Tony McDermott wins the world cup…

I knew there was something fishy about the Scritti Politi track that Trick picked out for show 54. Ranking Ann’s style sounded too measured for this to be a flash in the pan pop-reggae cash-in, and sure enough after a quick leaf through the shelves it turned out Ann was part of Mad Professor’s Ariwa posse, the south London collective who have been pushing the boundaries of dub, dancehall and lovers rock for near on 3 decades.

There’s always been something which sets British reggae aside from it’s Caribbean counterparts, maybe it’s the weather; a drizzly autumn afternoon in any UK inner city is pretty much the antithesis of that old sun-drenched reggae myth. And with our temperate climate comes a tumultuous sense of humour, one captured by Greensleeves in-house designer Tony McDermott who’s caricatures remain as much a part of the UK reggae idiom as Janet Kay’s silly games or David Hinds’ hair.

I’ll spare you any more spiel and leave you to marvel at some of my favourite McDermott covers…