The reissue:
rediscovering obscurities in the present Written by Miguel Gonzales | Designed by Yasmine Chang | Graphics by Florence Wang
How archival record labels are unearthing obscurities and long-forgotten artists into a new generation’s music rotation Google is my best friend. To me, it’s the equivalent to digging through a crate of random records, especially if you’re trudging through result after result in search of new music; there’s always something rewarding waiting at the end of the rabbit hole. You may discover a compilation of Persian pop from the ‘60s and ‘70s, an outsider low-fidelity gospel record, or other eclectic finds just from a simple search. A special find I discovered four years ago was Dadawah’s 1974 album,
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Peace and Love, a life-affirming and healing record I revisit time and time again. The sounds are expansive, haunting and radiant—so much so, it warranted a 2010 reissue under Dug Out, a label specializing in reissued reggae records. There are many reasons why founders Mark Ernestus and Mark Ainley decide to repress long-forgotten records. By highlighting artists overshadowed in the past and actively archiving their work in the goal of reaching new audiences, the reissue has become