Beginning in the 1940s, a steady stream of Jamaicans emigrated to England and brought with them their musical culture. As a result, the U.K. has long been second only to Jamaica as a center of reggae production and consumption. Of the many fine record companies that have sprung up from the British reggae scene, few have produced such consistently fine material as the scrappy Fashion label, which specialized in the lovers rock and early dancehall styles, with a special focus on the work of local DJs. Essential Dancehall Reggae compiles 16 tracks spanning the label's first 15 years. Some of this material was previously anthologized on the RAS compilation A Fashion Statement, which has something of an edge over this one by virtue of its inclusion of Smiley Culture's "Cockney Translation" (this album offers his inferior "Police Officer") and especially Nerious Joseph's brilliant cover of "Rock With Me Baby." But there's plenty of top-quality material on this collection as well, including Nerious Joseph's "Sensi Crisis" and Sweetie Irie's rock-solid "Slim Body Girl." This album's midline price works in its favor as well. Recommended. ~ Rick Anderson, All Music Guide