VARIOUS ARTISTS

The Bristol Reggae Explosion is back with a third volume. Whilst still happily exploring what was happening in the city during the 1980s, they've bent the rules and included a lone track from 1979. If anything, this third volume is their strongest so far, an amazing achievement when you consider that 11 of the 15 tracks are previously unreleased. By popular demand, Bristol Reggae Explosion Volume 3 The 1980s Part II has a strong leaning towards the roots side of reggae. The album opens with Revelation Rockers Jah Praises , recorded in 1979 and taken from the album of the same name that sees its first release on Bristol Archive Records in March 2012 exclusively on vinyl, so it's inclusion on Volume 3 will be its only CD issue. Revelation Rockers soon changed their name to Talisman and as such they feature twice more with the unreleased (Cave mix) of Takin' The Strain and Lick & Run taken from their debut album Takin' The Strain , Bunny Marrett returns for Volume 3 with an incredibly soulful and atmospheric performance of I'm Free. Joshua Moses. Stick It Up is a live recording that gives you some idea just how good his shows were and is a taster from the album Joshua to Jashwha - 30 Years In The Wilderness . Maintaining the roots vibe are Zion Band, most of whom would go on to form Restriction but not before putting out a six track EP and Babylon Fire/Babylon Dub from that scarce vinyl release is included. Two more previously featured acts from Volume 2 are Alfred McIntosh, whose dubs were so well received last time, and Cool Runnings, with unreleased alternative versions of two songs taken from their forthcoming self-titled album on Bristol Archive Records. Although very well known locally, Popsy Curious gets his introduction to the worldwide reggae community with his Chant Down Bobby Rome . He makes a second contribution showing his lovers rock side, as one of the vocalists on Vibes' My Love . The remaining artists Ron Green, Zapp Stereo, The Radicals and Dan Ratchet will be familiar to those who have our previous volumes. It is worth noting that Dan Ratchet is backed by members of Aswad for his take on the classic mid-eighties U.K. reggae sound. All in all, these 15 tracks provide a great overview of the diversity of ideas and styles that were bubbling away in 1980s Bristol. There's been a great response to the first two volumes and hopefully volume three will receive an equally positive welcome.