The long
nights are here and the sun is slowly disappearing but it doesn’t stop the
steady stream of great reggae releases.
This round-up sees us look at the latest
releases all with a dub twist.
Singers & Players
– Revenge Of The Underdog (On U-Sound Records)
Singers
& Players – War Of Version (On-u Sound Records)
Vinyl
8.5/10
Out Now
The second
album from the On-U Sound collective featuring the likes of Print Far I, Bim
Sherman and Ari Up has a vinyl re-release some thirty-three years after its
original appearance. Label supremo Adrian
Sherwood has yet again re-mastered in Berlin and the end result is
delightful.
Revenge Of
The Underdog is slightly more complex than its predecessor War Of Words and is
a superbly entertaining listen for it.
Heavy on dub and DJ interludes it brought together the vibe of a London
brimming over on the punk experience and dipping a dreadlock into reggae.
As always,
Sherwood’s approach is revolutionary and creates yet another string to the On-U
bow. Tracks are simple but filled with
reverb and deep on bass. Opener, the
curiously titled ‘a Dungeon b Merchant Ship c Jah Army Band’ is effectively
three tracks segued together with some of the most addictive hooks. It’s bare and wonderful.
Some of the
album isn’t easy listening for the On-U unfamiliar, Follower and Resolution in
particular but once bitten by the On-U bug they become indispensable.
Released at
the same time is the War Of Version four track EP. Part of the legendary 10” Disco Plate Series
it features tracks from the sessions for Singers & Players’ first two
albums. Two new treats in the forms of
Calling Over The Distant Sea (with previously unheard vocals by Prince Far I)
and Don’t Be Greedy (unheard mix by Jah Whoosh).
If dub is
your thing (and why shouldn’t it be?), then War Of Version is a must own.
Congo Natty – Jungle
Revolution In Dub (Big Dada)
LP / CD / DL
8.5/10
Out Now
Congo
Natty’s classic 2013 album is given the dub treatment with contributions from
Dubkasm, DJ Madd and Mungos HiFi. Incorporating
drum n bass together with, not surprisingly jungle, the artist formerly known
as Rebel MC (Google it kids) teams up with guests Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry,
Scientist and Mala to make a fine album.
Mikail
Tafari (for it is he) brings sixteen tracks bang up to date with the help of a
new breed of dub talent – Hylu & Jago mix Jungle Is I And I – stalwarts
King Yoof and Sukh Knight lend a hand with Microchip and Get Ready
respectively.
There are
hints of dancehall too which fit in perfectly and the album isn’t short of commercial
fodder to please the dub newcomer, but it’s when the tracks become complex and
full of more dub than you can shake a dubby stick at that they rise beyond the
pale.
Jungle Revolution In Dub is a nice twist in the story of dub thus far collating
traditional effects and a look to the future whilst keeping the feel of
remixing and versioning well alive.
Often heavy of bass, it’s an absolute delight and maybe one you should
be writing to Father Xmas for.
Dennis Bovell – Dub 4
Daze (Glitterbeat Records)
LP
8.5/10
Out Now
The
legendary dub and reggae producer Dennis Bovell releases a new album of
stunning dub mixes retrieved from his archives with the addition of some new
versions too. Using an analogue desk to
create some amazing material, the former producer of The Slits and The Pop
Group shows why he is so revered in the genre.
Zipping from
roots to space echo, Dub 4 Daze is a lesson in how to create the leader in dub
albums. The track Top Level Dub couldn’t
explain the album better if it tried, with played down brass and a lazy reggae
beat it typifies the album on which Bovell sings and plays many of the instruments
himself.
It is on the
dubbed tracks that the album really shines, and shine it does. Dub Affair features echoed out vocals and
reverb upon reverb makes the album an absolute joy. Physics Of Dub takes this one step further
with some backwards recorded sounds as an entry before more sci-fi effects come
to the fore.
Aged Dub
moves along with a desert rock buzz and album closer Tuned Dub provides more
rich and pure sounds from the man that has also worked with the likes of Marvin
Gaye and the great Fela Kuti.
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