Pama International – Heatwave b/w Skies Are Blue

Oooh wee do we love a good reworking of a record, and after a seven year hiatus, Pama International are back in the game with a beautiful cover record. For this record, they get right into a bang up cover of the Martha Reeves and the Vandells side “Heatwave”. A beautiful rocksteady soul version that hits it right on the collective reggae head with this one. Taken from their highly anticipated new full length Love & Austerity in Spring 2017 on Record Kicks, the tune features some beautiful vocal harmonies from Jewels Vass and Anna Uhuru as well as some top notch rock steady vibes fro the band themselves. If you are into rocksteady and reggae too, you know that there is a long, wonderful history of cover songs out of JA, the UK, and the US (later, particularly with the later ska wave of interesting reworkings and covers of many great sides). “Heatwave” is sunny, light, and screams to be played at an outside bar where they serve top notch, cool adult beverages and have a nook to light up that spliff you’ve just rolled. The flip, “Blue Skies” is a slow roller that definitely showcases some lovely vocals, a perfect pairing with the monster cover of Motown. Like we said, we are down with the covers, so if you think you know of a great cover we haven’t covered (pun intended) yet, then shoot us a line. Check out a snippet of both tracks below, and buy the record after the jump. We also might add, the clear vinyl and JA looking label art is pretty dope as well. It’s in the details, and of course the music is great. More seven inch heat out of the Record Kicks camp once again.