Playlist - 14th June 2026

 

 

 

 
Dub Syndicate – Ravi Shankar Pt1 (China mix) – Leghorn
PT Musik - Nha Budjura - Principe (Consumação) 
A Minha Vida é um Filme e Nele Eu Sou o Vilão -  Carimbos e Vinhetas dos Paredões Brasileiros -Side A - Lugar Alto cassette (My Life is a Movie and in It I'm the Villain - Stamps and Vignettes from Brazilian Sound Systems)
Abadir - The Primitivist - Planet Mu
Arthur Russell - Every Face in Every Window - Audika Records (Love Is Overtaking Me (Redux)
Arthur Russell - Not Checking Up - Audika Records
Bill Orcutt & Mabe Fratti - Steps of the Sun - Tin Angel Records (Almost Waking)
James 'Blood' Ulmer - Jazz Is the Teacher (Funk Is the Preacher) - Rough Trade (Are You Glad To Be In America?)
Durutti Column - Free From All the Chaos - Durutti 7"
Luciano Cilio - Secondo Quadro Della Conoscenza - Superior Viaduct(Dialoghi De Presente)
Accident Fantôme - Rhubarbe Bleue - moli del tro (Objets enchâssés dans un anneau planétaire)
Fax + Braulio Lam - Serifa - Dragon’s Eye Recordings (Mixed Signals III)
Kirk Barley - Billow - Marionette (Arc)
Mika Vainio - Kesamaa/Summerland - Sahko (Kantamoinen)

Fenny
Espen Berg Trio - Equilibrium Suite Pt 1 - Svale Records (Entropies) 
Baby Berserk - Mind Explodes - Bongo Joe
Paul Rooney - Marble Tiles - Owd Scrat Records (Different Types of Road Signs
(2026 Extended Edition))
Blind Yeo - Colour Pillow - Bongo Joe (The Lemoine Point) 

Répéter - Too Many Lawyers - repete/Bandcamp (Boredom at the Belly-free Buffet) 
Répéter - The Last Sip’s Bitter - repete/Bandcamp (Cocktail Hour in Purgatory)
Roy Ayers - Day Dreaming - VampiSoul (Red Black and Green)
Sylvain Chauveau - Le Zen Dans L’Art Du Tir À L’Arc - FatCat Records (The Complexity of the Simple)
Gulls - Bio Map (Version) - basscomesaveme (Time Spirals)

Steve Barrow R.I.P.

29^th September 1945 to 17^th May 2026

I feel it was a privilege to have known Steve for over thirty five years and, throughout that time, his friendship and kindness was always a great support to me.

On a professional level I sincerely hope that tributes are now being written attesting to his importance in raising the profile and credibility of Jamaican music worldwide. The significance of his Blood & Fire label to the furtherance and understanding of a much misunderstood and overlooked genre is incalculable and can never be overestimated. It was the first label to re-issue classic reggae from the roots presented in a format that gave the same attention to detail that jazz, blues, soul & rock re-issues had been given with faultless artwork, detailed comprehensive liner notes and crystal clear mastering. The music always deserved this treatment but had very rarely received it up until this point. Blood & Fire, guided by Steve’s deep love and understanding of reggae, set the standards to aspire to for the many re—issue labels that flourished in its wake.

His co-authored (with the erudite Peter Dalton) ‘Reggae The Rough Guide’ still remains the definitive guide to Jamaican music nearly two decades after it was first published in 1997. It is still the best primer for the newcomer, packed full of information with innumerable recommendations, but also invaluable to seasoned adherents to focus on artists and releases they might otherwise have overlooked.

Steve was as serious about his family, politics and football as he was about music and all always imbued with a great sense of humour…

And, on a personal level, Steve gave me the honour of writing the liner notes for two Blood & Fire releases, Yabby You & The Prophets’ ‘Jesus Dread 1972 to 1977’ and Big Youth’s ‘Natty Universal Dread 1973 to 1979’ box sets when he could very easily have done the notes himself… and probably made a better job of it! His trust in me was an important stepping stone towards the path I have followed for the past twenty five years. He went on to ask me to assist him and Stuart Baker writing entries for the Soul Jazz ‘Reggae 45 Sound System The Label Art Of Reggae Singles’ book... an endeavour I had first dreamed of forty years previously but never thought would see the light of day. He followed this up with agreeing to work for Germany’s renowned Bear Family… but only on the condition that I worked with him… and we spent a very enjoyable long weekend in Hamburg and Bremen with their team working on the details. I could go on… but, in short, Steve was a friend in deed when I was a friend in need and I will never forget his generosity and trust in me.

I think the story that best sums up what Steve was all about came when he was contemplating a move from his East London home to North Somerset. He contacted a removal firm who asked “is it domestic? and Steve replied in the affirmative. However, when the contractor arrived to look over the job he walked through the front door, took one look at his incredible record, CD and book collection and exclaimed “this isn’t domestic… it’s f***ing industrial!”. Steve Barrow never did anything by halves.

My sincere condolences go out to his wife, Sue, and to all his family and friends. Steve’s memory as a family man and friend will live forever in many of our hearts… and so too will his knowledge and love of reggae that he selflessly poured into a plethora of books and records for music lovers the whole world over.

Noel Hawks - June 2026

 

Steve Barrow (29 September 1945–27 May 2026)

Steve Barker 

 

 

Playlist - 7th June 2026

 

 

 

Dub Syndicate – Ravi Shankar Pt1 (China mix) – Leghorn
Dr Alimantado & Jah Stitch - The Barber Feel It - Blood & Fire (If Deejay Was Your Trade - The Dread At King Tubby's 1974 – 1977)
Keith Hudson - No Skinup – Keja (The Black Morphologist of Reggae)
Sensible Soccers vs Mad Professor - Dub De Saia Travada (Ep#1 - Dub Versions)
Barry Brown - Cool Pon Your Corner - Shanachie (Roots Radics Revolution Crucial Cuts)
Jah Thomas - Dance Pon The Corner - Shanachie (Roots Radics Revolution Crucial Cuts)
Jah Woosh & Sis Bee - Herb Reasoning - Burning Sounds (Rebellion)
Digidub feat Julian Fairshare - Flick of the Fingers - Digi Dub 10" (A Tribute to Julian Fairshare)
Digidub feat Julian Fairshare - Flick of the Dub - Digi Dub 10" (A Tribute to Julian Fairshare)
Ghetto Priest - Binghi Order - Bandcamp (Bright Soul)
Jah Melodie - Things and Times - Roots Tribe 12"
Slimmah Sound - Dub Times - Roots Tribe 12"
The Upsetters - Jungle Lion - Doctor Bird (Lee 'Scratch' Perry Presents Jungle Lion - The Upsetter Singles 1973, Chapter 1)
The Upsetters - Freak Out Skank - Doctor Bird (Lee 'Scratch' Perry Presents Jungle Lion - The Upsetter Singles 1973, Chapter 1)

Fenny
Hands Free - Upturned Cup - New Amsterdam Records (Hands Free)
Nana Osei Twum Barima - Mono – Zephyrus (Journey to the Unknown)
Kay Slice - I Take You Highlife - Agogo Records (I Take You Highlife)
Montoya – Fantasia - ZZK Records

Black Uhuru - Eden Pon Street - Greensleeves 12"
Flatplay - Fish - Moonshine Recordings (Mystery of the Belly Button)
Medisun X Adam Prescott - Scorching Dub – Bandcamp
Okhuma - Grinding – newdubhall
Sheriff Lindo - Creepy Dub - EM Records (Aftershock Dubs)
Captain Yossarian - Expensive Shit in Dub feat. Jimi Tenor (Fela Kuti in Dub)

Playlist - 31st May 2026

 

 

 Dub Syndicate – Ravi Shankar Pt1 (China mix) – Leghorn
Devon Russell - Darker Than Blue/Stand In Your Glory - High Times 7"
Jennifer Lara - Hand to Mouth - High Times 7"
Leroy Smart - Want To Go Home - Striker Lee 7"
Big Joe - Dignity and Principle - Horse 7"
The Royals - Stand and Give Praise (Disco Style) - Ballistic (Ten Years After)
Joseph Cotton - Stay A Yard & Praise God – Moodisc 12”
Justin Hinds - Once a Man Twice a Child (take 2) - Peckings Records 7”
Johnny Osbourne & the Supersonics - Come Back Darling - Techniques 12"
The Gladiators/Trinity - Jah-O Jah-O/Economic Crisis - TR Groovemaster 7"
Horace Andy X Prince Muhammed - New Broom - Hungry Town (12" Disco mix 1978)
Delton Screechie - Living in the Ghetto (12' Mix) - Deeper Roots 12"
Freddie McGregor - Homeward Bound - Soul Jazz Records (Studio One Sound)
Cedric 'Im' Brooks - Sattamassagana - Water Lily (United Africa)
Cedric 'Im' Brooks - Collie Version - Honest Jons Records (Cedric 'Im' Brooks & the Light of Saba)

Fenny
Ana Lua  Caiano - Uma Vida A Menos - Glitterbeat 
Sami Galbi × Baby Volcano - La Baba - Bongo Joe 
Fatoumata  Diawara - Sigui - No Format (Massa) 
Mexican Institute of Sound and Meridian Brothers feat. Beck - Ritmo Babilonia - Ansonia Records (Ruido Tovar)

Brendon Moeller - Black Sector Dub - Steadfast/Bandcamp (Slacker Logistics)
Ohkuma - Deviation – newdubhall
Medisun x Adam Prescott – Scorching Dub
Dub Crusaders - Reading from the Book of Life (Drum Talk) - Partial Records (Universal Spirit Warrior)

 

Playlist - 24th May 2026

 

 

 

Dub Syndicate – Ravi Shankar Pt1 (China mix) – Leghorn
DJ Sandrinho - Aluja de Lansa (remix) – FLEE (Candomble: Sacred Rhythms in Brazil)
Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band - Flash Gordon's Ape (instrumental) - Straight (Lick My Decals Off, Baby)
Captain Beefheart - The Buggy Boogie Woogie (Acapella) - Straight (Lick My Decals Off, Baby)
Bill Orcutt - Because Sharp Also Smooth - Bandcamp (Music In Continuous Motion)
Rodja - Dub from Ekbatown - XCPT (Third Force)
Tse - Desert Dub - Opulsion (Ghost Dub)
Contours - Sterile Light -  Bandcamp (Perc EP)
Mario Rui Silva -  Kizomba Kya Kisanji - Time Capsule (Stories From Another Time 1982-1988)
Mario Rui Silva - Kazum-Zum-Zum - Time Capsule (Stories From Another Time 1982-1988)
KADAPAT & Nova Ruth feat. Siko Setyanto - The Ancestors' Orison - SVBKVLT (Ocean Cage)
Lauren Duffus & Rainy Miller & Bianca Scout  - Poetic Fallacy - Fixed Abode x Unsound (Everything Always Changes, For We’re Truly Here)
Mariam Wallentin X Vestnorsk Jazzensemble - Basel - Hubro (Spring Flood) 
Federico Perotti - Toccata Sistina I - Feral Note (Quadro)
Ibrahim Alfa Jnr. - Drum Slinger (Other Version) - FO  (Infinite Black Inside)

Fenny
Cocanha - Diure Samsir - Bongo Joe (Flame Folclore)
Tamikrest - Imizdjam - Glitterbeat (Assikel)
D Rothan - In the Racket Too – Clay Pipe (Angel Pavements)
Max Cooper - The Shape of Memory - Mesh (Feeling is Structure)

memotone - One Winged Bird - Accidental Meetings (Warm Shadows)
Low End Activist - Sapphire - XCPT (JH Versions)
Marisa Anderson - Pair of Duduk - Thrill Jockey (The Anthology of UnAmerican Folk Music)
7FO - Quiet Flash – Bokeh Versions 7”
Dean McPhee - Appleby Fair - Bass Ritual (Northern Earth)

Straight to NTS Head

https://www.nts.live/shows/jon-k-presents-peking-spring/episodes/jon-k-presents-peking-spring-14th-may-2026

Playlist - 17th May 2026

 

 

 

Dub Syndicate – Ravi Shankar Pt1 (China mix) – Leghorn
Father Dionysios Tabakis - Perdesiz - Heat Crimes (Paradise Metal)
Nimco Jamaac - Buuraha U Dheer (The Highest Mountains) - Ostinato (Sweet As Broken Dates - Lost Somali Tapes from the Horn of Africa)
alys(alys)alys - effervescence - Boukan Records (soda geyser)
Abadir - Habban - Planet Mu
Damos Room - The Husbands Are Waiting - Limbo Tapes (Walk With the Militia)
Nala Sinephro - Mark - Warp (The Smashing Machine)
Batu & Donato Dozzy - Drift - K7 (Exhale)
DJ Firehouse - Gardening - Bandcamp (Planting EP) 
Kevin Richard Martin - Deep Space - Intercranial Recordings (Blue Loops)
Walter Verdin & Various Artists) - Minimalize (Jlin Rework) - Cortizona (Minimalize Your Reworks)
Boards of Canada - Prophecy At 1420 MHz - Warp (Inferno) 
Seefeel - AM Flares - Warp (Sol Hz)
upsammy & Valentina Magaletti - Some Unimaginable World - PAN (Seismo)

Fenny
Ibibio Sound Machine - Return to Sender - Merge Records 
Mincka - Rainy Day - Rucksack Records (Mincka) 
Sara Parkman - Svarta traden - Supertraditional (Aster Atlas)
Tremor - Takuy ZZK Records (Takuy)

Hans Reichel - Return of the Knoedler Show - Black Truffle (Dalbergia Retusa)
Sir Richard Bishop - Finger, Tennessee - Drag City (Hillbilly Erotica)
Topdown Dialectic - False LP A - 01 - False Aralia
Topdown Dialectic - False LP A - 02 - False Aralia
Discovery Zone - Arp Angels - RVNG Intl (Library Copy Do Not Remove)
Bhajan Bhoy - To Pray For Freedom - Wormer Bros (Live at Le Guess Who)

 

Playlist - 10th May 2026

 

 

 

Dub Syndicate – Ravi Shankar Pt1 (China mix) – Leghorn

Tribute to I Roy Part 4 Chapter 2
I Roy – Frankie J & Melinda -  Crystal (Derrick Harriott)
The Crystalites – Frankie J & Melinda Version -  Crystal (Derrick Harriott)
The Crystalites – Tougher Than Tough Version -  Crystal (Derrick Harriott)
I Roy – Tougher Than Tough – Crystal (Derrick Harriott)
I Roy – Kent Road Skank – Sounds Of Muzik Blank (P Monroe)
Super Roy – Flying High – Sounds By Monk (USA) (G Edwards)
Ras Monk All Stars – Super Cool Part Two – Sounds By Monk (USA) (G Edwards
Augustus Pablo – IJava – mpact! (Clive ‘Randy’s’ Chin)
Impact All Stars – Java Version - Impact! (Clive ‘Randy’s’ Chin)
I Roy – Hospital Trolley – I Roy ‘Don’t Check Me With No Lightweight Stuff 1972 to 1975’ – Blood & Fire LP/CD (UK) (Clive Randy’s’ Chin)
Tommy McCook - Jaro – Impact! (USA) (Clive ‘Randy’s’ Chin)
Tommy McCook - Maro – Impact! (USA) (Clive ‘Randy’s’ Chin)
I Roy – Tiger From Bengalie – Success (Rupie Edwards)
I Roy – Christmas Dub Wise – Success (Rupie Edwards)
I Roy – Yamaha Ride – Santic (Leonard ‘Santic’ Chin)
Santic All Stars - Mexican Rocking – Santic (Leonard ‘Santic’ Chin)
I Roy – Two Big Sounds – Volcano 12” (Henry ‘Junjo’ Lawes)

Thanks to Selector in Chief Mr Noel Orks for the tunes - all strickly vinyl

 

Bhundu Boys - Hatisi Tose - Sadza Records
Mazuzu - West Nkosi - Earthworks
Red Hession Books - Rodents Conquer New York - PUMF 
Single Mexican Institute of Sound and Meridian Brothers - El Campeon - Ansonia Records/Bandcamp 
Oddu -.Montoya - ZZK RECORDS
Her comes that crow - Leenalchi - Kuala Bop
Tamed - Juli Deak - Thanatos Produktion
Ijo Ya - Kiko Navarro feat Adele Sosimi and Lizzy - Lovemonk

Rod Modell - Frequencies In The Fog (Part 1) - Spa