Man A Bad Man

Bounty Killer

The 'Juice' rhythm is the hot rhythm of the moment and, for my money, of the year so far. The reggae year is often slow to get started so this kicks off 2001 in fine style, even though we're now into March . An absolutely wicked rhythm from the ever-dependable Call Me Shams label, 'Juice' has a distinct bhangra feel to it which, along with some synthesised orchestral strings and chiming steel pan style beats, give the production a distinct Sly & Robbie flavour. If you liked the Taxi label's bhangra styled version to Capleton's Stop Your Coming & Come (which David Rodigan plays as a background link on his Kiss FM shows each Sunday night) then you'll love this.

As always there are plenty of cuts to this rhythm and it's not easy picking the best but for me it's Bounty Killer's scorching Man A Badman, backed by TOK. If you like Bounty Killer at all this is an essential purchase. Value for money too because on the other side is the next stand out cut, this time from TOK alone, Shake Your Bam Bam. With dancehall-friendly lyrics like "Bam bam, wine to the ground/Bam bam, wine and go down" Shake Your Bam Bam might well prove to be the most popular in the dances.

The problem with double A sides like this, of course, is that you don't get the version. So why not treat yourself to Beenie Man's My Wish which has the Juice rhythm in its full dubwise entirety on the B side, just like the old days. My Wish is a trenchant piece of social commentary on the Jamaican economy and its shortcomings. Not every record has a line like "No disrespect to the Leader of Finance" in it.

Having bought that you might as well buy Vegas' Go Up with its hands-in-the-air 'Bo, bo' chorus that you'll doubtless be hearing all over the place before long. In fact, go ahead and buy all the cuts, which include Anything from Cobra, My Girls from Degree, Frisco Kid's Zion and Goofy's No Check.