Various Artists: Dreader Dread / Guiding Star (Attack Gold) - 10” originally released 2003

I listen to shitloads of dub / roots / reggae / dancehall, I just have no fucking idea of how to convert it into words. It all sounds the same, it all sounds different. And therein lies its appeal (at least to me). The killer moment in this reissued 10” is the startling but brief introductory burst of acid house on Tubby’s Dub on the B-side. Just wish it went on for a bit longer.

Funckarma: Bourbon Sounds (Delikatessen) - 10” originally released October 2002

Funckarma were one of those acts that I know I should really hate on. That classic mould of electronica artist that suppresses ego by hiding behind laptops: the dreaded curse of IDM. But every time I actually heard something, I was always quietly impressed. The likes of Plaid might get the big arts commissions but the Funcken brothers have the better skillz.

Pablo Gad: Hard Times / Gun Fever (No Label) - 10” originally released 2008

Obviously a naughty naughty bootleg, but I couldnt help myself and at least the pressing is not complete shit. For those that don’t know, ‘Hard Times’ was one of those tracks that was repeatedly plundered during rave’s obsession for sampling dub. Nu-Matic’s dreadful lazy rave track of the same name and Prodigy’s excellent ‘Fire’ (both XL Recordings) are the only ones that spring to mind. But there were others.