Roots Archives Forum

(edit: i didnt see the posts about bunny wailers releases...nothing i write below applies to them because ive not heard them and i think they will not exhibit the same characteristics i describe below)

i would be a bit cautious buying these without hearing what youre likely buying. in my somewhat considerable experience with japanese records, both reggae and non reggae, it has been obvious they are of extremely high quality in pressing and graphics/printing. very rarely do you run across an unplayed copy with so much as a tick audible on either side. and no offset labels!

the problem often is: they lack bass. like really lack bass. and thats across the spectrum but particularly on bass heavy music like reggae, there is no bass, there is very little warmth, and the music sounds very sterile. some of those traits are coveted by audiophiles, but to reggae listeners they are not going to go over well.

i have a number of japanese reggae LPs including most of the ones mentioned in this thread and quite a few others. for example uhuru's dub factor, sly and robbie taxi compilations, bob marley releases including trojans compilations, wackies issues, etc and they all suffer the same fault: no or very weak bass.

but for pressing quality they cannot be beat. but if that was all we were interested in we would be buying exact digital copies in the form of CDs.

one love
jah bill

Waow JB Welda, what a generalisation!!! As we all know, generalisations are generally wrong. On we go with the vicious circle

I can tell you that in the cases of the LPs I mention, including the "High Times Talent Showcase" I mention here and on another thread, bass is totally there.

I lived in Japan. When to reggae systems there, as well as reggae stores, and concerts. You need to understand that when the Japanese like something - anything - they will adopt it and "cherish" it and amplify it. In the case of Reggae, they know and love the bass, and it transfers on record obviously.

Now, MAYBE, the releases you are mentionning are the commercial BLACK UHURU, WAILERS releases from Island trying to seduce non reggae fans from Japan way back then.

But rest assured, for all the other stuff: trust Japan to deliver mind blowing, bass rich Reggae. This includes their own productions such as "DRY & HEAVY".

actually they cover the spectrum from island to wackies to those diamonds issues to every other one ive listened to including like i say, non reggae releases.

oh well dont pay attention to me. at 30$ a shot its a cheap education i guess.

one love
jah bill