Continuing the tradition of Roots Manuva remix albums – and specifically dub versions – is this new collaboration between the UK’s best-loved rap man and DJ/producer Wrongtom, who has a serious penchant for old dub, ragga and reggae music.
Chin High goes from industrious grime to jaunty, fun ragga on Chin Up, Manuva’s vocals even sounding more sanguine given their new surroundings. This World Is Mine gets its deep dub nuances pulled to the surface on the Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry-esque Worl’ A Mine, gorgeous soft horns parping away, while the Toddla T-produced Buff Nuff gets turned into a grooving Sleng Teng-like roller on Rebuff. The graceful strings of Motion 5000 are cast aside to strip things back to dubbed-out basics on Motion 82, transporting Roots to an alternate dimension where echoes and reverbs comes as standard. Personal favourite Juggle Tings Proper, the first track I ever heard from him, gets turned into Proper Tings Juggled, a proto-ragga jaunt with dubbed out keys.
Some guest vocalists are drafted in to help add authenticity to the proceedings – Seanie T helping Big Tings Gwidarn move from stoned hip-hop to stoned King Tubby style dub on Big Tings Redone, while Ricky Ranking guests on both new, eerie track Jah Warriors and the deep skanking of Dutty Rut.
His style on the mic and occasional drifts into patois bridge the gap between the original and these Jamaicanised versions, and the whole thing comes off in a perfectly uncontrived manner. Some versions possibly improve on the originals, while some are just different – no better, no worse, just a welcome change. The whole package is tied together very convincingly, and is a bit of a triumph for all concerned. Nifty artwork too.
[LISTEN TO & BUY THIS ALBUM IN THE PLAYER BELOW]