Reggae | World Music Central

The album cover for Spring by Puman features a psychedelic illustration of an elephant head composed of wavy contour lines in red, yellow, and green. The hypnotic design radiates from a black background, with the word “Spring” in green on the left tusk and “Puman” on the right.

Album reviews

Puman Springs Forward With Yunan-Reggae Fusion

Puman – Spring (Sea of Wood Records, 2025) Five years after their breakthrough debut, Puman returns with Spring, their second full-length album and a bold…

The album cover for Sizzling by Frankie Paul features a retro design with a grid-patterned blue background. Centered is a tilted photo of Frankie Paul singing in a recording studio, flanked by musicians, including a drummer and keyboardist. Above the photo, the album title “Sizzling” appears in bright red script, while the artist’s name, “Frankie Paul,” is displayed in large yellow and turquoise text across the top.

Album reviews

Frankie Paul’s Sizzling Returns to Heat Up Digital Platforms

Joe Nash July 26, 2025 No Comments dancehall reggae Frankie Paul Reggae world music

Frankie Paul – Sizzling (VP Records/17 North Parade, 2025) VP Records and 17 North Parade continue their reissue series highlighting 1980s feel-good dancehall reggae with…

Party Time – The Sunshot Singles 1974 covr artwork. A 1970s photo of black men and women, and a white woman, dancing in in a club.

Album reviews

Riddim and Shine: Phil Pratt’s 1974 Sunshot Classics Return

Angel Romero July 19, 2025 No Comments Al Campbell Ansel Collins Barrington Spence Bobby Kalphat Delroy Wilson Dub Flowers & Pratt Horace Andy Jah Woosh Linval Thompson Pat Kelly Phil Pratt Phil Pratt All Stars Pratt's All Stars Reggae Roman Stewart Roy Graham The Heptones The Twinkle Brothers U-Roy world music

Various Artists – Party Time – The Sunshot Singles 1974 (‎ Doctor Bird, 2025) This 2CD collection calls to attention the influential work of Jamaican…

The album cover for Weh Dem Fah by Carl Meeks features the artist seated on a concrete ledge, dressed in a beret, graphic t-shirt, and patterned jeans. Angular typography displays his name in the top left, while the album title appears in red script against a blue-and-red striped border.

New CDs

Carl Meeks’ 1988 Album Weh Dem Fah Set for Digital Reissue July 18

Joe Nash July 18, 2025 No Comments Carl Meeks dancehall reggae Reggae world music

Carl Meeks – Weh Dem Fah (North Parade, 2025) Carl Meeks’ cult 1988 LP Weh Dem Fah, produced by Hugh “Redman” James, will be released…

The album cover for Mana by Mama Djara features an illustration of a raised fist emerging from swirling, root-like lines that transform into tree branches. The artwork is bathed in a vibrant gradient of reds, purples, greens, and blue. The title Mana is prominently displayed in large, hand-drawn letters beneath the central image, with the artist's name in white font at the top.

Music videos Single reviews

Mama Knows Best

Tom Orr July 3, 2025 No Comments Mama Djarra Reggae world music

Italy’s Mama Djarra infuses “Mana” with full-blooded declarations of female empowerment, resistance and solidarity, which happen to be a perfect match for the song’s militant…

The single cover for Bonzo Faya's "Indaco" (feat. Alan Barbizzi) features an abstract, high-energy visual of blue and yellow pigments colliding underwater, creating a dynamic splash effect. The title "INDACO" is displayed in white block letters at the bottom right, accompanied by graffiti-style lettering for Bonzo Faya's name and a smaller credit for Alan Barbizzi.

Music videos Single reviews

Done Deal Dub

Tom Orr June 9, 2025 No Comments Bonzo Faya dub reggae Reggae world music

It’s long been proven that authentic dub reggae need not come from Jamaica, and Italy’s Bonzo Faya reinforces that contention throughout “Indaco,” a saxophone-seasoned slice…

The album cover for Better Angels by BOP (harvey) features an abstract painting of five colorful figures playing instruments. Set against a swirling backdrop of electric blue, fiery red, and golden yellow, the figures mix angelic and devilish traits—some with halos, others with horns. The band name and album title appear in yellow text.

Music videos Single reviews

Troubling Times Recalled

Tom Orr May 31, 2025 No Comments Reggae world music

Reggae, rock and a civil rights history lesson converge to make “Good Trouble” by American band BOP(harvey) exactly the kind of trouble you’ll want to…