the first day after 11 days, I can actually sit (and not lie) down, turn the pc on, write a few words and listen to some music, feeling (close to) healthy. Between surgeries, hospitals and doctors, I haven't listened to one single sound -besides that of my cell phone- in 11 days. Eleven days, man.

Takin' it slow and dubby.

track's info:
Scientist - Front Line
Introducing Scientist - The Best Dub Album in the World
JB Music 1980

New Year's Dope

The feeling I get while listening to this, is a feeling I wish for everyone.



Hope more people will get doped by the simple things this year.

set's info:
JKriv - Untold Version

Dub '80s

Dub and I are like those friends who you don't see very often, but when you do, it's so cozy and nice that you feel that it hasn't been that long since the last time you saw them. You can still tell them all about you, listen to their life stories, loosen up, do stupid things together and feel that warm sensation in your heart.

While dub isn't usually on my every-day playlist, I always feel warm and cozy when it comes up. Then I get stuck to it for a day or two and move on from there till the next time something brings it back to my attention.

Yesterday, while on our way to Dub Pistols, we ended up swaying to the sound of a random dude, playing dub music and drawing it back from my long term memory. Inevitably, today I can't listen to anything else.

One of my favorite ones, back in the '80s, always hitting my dub playlist.

track's info: 
Scientist meets the Roots Radics - Fighting Radics
Scientist meets the Roots Radics
Selena 1982

Roots jungle

Spring days always bring out in me (and about 90% of world population with access to music) a more intense need for reggae -this could be a serious hint. And this. This year, it hit me a bit differently.



Reggae vibe (Alborosie sampled), drum'n'bass rhythm, highs'n'lows, sweet melody, no harsh parts, summerish feeling, absolute musical sunshine... What the hell am I still doing here?

*Check out Slynk's tunes here. This Australian dude is all about the funk and the breaks.

track's info:
Slynk - Know your roots
2015

Disco dive into reggae

Sister Sledge are diving into a salty, soulful reggae sound with a little (actually a lot) help from Lord Echo, guitarist and producer for my favorite Black Seeds.



And while it's only Monday and the week is long, this feels good, doesn't it? Playin' it along with Rhythm 77, I could swear I can see something blue and sandy at the end of that damn tunnel.

track's info:
Lord Echo - Thinking of you
Jakarta Records 2012

Lord Echo - Rhythm 77
Jakarta Records 2012

Screw the Carnival - I'm going home

I don't know if I've ever told you this, but I really hate Carnival and all these creepy bullshit where you have to dress up like a bunny or a superhero or Obama or a sexy nurse and dance to all these oh-god-take-me-now carnival music, having some kind of fun. If you'd put me in a "fun" environment like this, I'd probably make an attempt to maybe move my lips simulating a smile, only after having taken care of about 10 tequila shots. By now, you must have realized how much of an easy-going person I am. 

However, there are two things I adore about this period, every year: food and springish weather. I can't tell you much about food (hint: Fat Thursday), but I can tell you that this weather really softens me and one reason for that is the music it makes me wanna listen to.

Ok, maybe I'm a bit cliché for choosing reggae with the first rays of warm sun, but this track is not just a reggae track. It's a reggae track that comes from this, which has also given this to the world. I mean, all these together could even make me wear a princess costume -that's why they're never included in the same playlist.

The funniest part is that I discovered the reggae version not from a fancy compilation or a groovy album, but from the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas video game my niece and nephew were playing. And I loved these two little bastards for this even more.

tracks' info:
-Black Harmony - Don't let it go to your head
Laser Records 1979

-Jean Carne - Don't let it go to your head
Happy to be with you
Philadelphia International Records 1978

-Brand New Heavies - Don't let it go to your head
The Brand New Heavies
FFRR 1992

Summerish Black Seeds

The sun sensation spreads all over your body, your eyes are closed behind the sunglasses, the extra cool coffee with ice is well-protected under the shadow of the umbrella and this song is on the repeat, along with the sound of tiny waves reaching the shore.

Ok, now you can wake up. Good thing is you can press play as many times as you like to the Black Seeds and this amazing, summerish, soul-infused track and choose a different scenery each time - I think I'll stick to the beach though.

track info: 
Black Seeds - Love me now
Dust and dirt
Proville Records 2012
http://theblackseeds.com/dustanddirt/