Echoes, September 2023

Jamaican singer Samory I was one of this this month's cover stars. In this interview he talks about his musical journey to date and latest album Strength, produced by Philip "Winta" James for Easy Star Records. The other reggae feature in September was dedicated to Mikey Dread of the UK sound system Channel One, who relates the history of the sound as well as the story behind his Greensleeves compilation Down In The Dub Vaults.

Run The Track features new singles by Samory I, Capleton & Kabaka Pyramid (Wrath), Stephen Marley (Cool As The Breeze), his brother Damian (My Sweet Lord) and Prince Fatty & Sheniece McMenamin's reggae cover of Lonnie Liston Smith's Expansions. Tuff Gong's United Africa album featuring leading Afrobeats' artists is Reggae Album Of The Month, and is joined by reviews of Blvk H3ro's On A Mission, Sizzla's The I-Grade, Burning Spear's No Destroyer and albums by Carroll Thompson and Desmond Dekker.

In our monthly Vibes column there's talk of Chris Brown's recent Kingston appearance and his visit to Tivoli Gardens. We also ask what has happened to Buju Banton since the half-hearted release of his latest album Born For Greatness.