dj andy smith - trojan document
you have to hand it to sanctuary. ever since they took over the golden trojan catalogue they sure have figured out how to get this excellent music through to as many people as possible. from the striaght up well packaged reissues, via their budget 3cd boxsets, to their up-to-date mixtape mashups (via their antidote subsidiary). so, it was with a fair degree of reservation i came to this release, after all, what can andy 'i dj for portishead you know' smith bring to the groove that madlib/shortkut and the nextmen didn't with their mixes ? well, for a start the choice of tunes is way off the normal trojan compilation set, no Israelites, no police and thieves etc, instead it's a set of tunes that are totally new to me (not that difficult - i am anything but a trojan collector), but not only are they new, but andy has sequenced the tracks in such a way that the album is educational.
starting from the original ska tunes, going through to lovers rock, rock steady, roots via dub before giving a chunk over to the 80's studio beat, andy has selected tracks from each reggae sub-genre with care and attention constantly applying maximum respect for the music involved. he has largely kept his hands away from the effect buttons, there are overdubs, a few dj culture shoutouts, but done with such skill that they don't detract from the pure goodness on offer.
to make matters even more desirable andy has written some wonderfully personal track by track notes adding a refreshing insight into the whole mix.
perfect in so many ways.
tracklisting
1. Laurel Aitken - Hey Bartender
2. Derrick Morgan - Blazing Fire
3. Duke Reids All Stars - Unknown Instrumental
4. Justin Hinds - Carry Go Bring Come
5. Don Drummand - Don D Lion
6. King Stitt - Fire Corner
7. Desmond Dekker - Get Up Edina
8. Untouchables - Tighten Up
9. Upsetters - A Live Injection
10. Jamaicians - Ba Ba Boom
11. Phyllis Dillon - Dont Stay Away
12. Hopeton Lewis - Take It Easy
13. Alton Ellis - Rock Steady
14. Delroy Wilson - Better Must Come
15. Gregory Isaacs - John Public
16. Gregory Isaacs - Public Eyes (dub)
17. John Holt - Ali Baba
18. King Tubby - I Trim The Barber
19. Stranger Cole - Bangarang
20. U-Roy - Tom Drunk
21. U-Roy - True True
22. Johnny Clarke - Blood Dunza
23. Johnny Clarke - Blood Dunza (dub)
24. King Tubby - Channel One Feel It
25. Techniques All Stars - Stalag 17
26. Linval Thompson - Nigrea African Dub
27. Lloyd Robinson - Cuss Cuss
28. Karl Bryan & Harry J All Stars - Soul Scorcher
29. Sugar Minnott - Inna Dance Hall Style
30. Johnny Osborne - Rewind
31. Ranking Joe - Dreadlocks Time