The Heatwave Chart - June 2007

It's all about the summer tunes this month, with anthems from Mr Vegas, Enur & Natasha aka Natasja, Alison Hinds and Eve.

1. Mr Vegas - Tek Weh Yourself (Kirkledove)
2. Enur & Natasha aka Natasja - Calabria 2007 (Ministry of Sound)
3. Alison Hinds - Roll It Gal (Ear 2 Da Street)
4. Eve - Tambourine (Aftermath)
5. Nadine Sutherland - Big Tingz (Eight 76)
6. Chamillionaire & Kelis - Not A Criminal (Universal)
7. Beenie Man - The Crime (Black Shadow)
8. Shinehead - Know How Fi Chat (Watch & Pray)
9. TOK & Supa Hype - Tek It Off (Hyperactive Ent)
10. Pharaohe Monche - Body Baby (Island)

Posted by Gabriel Heatwave | Monday 04 June 2007 | Add a comment

Nadine Sutherland - Big Tingz

Though her name may not be so well recognised, Nadine Sutherland's voice is known to even the most casual dancehall fan through her vocals on the massive early 90s hit Action with Terror Fabulous. Her releases over the last few years have mostly been lovers/roots reggae tunes, but here she sings over a bouncy, feel-good riddim that owes as much to soca and reggaeton as it does to dancehall. The soca influence is also evident in her exhortation to "flash all the rags dem high". Indeed, in a rare Jamaican show of Caribbean solidarity, Sutherland calls out a host of other islands (Barbados, St Lucia, St Martin, Guyana, Haiti - even Cuba) alongside the usual diasporic locations of Miami, London and Canada.

This review was featured in the first issue of Woofah, a magazine dedicated to reggae, grime and dubstep.

Released on 7" vinyl by Eight76

Posted by Gabriel Heatwave | Wednesday 06 June 2007 | Add a comment

Bad Dog Riddim

Miami-based producer Troyton Rami really went out on a limb with this slow, meditative, super-minimal riddim which is comprised of little more than two drum sounds, sub-bass, occasional keybord stabs and a simple, hypnotic melody. The space allowed for vocals by the 70bpm beat is employed fully by all the artists featured on the riddim, which includes Buju Banton, Mavado, Elephant Man and Bounty Killer - but it's Beenie Man and Cobra who really take the riddim for me.

Cobra's clever, self-censoring lyric substitutes 'AA' for the words he feels he's unable to say, be it 'AK', 'pum pum' or whatever else he may be referring to. Unusually, he successfully combines gal lyrics with his staple badmanism - something that badman artists often try and fail to do. The rhythmic pattern of Beenie Man's vocal his is remiscent of his late 90s hit Trouble Maker and again he's in an angry mood, delivering a bunch of threats presumably aimed at his long time nemesis, Bounty Killer.

This review was featured in the first issue of Woofah, a magazine dedicated to reggae, grime and dubstep.

Released on 7" vinyl by Black Shadow

Posted by Gabriel Heatwave | Wednesday 13 June 2007 | Add a comment

Playing in Sheffield on Friday 22nd June

We're heading up to Sheffield on Friday to play at C90's basement bashment underneath an Ethiopian/Cuban restaurant! Other DJs on the night include Maga Bo, Grievous Angel aka Paul Meme and Dub Boy (Ruffnek Diskotek) - expect a crateload of 90s ragga/bashment alongside other styles like reggaeton, baile funk and UK fast chat.

Posted by Gabriel Heatwave | Monday 18 June 2007 | Add a comment

Super Natural Riddim

This is Supa Hype's follow-up production to his massive Smash riddim which spawned a bunch of dancehall hits, most notably Tony Matterhorn's ubiquitous Dutty Wine. Another uptempo bashment outing, Super Natural sounds not unlike grime (though the influence may not be conscious) with its stuttering handclaps and grimey bassline.

The stand-out cuts on the riddim come from T.O.K. and Erup, though Elephant Man, Busy Signal, Vybz Kartel and Turbulence are among the other artists to have released vocals on it. The ever-reliable T.O.K. (alongside Supa Hype on the mic) deliver an infectious ladies' anthem referencing Sisqo's Thong Song, switching up between sweet vocals and gruff MCing, as is their wont. New kid on the block Erup, whose breakout hit Sey Dem A Gangsta has seen him feted as a bright hope for 2007, showcases his melodic singjay styles with a fiery tirade against Babylon.

This review was featured in the first issue of Woofah, a magazine dedicated to reggae, grime and dubstep.

Relased on 7" vinyl by Hyperactive Entertainment

Posted by Gabriel Heatwave | Wednesday 20 June 2007 | Add a comment