Pama International and the Happy People label herald the return of some more recommendations from my 2023 shopping bag that may creep onto your Bandcamp Friday or Christmas wish lists.
"Hang on a minute," you might be saying, "why have you posted a YouTube clip of the opening titles and theme tune to Desmond's then?!"
Ah, glad you asked (well, imagine you asked anyway). Well, those lovely people at, er, Happy People also saw fit to release the theme song of the classic Channel 4 sitcom in 2021 and - somehow, I can't remember how - it was looking up this song that led me to Bandcamp and from there, discovering Happy People Records and Pama International. I enthused about the label back in April.
As an aside, what may have prompted the search was that Mrs. K and I have been revisiting Desmond's, the entirety of which is available on All4. The first series takes a little time to find it's way but it's brilliantly written throughout by creator Trix Worrell.
Norman Beaton plays the titular lead and also sings the theme tune, Don't Scratch My Soca, co-written by Trix and John Collins, who also produced Ghost Town by The Specials. Copies of the limited edition 7" vinyl are still available at a ridiculously low price or as a free digital download.
But I digress, this is supposed to be about Pama International!
Discogs succinctly describes them as an "All-star Ska, Reggae and Dub collective starring members from The Specials, Galliano, Bentley Rhythm Ace, Special Beat, The Loafers, Pop Will Eat Itself based in London, UK" which is a good start.
Core member Sean Flowerdew (ex-The Loafers) also co-founded the Happy People label with Lenny Bignell and for the full immersive experience - although I hope not literally - they also organise regular themed cruises on the Thames. If you're quick, you still be able to nab tickets for the London Intl Ska Festival Christmas Thames Cruise on 2nd December.
"Khayem, you're digressing again," you may be sighing at this point, "get on with it! What about the music?"
Ah well, my entry point to Pama International was a release from February this year, the rather wonderful Pama Int'l Meets Wrongtom In Dub.
I'm a fan of Wrongtom's dub productions anyway, so this was a very easy purchase for me. It's a refreshing, energising listen over eight songs and half an hour, from the opening Nasty Dub (aka Lovely Wife) featuring Rico Rodriguez to the blissed out closer Dubbing In Outerspace (aka The Race For Inner Space).
Although released in 2023, the dubs were produced in 2008-09 and intended as a version companion to Pama International's 2007 album, Love Filled Dub Band. Thankfully, rescued from a dusty Peckham cupboard and available for the first time this year, Pama Int'l Meets Wrongtom In Dub has racked up many, many plays this year.
If this floats your boat, then you can also find similarly satisfying dub collisions with Pama Intl Meets Mad Professor and Pama Intl Meets Manasseh: Trojan Sessions In Dub
Don't stop there, though. Pama International's Southern Soul Of Jamaica was released last month...
... with Return Of The Unity Rockers set to land in March 2024, alongside a promised UK tour. Bring it on!
For your further listening pleasure, I've re-posted the Dubby Happy People selection from April 2023.
