With a legacy spanning over three decades, George Evelyn—better known as Nightmares on Wax—has continually redefined the possibilities of sound. From the sample-rich days of 'Smokers Delight' to the introspective and transformative journey of 'Shout Out! To Freedom', he’s created a body of work that isn’t just about music, but emotional resonance, culture, and evolution.

With 'Echo45 Sound System', N.O.W takes that lineage a step further—a mixtape that feels like both a celebration and a declaration. And it's more than a compilation—it's a living, breathing sound system experience that merges soul, roots, hip-hop, dub, and electronic textures with fearless spirit. Featuring a carefully curated ensemble of collaborators—including Yasiin Bey, Greentea Peng, Sadie Walker, Liam Bailey, and more—the record doesn’t just reflect where Nightmares on Wax has been. It boldly announces where he’s going.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Long serving shop favourite Nightmares On Wax returns with more of his trademark dubwise downbeat. With a wealth of contemporary vocal talent across soul and reggae to call on; George Evelyn concocts a suitably stoned and soulful affair.

TRACK LISTING

1. Echo45, We Are! Feat. Oscar Jerome
2. Dive Into Feat. Louis VI
3. Desire Feat. Haile Supreme, Liam Bailey
4. Bang Bien Feat. Yasiin Bey
5. Echo45 Feat. Liam Bailey
6. True Feat. Sadie Walker
7. I Remember Feat. Greentea Peng
8. Starwood Bound Feat. Sadie Walker
9. Ain’t So… Feat. LSK
10. Mumzie Cut Feat. Liam Bailey
11. Holding On Feat. Ladi6
12. Wind Of Change Feat. Yarah Bravo
13. Hop-to-Mystic Feat. Liam Bailey

Stripped-back dub techno, carried by ghostly, voodoo-haunted vocals. From Grand-Popo 2013 to Helsinki 2025, a slow burn across time and space that echoes both the work of Tikiman with Rhythm & Sound, and more recently The Bug and his projects with various rasta men, woman and sound bwoys (and gyals). Recommended! 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Heavyweight techno-dubs that nod to the great masters of the echo chamber.

TRACK LISTING

01 Hode Medio
02 Hode Medio Version
03 Sakpata
04 Sakpata Version

Killer mid 70s roots rocker from The Cool Ruler with the sound of babylon dubwise on the flip from The Mighty Two Joe Gibbs.

TRACK LISTING

1. Gregory Isaacs - Babylon Too Tough
2. Mighty Two - I Stand Accused

Soul singer supreme, Jalen Ngonda and producer/veteran keyboardist, Victor Axelrod join forces to deliver the collaboration we all needed- the impossibly soulful, reggae banger 'All About Me'.

Having worked together on the sessions for 'Come Around and Love Me', Axelrod recalls being inspired by the similarities between Jalen’s voice and a young Bitty Mclean. He had the beds to a track already recorded, but needed the right singer. With Jalen on board, the two wrote the lyrics and recorded the vocals in one night.

Written from the perspective of an arrogant lover, the track’s party-forward swing and stellar vocal performance make for a pop-forward gem poised to be massive on both the soul and reggae scenes.

TRACK LISTING

1. All About Me
2. All About Me (Dub)

Rob Smith, RSD is not only a successful dubstep producer and pioneer of the Bristol sound, but also a very popular deejay travelling the world sharing his music. Coming from a reggae background and well-versed in sound system culture, Rob kept some of his best productions for his exclusive use when deejaying, the only way you would hear these gems was being played in one of Rob's sets. Fortunately, we've managed to persuade Rob to let Reggae Archive Records share these dubplate specials with a wider audience on a limited-edition vinyl LP. Compiled and sequenced in conjunction with Rob, the LP features nine tracks newly edited and mastered by Rob to enhance the bass playback on vinyl - it's cut heavy! The tracks were recorded between 2006 and 2011, a time when one strand of dubstep heavily embraced reggae and dub. Rob calls these tracks reggae infused dubstep and that's what they are, but Reggae Archive Records is a reggae label and this selection of dubstep tracks will most certainly appeal just as much to reggae and dub fans. Fusing dubstep beats, reggae samples, and seriously heavy basslines, this is a joyous celebration of musical cross fertilisation that has been tried and tested in clubs worldwide. In keeping with the dubplate origins of the tracks, we have designed the labels to replicate an old school acetate, while the sleeve pays tribute to seventies pre-releases albums with a replica stamp giving just the artist and title on a plain white sleeve with aged effect. 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Ruthless selection of reggae inspired dubstep from Bristol legend and Grand Central alumni Rob Smith (Smith & Mighty) composed during arguably, the most fertile period of the genre.

TRACK LISTING

1. Bend Down & Prey
2. Babylonian
3. Bredrin
4. Jah The Creator
5. Do You Believe
6. Risking Dub
7. Jah Is My Light
8. Production Plan
9. Dub Kingdom

US label Lovers Rock Recordings is back with more sophisticated soul sounds from a bona fide legend. There is no deep digging involved for the source material here, but that's not to say the results aren't still essential. First up are the beautifully horizontal grooves of 'Hang Onto Your Love' with dancing keys adding a little playfulness up top and syrupy bass melting the heart from below. On the flip is 'No Ordinary Love' which is an even more slow, immersive sound with gloppy bass and drawn out chords all slowing time and softening reality. No brainers for late night lovers.

STAFF COMMENTS

Mine says: Vol. 1 of the new Sophisticated Soul Legends series was a big hit with you lot and although this one features no vocals, it's no less of a hit. Whether you're a Sade fan or not (and why wouldn't you be...), if you like a bit of late night melancholy (and why wouldn't you!!) then this needs to be in your collection. The instrumental of No Ordinary Love is particularly outstanding if you ask me.

TRACK LISTING

Hang Onto Your Love (Instrumental)
No Ordinary Love (Instrumental)

MAXED OUT MAXI EP OF THE HIGHEST ORDER FROM TAPES, HONOURING JAHTARI'S 20 YEARS OF D.I.G.I.T.A.L. BUSINESS IN FINEST STYLE...LOADED WITH RIB-8-BIT PRESSURE!

Four digital dancehall scorchers with two accompanying 8-bit versions meticulously crafted with the soundsystem session in mind!

Tapes has been spreading wonky saturated riddim goodness since his ground breaking “Hissing Theatricals” EP in 2009. Now, after a brief hibernation in the northern spawning pools, he’s spinning up his reels once again to present a new killer set of amphibian friendly, Nintendo’d sound system depth charges!

The “Photos of My Frog EP” is croaking off with its oddly addictive namesake: a surefire pond party starter – Ribbit! Hopping along, the adorable but tuff “Cleat Skank” and its Gameboy driven pollywog follow, swinging their 8bit melody lasso till the cows come home. Yeehaw!

“Ramp Up” on B is a dense and raw FM synth digi banger, sure to fry any nearby circuits, so best beware! “Back Cramp Riddim” then turns up the low end even more and swirls its drums and synths into the next delay vortex, warping into a pixelated 8bit conclusion.

Whatever your taste in insects there’s something on this record for any lover of vintage dancehall and amphibious wild life alike!

These are going to fly out - sticky tongues at the ready!

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Bonkers but brilliant 8-bit reduxes alongside the more high fidelity OGs. Tapes and Jahtari always pushing the envelop of the digi-dub genre. Tip!

TRACK LISTING

Photos Of My Frog Riddim
Cleat Skank Riddim
Cleat Skank 8-bit
Ramp Up Riddim
Back Cramp Riddim
Back Cramp 8-bit