Reviews

The number of Barcelona based bands made up of washed up South American migrants is hard to count.

For his third long player Ras Zacharri was not afraid to take a risk; the aptly titled 'Rootsstep' is no new roots album like its two predecessors, but a collaboration with San Francisco based dubstep producer Roommate (Justin McCauley) who succeeded wonderfully well in combining his pretty solid dubstep riddims with the roots lyrics of Ras Zacharri.

After a three year break the Internationals return with 'Mousetrap' and with Lize Accoe (ex De La Vega), the band now also has a voice.

What son is for Cuba, bachata is for the Dominican Republic.

'Ziggi Recado', the album that alerted us to Ziggi's name change, also signaled the end of his collaboration with producer Berteaut Fleming (aka Mr.

Roots singer Rod Taylor doesn't need an introduction; the man behind classics like 'His Imperial Majesty' and 'Ethiopian Kings' moved to France a few years ago and now joined forces with Positive Roots Band and that collaboration yielded the excellent 'Original Roots'.

'Appia Kwa Bridge', the new album by Ebo Taylor, opens with 'Ayesama', a stunner of an afrobeat/highlife song setting the tone for the rest of the album.

It had been quite a while since we saw some new talent emerge from the stables of Manjul (see also Bishob, Takana Zion), but now there's Natty Jean's 'Santa Yalla' ("thank god").

Yours truly was already a big fan of Dub Colossus, but with 'Dub Me Tender Vol.

For conceptual artist and musician Liam Farrell aka Doctor L the photos and videos he makes, are just as important as the music on 'The Great Depression' (the first part of what eventually should become a triptych).