AMJ's first 12" vinyl, a limited edition, will be released on April 23rd in collaboration with Sugar Shack Records/Bristol Archive Records. A Tribute to Bristol Sound Systems back in the day, it features The General on MC duties and Rob Smith with a brace of dub mixes.
The trio's aim was to recreate the classic reggae sound that they grew up with, yet they aren't afraid to bring things up to date where appropriate as well as bringing in some guest musicians for an added Latin twist that harks back to Jamaican music's origins and close links with Cuba and the wider Caribbean.
The idea for these tracks came from Mark Spence who felt it was long overdue to document in song the City's rich heritage of sound systems, their selectors, MCs and the posses who supported them, a tribute to the reggae scene that nurtured and inspired the members of AMJ Dub Collective as well as countless others over the decades.
The choice of Eric 'The General' on microphone duties was obvious as not only had he taken that role in Restriction, but was also an MC on legendary Bristol sound system Enterprise. His delivery has lost nothing in the last thirty years and it's great to be able to hear him again.
Rob Smith needs no introduction and although his career has covered the “Bristol Sound”, drum and bass and dub step, he has never drifted far from his reggae roots, having been a founder member of both Zion Band and Restriction, it's only natural that his mixing talents were called upon and he certainly delivers.
This is reggae for the twenty first century, yet reggae built on years of practice and skill, music played on real instruments by real musicians and not something programmed on a PC using the same tired digital effects, “Sound History” will be released as a limited edition 4 track 12” EP complete with picture sleeve, if only all new reggae was made with such care and attention.
www.bristolarchiverecords.com