Dub Syndicate – Ambience In Dub 1982-1985 (On-U Sound)
LP / CD / DL
Out Now
8.5 / 10
Early 80s re-releases from studio-based dub band.
The latest in the extensive, and surely definitive
re-releases from Adrian Sherwood’s label sees Dub Syndicate re-release and
re-issue their first four albums on heavyweight vinyl together with an album of
unreleased versions. All five albums are
also available as a 5 cd boxset.
Over thirty years ago On-U Sound Records were releasing
material that was far ahead of its time.
In many respects, and quite unbelievably the same albums still are. It can be questioned whether the World will
ever be ready for the labels early output.
It fused dub with electro, hip-hop, funk and punk in a sound crash that
has never been, and maybe never will be, repeated. Its sound was genre defying, and unable to be
defined it has simply become ‘On-U’, to the labels barmy army of fans it has
become almost a way of life.
Recorded quickly, due to On-U allegedly running out of
money, Dub Syndicate’s first offering The Pounding System was an album of
instrumental dub with wicked reggae rhythms and mutilated effects which would
become a trademark of the label. Several
of the tracks titles famously making light of The Scientist whose own had
become almost laughable themselves. The title
track and album opener sets out the stall quickly with both a lazy reggae feel
and some sumptuous reverb by the studio based project made up of Sherwood and a
collective of musicians. Humourless Journalists
Work To Rules contains a quite incredible bassline intertwined with various electro
effects and serves as one of those experimental tracks you either hated or
loved but tracks like Crucial Tony Tries To rescue The Space Invaders (With
Only 10p) surely the later had to be the case.
One Way System followed on quickly, still a collective of
musicians built around Sherwood and drummer Style Scott (Creation Rebel, Roots
Radis) and was originally released on the ROIR label allegedly due to lack of
funds at On-U. Much of the album contains versions of tracks from other On-U
releases with an opener by Bim Sherman, Socca, from the Singers and Players
album Staggering Heights. An experimental album, not unusual for On-U(!) which
had deep roots tracks shoulder to shoulder with pieces like heavy bass Drilling
Equipment, a riotous throb of sound with an upbeat percussion making it turn
the album on its head.
Dr Pablo and his melodica playing (not to be confused with Augustus
Pablo) joined Dub Syndicate for North Of The River Thames in 1984, again a member
of Creation Rebel on their live shows he contributed to the album that saw his previous
band become what was recognised as his new one.
The album title was in direct response to Augustus’ album East Of The
River Nile and featured the brilliant version of the Dr Who(?) theme, dubbed
and redubbed along with slow reggae beat and space-age effects and, Tribute
which had sneaky excerpts of Get Up Stand Up tucked away in its tune.
By the time Jah Wobble, Keith Levene, Bim Sherman and Steve Beresford
joined Dub Syndicate for Tunes From The Missing Channel, things had moved on significantly. Sherwood has discovered the emulator and the
ability to ‘sample’ voices and instruments to create brand new effects being
arguably one of the first people to do so and starting a whole new episode in
popular music paving the way for the likes of Coldcut, Double D & Steinski
and DJ Shadow. Ravi Shankar Part 1 later
evolved into the theme tune for Radio Lancashire’s On The Wire featuring the
legendary Steve Barker who became very much an unnamed member of On-U and who
provides sleeve notes for several of their releases. Heavy on reverb and new technology, the album
stands as a classic not only from the labels perspective but also in the
general development of dub music.
The final album in the wonderful set is Displaced Masters, a
collection of outtakes and unreleased archive tracks heard for the first
time. Tracks which are highly stripped
back and displays early sounds of Dub Syndicate perhaps unknowingly setting the
path which On-U would later follow. The
superb Mind Boggles opens the album and the late Sherman’s dulcet tones feature
on Money Dealers, Haunted Ground and Keep You Rocking.
Ambience In Dub is classic stuff in the same vain as the
recent re-releasing of the African Head Charge back catalogue, and is an essential
not only for On-U and dub fans but also for any discerning alternative music
lovers. Trail blazing, barrier breaking
and often, sheer genius.
