First batch of these sold out super quick but I will be getting some more next week.
This one feels like discovering a £20 note in an old pair of jeans. Ten previously unreleased cuts from the legendary Smith & Mighty recorded between the mid 80's and the early 90's at their Ashley Road studio in Bristol.
Long time followers of Dubwise Vinyl will know I am a big fan of these guys. Listening to their music (alongside that of fellow Bristolians Massive Attack) played a major role in getting me into dub and reggae in the first place so you can probably understand why I'm so excited about this record.
As with all 'previously unreleased" archive releases there's always a moment of trepidation before you listen to it when you think that maybe there was a reason why these tracks never got released in the first place but I am glad to report that definitely is not the case here. To be honest there was never really any need to worry about that in this case. I don't think Smith & Mighty have ever produced a bad track, whether they decided to release it or not.
There's an absolute embarrassment of riches to discover here with all the classic Smith & Mighty hallmarks that effortlessly unite genres from dub and reggae to hip hop and street soul to house and breakbeat. An absolute joy to listen to from start to finish. Archival release of the year so far for me.
Tracklist