Niney the Observer Presents the All Stars: Turbo Charge

The great producer Winston “Niney” Holness was a major figure in reggae’s 1970s roots-and-culture period, but also contributed significantly to the development of early dancehall and the digital-roots sound of the late 1980s and early 1990s. This collection finds him working with an array of artists across various reggae subgenres, including Yami Bolo, Frankie Paul, Gregory Isaacs, and even the great Junior Byles. There’s a great variety of sounds here, from the reggae-hip-hop fusion of Charlie Sprang and Commanche (“Jamaican Talk, Foreign Rap”) to Big Youth’s conscious “Chanting” and some classic lovers rock from Sugar Minott. The dub versions could have been a bit more adventurous, but this album is a solid winner overall.