Germaican Scout and Bassrunner Soundtribe: sound systems, riddims and danceable reggae

GERMAICAN SCOUT operate partly like a sound system and partly like a direct marketing team. Two vocalists, Bobby Buster & Ill Inspecta, and a selector, Pionear, mainly perform songs on riddims produced by their home label, Germaican Records. The best known is, of course, “Doctor’s Darling”, licensed by VP Records. The label has been running for 5 years and Germaican Scout for over a year, but its individual players have been active far longer. Pionear produces the vast majority of Germaican Records releases. Bobby Buster and Ill Inspecta have each released several solo singles and recorded a few together, including the outstanding “Alla Di Gal Dem” on GR’s latest riddim, “Messer Banzani”. You can find the video, photographs and plenty of music at www.scout.germaica.net

19 April 2005

BASSRUNNER SOUNDTRIBE are a musical collective running a sound system, small independent label and studio. Selector Loopus stays on dancehall’s bright side, leaving slackness aside without sacrificing danceability: his sets overflow with good energy and twisted vitality. Chilean-born El Condorsito adds fire, delivering Spanish vocals over every familiar and unfamiliar rhythm Loopus spins. Find photographs, sounds and information at www.bassrunner.net

As part of strengthening their neighbourly, brotherly ties, both crews are taking part in the “Biba! Riddim” project, and their recordings will most likely appear on this first Polish riddim album.