Max Romeo
Max Romeo Sings Classics

Thomas Blanchot, 40 years old percussionist and drummer, started his production structure Mato Production in 2001, where he collaborated and directed for many projects.Composer, music publisher and producer of music for TV, advertising, films and records, he also began a career as reggae producer since 2006, under the name "MATO". Since then he’s released music through various projects concepts, coming out through labels such as Makasound, EDR Records or Big Singles. In the meantime he developed a real trademark: taking over classics French, Hip-Hop, or Pop song, into roots reggae-dub new versions.Besides since 2010, Mato has built a solid reputation thanks to his hot remixes of Hip-Hop classics on Stix Records. And in 2014, he presented Homework Dub, giving his own vision of the multiplatinum classic album by Daft Punk, quickly acclaimed internationally as a true performance.Today, Mato is back with another target for his special skills as a tailor of reggae music, this time focusing on classic musical themes from original soundtracks. Imagine if Lalo Schiffrin, Nino Rota, Gorgio Moroder, Ennio Morricone or John Williams had been blunted at Lee “Scratch” Perry’s Black Ark studio… there you go, this is Hollywoo Dub!!

Square represents a major turning point in the career of the pioneer of nu reggae. An extraordinary architect of studio production and multi-instrumentalist who records, mixes and produces but also, for several years, performs on stage with his musicians. After recording Square, he started touring alone, equipped with a machine he designed and built with Midi controllers to launch original samples and loops - an autarky assumed from one end of the process to the other. “You have to master all the tools to deliver what you want”, he has been saying for years... Yet, this Square is wide open: old school rhythms or techno-like approaches, vintage dub or futuristic take offs, thick sound basses and melodies, scraped to the bone…All this is Flox, a solid innovator who never stops renewing his nu reggae, a maniacal craftsman who regulates, to the micron, tracks of perfect simplicity of access. His trademark is this highly spatialized form of reggae, with an enveloping sound, which seems to take the artist and the listener into a shared bubble; as padded as tense.

All Nations Records present a new 12" with 2 original instrumental tracks, followed by their own dubs.Thoses 2 tracks are the result of a collaboration between Higher Meditation and Simon Nyabinghi.Simon sent the drum patterns to Addis from Higher Meditation, for him to play the rest of the instruments. A task he accomplished brilliantly!The stunning melodies and bass fit perfectly with the raw drums.Side A offers "Conquering Dub", a stepper tune that will surely be played on sound system sessions, as it has all the ingredients selectors and massives need when the dances get hot.On B Side you will find a different groove, a tune called "Lion Dub", more down tempo, but as interesting as the first track.

All Nations Records come again with a proper 7inch full of roots flavour. The man at the control of the label, Simon Nyabinghi, here calls out the talent of Belgium producer Unlisted Fanatic who deliver once again a heavy riddim track, topped up by some deep horns arrangement from the Moonshine Horns. The riddim is sufficient by itself so when you hear the deep melodical voice of MariJah on it with her uplifting lyrics hailing for more consciousness in this world, it ends up with a wonderful tune that surely will convince every great selector to put it on their deck now and for years to come. Once again, just flip the records over to get the full dub treatment. This is roots dub music at its best.