Roots Archives Forum

Hi Guys

On the back of the "BAF Gone" thread I was just wondering this question.

What of the two labels do you feel has released the better material.

I have seen many reviews where people have raved about the music that has been reissued on the BAF label and how it has done so much to advance the popularity of reggae.

And I agree that there are some superb music available on BAF.

However, Pressure Sounds have also released some superb music that I personally feel that they have got an edge over BAF based on the fact that they have re-issued some very rare, diverse and abscure musical gems that have not been available for many many years.

Its just an opinion and I am curious to know the thoughts of fellow collectors.

Regards

Dave

No one can deny the strength of early B&F, but i would agree that they made some strange choices in the end and PS came strong these last 5 years or so

Ites summed it up perfectly. B&F had an amazing run of crucial releases in the early going. PS seems to have picked up where B&F left off.

BAF has way better releases in my opinion

and slightly better packaging, although i think they both are pretty damn bad in that department except for a few wicked album covers pressure sounds releases some of the ugliest stuff i've seen, sometimes i would rather they come in a plain sleeve

I probably own more Pressure Sounds releases than Blood & Fire. Hard to say which one has released better material, because there are classics on both sides. As for recent out, PS would get my vote for those Keith Hudson reissues.

Both have crucial as well as not so crucial releases, but I think Pressure Sounds has the most good releases, and have a better vision of what the roots market wants.

what about newer ones like the french Makasound label, wich re-released great titles from Leroy Brown, Delroy Williams and Knowledge, just for example...?

There's also Auralux, wich has great dub re-releases from Lee Perry and Scientis, also with great packing/artwork....

I think all the "re-release" labels - B&F, PS, MakaSound & Auralux -, they all have been doing a great work so far...

And I think they all deserve the credit for putting out some great music, with quality releases, of titles wich were in most cases hard-to-find before them...

There's no "or" for me... I simply prefer "and"...

All have released great titles, just depends on your taste. That's why there isn't a favorite label, or one that has released best material than other IMHO...

Blessings,

Definitely want to give props to Auralux. That *Roots of Dancehall* comp is a real treat!

B&F were unbeatable in the mid to late nineties but lost the edge in the 2000's, I stopped caring about their new releases long ago and while Pressure Sounds span mento to dancehall B&F rarely strayed from the latter half of the 70's which became their undoing as the well of possible killer releases from that era slowly ran dry - no contest really in my mind, and not only Pressure Sounds but also the re-awakened giant Greensleeves and Auralux were well ahead of B&F in recent years

big shame to see them go, though, the message board was a reggae institute for higher learning!

the real great classics are on BAF, pick a dub, heart of the congos, jesus dread, tapa zukie in dub...and so on, but PS had much better releases the last few years...hard to say, they are both great, thanks to them both for bringing such nice music.