Charly B - Journey Of Life (Tower Music Media Group/Dibyz Music)
The release of this more than aptly titled 'Journey Of Life' by Jamaican based Frenchman Charles Blanvillain aka Charly B, was preceded by a true annus horribilis for the singer.
Leah Rosier - The Black Star Tracks (Black Star Foundation)
With 'The Black Star Tracks', her third long player to date, Amsterdam based singer Leah Rosier realized one of her dreams, as part of the songs were recorded in Jamaica, where she collaborated with Firehouse Crew.
Jah Schulz - A Railroad Session (Railroad Records)
Jah Schulz (real name Michael Fiedler), a musician and producer from Stuttgart, might well be the new German dub revelation.
BKO Quintet - Mali Foli Coura (Buda Musique)
For 'Mali Foli Coura', the strikingly rougher sounding successor of their 2014 debut 'Bamako Today', BKO Quintet tried to reconcile the Malian griot traditions with those of the donso or hunters.
Miroca Paris - D'Alma (Self-published)
Miroca Paris was born into a musical family on São Vicente, the northernmost island of the Cape Verde Islands.
Dreadsquad - The Riddim Machine Vol. 1, 2 & 3 (Superfly Studio)
Back in 2012 producer Marek Bogdanski aka Dreadsquad, who can be considered the Polish equivalent of Dubmatix, presented the first volume in his 'The Riddim Machine' series.
Krak In Dub - Amazonite (Universal Egg)
Earlier this year, Krak In Dub already presented a taster of 'Amazonite' with the release of an eponymous 4 track EP. For the album version, Federico Trujillo aka Krak in Dub's long player debut, a further 11 tracks, an interlude ('Seen Interlude'), and a jungle/dub version of opener 'Some People' were added.
Dub Pistols - Crazy Diamonds (Sunday Best Recordings)
Dub Pistols, the London based band around charismatic front man and former DJ Barry Ashworth, this year celebrates its twentieth anniversary, or as they like to put it themselves: "Twenty years of unhinged lunacy!", and to celebrate that milestone they're now also presenting this new long player.
Foresta & Royal Blu - Sing With God EP (Foresta Music)
For this 'Sing With God' EP, Sean-Michael Francis, better known as Royal Blu, a singer from Saint Catherine in Jamaica, joined forces with German producer and videographer Foresta.
Ousco - Mon Côté Reggae (GUM Records)
Ousco Cisse, originating from Diabaly in northern Mali, started his musical career back in 1996 when, together with three friends, he formed SMOD (an acronym of the first letters of the band members' first names: Sam, Mouzy, Donsky and Ousco).
Various Artists - Redman International Dancehall 1985-1989 (Dub Store Records)
With 'Redman International Dancehall 1985-1989', Dub Store Records presents an excellent compilation of digital hits from the catalogue of producer Hugh 'Redman' James.
Victor Rice - Smoke (Easy Star Records)
If you're not averse to a bit of instrumental ska and rocksteady, why not give Victor Rice's 'Smoke' a try?
AD-Roots - Music Is The Healing EP (Self-published/Rise & Shine Producciones)
Andy Garcia aka AD-Roots is a new talent in the Spanish reggae scene, until now mainly making a name for himself MC-ing in the Spanish sound system scene for sounds like Raggatack (Girona) and Suruma Sound System (Barcelona).
Carlos G. Lopes - Kanta Pa Skece (Early Records)
The Cape Verdean music scene seems to be buzzing with new talent! Only recently we presented the long player debut of ex-Cesaria Evora percussionist Miroca Paris, and here's another young Cape Verdean following in his footsteps.
Pablo Anthony - New Day (Natural Prod'/InOuïe Distribution)
Pablo Anthony, it could have been the name of a Jamaican reggae veteran, but turns out to be the alter ego of Pablo Antonio, a young lion of French-Chilean descent hailing from the outskirts of Paris.
The Tuff Lions - Spirit (Khanti Records/Pias)
The Tuff Lions are a young eight-piece band from the Toulouse region in France, citing, among others, The Gladiators and Israel Vibration, but also Rootz Underground and Chronixx as their main sources of inspiration.
TootArd - Laissez Passer (Glitterbeat Records)
TootArd, a group of young musicians from Majdal Shams in the Israel occupied Golan Heights (a plateau on the border between Israel, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan), started out playing reggae covers back in 2010. Add some influences from Tuareg music to the mix (not accidentally also a stateless people) and the fact all members of the five-man band grew up with classical Arabic music, and you get the sound of TootArd.
Horace Andy - Good Vibes (17 North Parade/VP Records)
This 'Good Vibes' is, in fact, nothing more than a reissue of the 1997 Blood and Fire compilation of the same name.
Omar Souleyman - To Syria With Love (Mad Decent Records/Because Music)
Listening to this new Omar Souleyman album, we couldn't help but wonder how many times Souleyman will still be able to pull off his gimmick before a certain déjà-vu starts setting in? For the time being we'll still allow the Syrian King of dabke (the Syrian answer to Western house and techno) the benefit of the doubt.
Various Artists - Rock Steady Merritone 3 (Dub Store Records)
Following 'Merritone Rock Steady 1 & 2', Dub Store Records now presents this third part in the series (and a fourth album has also already scheduled).