Looking for the best compilation this year? Well, you may just have found it. Maximum Sound 20:20 collects no less than 40 tunes from the mighty UK label Maximum Sound.
This 20th anniversary album celebrates the work of Frenchie, a French born producer who moved to London and started his career as an apprentice engineer at Fashion’s A Class studio in the late 80’s. But for the past 20 years he has run Europe’s number one reggae label – Maximum Sound.
Through this label – and a few subsidiaries – he has put out loads of rough and tough roots and dancehall singles, albums and riddims. He has also managed to voice a veritable who’s who in the contemporary reggae business, including Alborosie, Morgan Heritage, Bounty Killer, Vybz Kartel, Tarrus Riley, Mr. Vegas and Sizzla. Highly impressive for a European producer.
This 40 track comes in roughly chronological order and collects no fillers, only die hard killers – Junior Kelly’s Tough Life, Capleton’s All is Well, Bunny General’s Spye Fi Die and Captain Sinbad’s Capital Offence to name just a few. The latter is also a track that triggered a full album from the Captain, his first since the mid 80’s.
Maximum Sound celebrates 20 years, so it would have been a logical decision to choose only 20 tunes. But that wasn’t apparently enough. And I agree. Even though I could have gone for an even longer compilation.
Maximum Sound 20:20 is only available on digital platforms.
Reggaemani 
wicked compilation of this label! big up frenchie!
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