Twenty under-rated dancehall favourites from '80s British reggae imprint gathered on one superb disc
8/10
That sub-header actually sums this wonderful compilation perfectly - twenty examples of Fashion's far-reaching roster, none of whom crossed over (Smiley Culture is sadly absent here), but most fully deserving of a place on this album. Fashion Records was borne out of two men's desire to write about, record and sell perfect reggae-music at a time when the genre was still firmly embedded in people's minds after its cosying up to punk in the '70s.
Writer Chris Lane loved reggae, full-stop and with fellow devotee John MacGillivray, founded Dub Vendor, the legendary Clapham-based record stall that turned into a shop, that turned into a target for the 2011 rioters, then closed. While Dub Vendor blossomed, the duo's hunger for producing tunes resulted in setting up Fashion and helping to shape Britain's healthy dub and reggae scene. Along with Trojan, Greensleeves, Front Line, On-U Sound and Blood and Fire, London's Fashion walked reggae's catwalk with rootsy, laid-back aplomb.
The first ten songs on here are as exemplary as it gets. Sweet lover's rock, lilting roots music, rub-a-dub riddims and some of the finest soulful voices to sing reggae, as well as top production work from Lane, Mafia & Fluxy, Steely etc. Guidance by Nereus Joseph, Let's Dub It Up by Dee Sharp, Am I The Same Girl given a smooth dancehall flava by angelically-tonsilled Winsome - these are, by turns, charming and key anthems from many an '80s dance. Janet Lee-Davis' awesome tunes are repped by Two-Timing Lover and Baby, I've Been Missing You (the latter with Tippa Irie) while the insanely prolific Frankie Paul gives it both roughneck barrels on A No Nutten.
Fashion's strengths were its more reflective lover's tunes or the more speaker-worrying bassweight found on Me and You's Rock This Rub a Dub or Andrew Paul's syndrum-powered Who's Gonna Make The Dance Ram. When the label hit the '90s, attitudes changed and Jungle Bungle and the like lacked the grace found on earlier releases, although there's no denying the power behind the oft-sampled junglist-classic Request The Style by Top Cat - a track that all self-respecting jungle-heads should possess. The album continues with super cuts by Peter Hunnigale and Dub Organiser (Chris Lane in effect), with the hilarious No Touch The Style by Joseph Cotton a sure-fire Punanny-rhythm winner and highlight on this album.
Despite this excellent CD coming out in the spring, I'd missed its charms previously - you shouldn't. There's no touching Fashion for anthems - bring on volume two.
8/10
Writer Chris Lane loved reggae, full-stop and with fellow devotee John MacGillivray, founded Dub Vendor, the legendary Clapham-based record stall that turned into a shop, that turned into a target for the 2011 rioters, then closed. While Dub Vendor blossomed, the duo's hunger for producing tunes resulted in setting up Fashion and helping to shape Britain's healthy dub and reggae scene. Along with Trojan, Greensleeves, Front Line, On-U Sound and Blood and Fire, London's Fashion walked reggae's catwalk with rootsy, laid-back aplomb.
The first ten songs on here are as exemplary as it gets. Sweet lover's rock, lilting roots music, rub-a-dub riddims and some of the finest soulful voices to sing reggae, as well as top production work from Lane, Mafia & Fluxy, Steely etc. Guidance by Nereus Joseph, Let's Dub It Up by Dee Sharp, Am I The Same Girl given a smooth dancehall flava by angelically-tonsilled Winsome - these are, by turns, charming and key anthems from many an '80s dance. Janet Lee-Davis' awesome tunes are repped by Two-Timing Lover and Baby, I've Been Missing You (the latter with Tippa Irie) while the insanely prolific Frankie Paul gives it both roughneck barrels on A No Nutten.
Fashion's strengths were its more reflective lover's tunes or the more speaker-worrying bassweight found on Me and You's Rock This Rub a Dub or Andrew Paul's syndrum-powered Who's Gonna Make The Dance Ram. When the label hit the '90s, attitudes changed and Jungle Bungle and the like lacked the grace found on earlier releases, although there's no denying the power behind the oft-sampled junglist-classic Request The Style by Top Cat - a track that all self-respecting jungle-heads should possess. The album continues with super cuts by Peter Hunnigale and Dub Organiser (Chris Lane in effect), with the hilarious No Touch The Style by Joseph Cotton a sure-fire Punanny-rhythm winner and highlight on this album.
Despite this excellent CD coming out in the spring, I'd missed its charms previously - you shouldn't. There's no touching Fashion for anthems - bring on volume two.