Various Artists - The Midlands Roots Explosion Volume Two (Reggae Archive Records)

And just like last time, the compilation opens with a track by Steel Pulse, this time 'Bun Dem', a song that was originally released on the Tempus label back in 1977. The rest of the track list contains a number of names (Iganda, Carnastoan, Musical Youth, Sceptre...) we already encountered on the first volume as well, but also five bands and artists whose music had not previously appeared on the label. There's 'Generals', a 1982 song by Natural Mistique, the excellent 'Hustling Man' by the late Linton Haughton, 'Run And Hide' by Afrikan Star, 'African' by Bass Dance (a joint project of ex-Steel Pulse vocalist/guitarist Basil Gabbidon and his brother Colin), and our personal favorite: Sledge Hammer's 'Ruled By The Stone'. In any case, more than enough rarities waiting to be (re-) discovered!