Bedi

Nov

2014

Ras Tweed – “Mek A Raise”

Salomon Heritage label released an LP of one of their favorite vocalists – Ras Tweed, who has performed numberless times i.a. with Kruder & Dorfmeister, Rockers Hi-Fi, Overproof Soundsystem or Kiril Dżajkovski – it’s a man literally living with music.

Album “Mek A Raise” is a collection of 10 tunes (5 with Ras Tweed’s vocals and 5 dub versions). Murray Man, Chazbo, Kibir La Amlak and Hugdanjahman are responsible for the music. There are also some guests on vocals – in “Make a Raise” Ras Tweed gets complemented by Mulu, known from Kibir La Amlak live shows. Her voice beautifully harmonizes with Tweed’s voice, who connects singing with talking in dub poetry style. In “Lion Paw” we can hear Nish Wadada – I consider that tune one of the best on the album. “I am that I am” is a strong accent, it has really heavy rhythm. Musically, the whole album is on a very high level and Ras Tweed’s voice fits it perfectly. Each of the dub versions contains good effects and bass that stays in your head for a long time. I am glad that so good vocalists as Ras Tweed finally released his solo album and shown all of his aces!

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Salomon-Heritage/178376032181688

Nov

2014

Mad Codiouf – “Polska / Koolios” (12”)

Digipirate label is back with a bang, due to a Belgian producer Mad Codiouf who embeds his works in Iration Steppas’ style – that is really powerful bass and a heavy atmosphere. His productions were released recently by netlabel Maree Bass (‘Militant Art Of Dub) and the lack of releases on vinyl was surpsising, fortunately Digipirate rewards us with a surplus.

The album contains 2 track + dub mixes. The first one has a little surprising title “Polska” (Poland) – I guess that the inspiration was Mad Codiouf’s visit with OBF sound system in our country. The tune itself is amazing, heavy dub steppers, which, together with the version, should be played on every session about 3-4 AM. “Koolios” is a dark roller, that slowly crushes with its heavy atmosphere, while the dub version plays with effects in masterly style. It is worth mentioning that Mad Codiouf’s productions for a long time were played by OBF as dubplates, smashing system rooms. Without a doubt, a “must have” for every maniac of heavyweight dubwise style!!!

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/digipirate

https://soundcloud.com/codiouf

Oct

2014

Johnny Clarke / Roots Defender – “Come let we gather” (7”)

Bababoom Hi Fi label presents us a new 7” with roots reggae legend Johnny Clarke, who meets Roots Defender Band in Satta Studio. This Italian crew plays i.a. with Micheal Prophet or Earl 16. “Come let we gather” is a nice roots&culture with lovely voice of Johnny Clarke and a brilliant, rootical riddim played by Satta (drums), Basque Dub Foundation (bass), Nobke (keys) and Draxt (guitar). The track was mixed and mastered by Jamtone and Pilah. Of course the flip side contains dub version, where the musicians prove that they know what dubwise is.

Oct

2014

New releases from Roots Injection and Green House

Roots Ambasada Store presented us 4 new releases – 2 from Roots Injection and 2 from Green House. All of them are connected by Ras Muffet, a sound system scene icon. He started his journey alongside Jah Shaka and established his own sound system Jah Marcus. Later he got into creating music and his productions are played by legends like Aba Shanti or Iration Steppas. Nowadays there probably isn’t any person who attends sound system sessions and doesn’t know Roots Injection productions. On the new 10″s from that label we hear Rick Wayne’s and great Sista Mary’s vocals. Rick Wayne, a Jamaican who started his musical path in Kingston to continue it in London, sings to a very good, steppers rhythm with a tuff bass line in “Love Jah and Live”. He also presents himself well in “Render Your Heart”. The second 10″ with Sista Mary has amazing energy in both the vocals and the rhythm – a gorgeous vibration comes from “Blind eye” and similarly from “Dem Lost”, where she shows her unique talent and magic that attracts the listener. Green House releases are in a digital style – on the 7″ “Informer” you can listen to Rick Wayne one more time and on the second one Eamon Sterling sings about the sense of life.

Oct

2014

Kibir La Amlak & Maija – “Restoreth My Soul” (7”)

Kibir La Amlak has launched a new label KLA Dub Box, focused on heavy, dubwise, raw mixes prepared especially for sound system playing. Presented 7” has been already tested by sounds like Iration Steppas and gained a respect from many listeners. In “Restoreth My Soul” we have beautiful flute melody played by Maija, what – in conjunction with strong bass – creates a deep, mystical atmosphere. JT’s dub version is a confirmation of potential residing in Kibir La Amlak’s sounds.

100% sound system killer without a doubt!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehGB2spehtA

Oct

2014

Shades of Black – “Break Free” (CD)

A lot of dubheads adore Paul Fox’s voice and know his works for example with British dub legend Alpha&Omega, but don’t know about his roots. In the half of the 90s, which were amazing for dub, Paul together with Jonah Dan and Julian Ryan set a project Shades of Black. They released 12″ “War and Peace” and an album “Shades of Dub”. Afterwards, without Julian Ryan, they released a classic – “Friend or Enemy/Fight for the Right” together with an album “Sounds of Time” in 2002. In 2008 there was a continuation of the project on a collaborative album with Michael Rose “Great Expectations” and “Dub Expectations”.

It’s been six years since the last release and fortunately we get the next one. “Break Free” contains 18 tracks, part of which are dub versions. Music has been created by Paul Fox, Jonah Dan, Gavin ‘Fullness’ Sant, Moonshine Horns (Kristoes von Hess and Jort Verdick), Stuart ‘Mr Ranking’ Webb and Fellipe ‘SoulJah’ Sobral. There are also a lot of vocalists – Paul Fox, Michael Rose, Saimn-I, Jimmy Ranks and Jahman Dan. The album is opened by “Summer Down” with Paul on the mic and amazing horns by Moonshine Horns, which are in the lead in the dub version. Then, there is the eponymous “Break Free”, where Paul gets to the top with his vocals and lyrics. The musical side is a steppers with a version from Saimn-I. “Lion in the Flag” with Michael Rose is a big surprise for me – 100% anthem, both the rhythm and lyrics. Next we get another brilliant and mysterious tune from Paul Fox – “Full Belly, Empty Heart” and Jimmy Ranks with “Trust in Jahovia”, revealing all of the Shades of Black aces in the dub version. Moonshine Horns in “Roots Rock” is an absolute mastery. Paul again appears on the mic in “Conscious Life” – one of the best tracks on this album. However, it’s hard to point the best one when you hear Jahman Dan in “Leaving the city” or Saimn I in “Repent”.

To sum up – it’s UK dub at its finest, you can hear echoes of the 90s – full of very good and crucial dubs . It’s worth to listen the fantastic, mystical comeback of Shades of Black!

Oct

2014

Gentleman’s Dub Club & Solo Banton – “Unbreakable”

Gentleman’s Dub Club crew give us new productions very often recently. At the end of August they released remixes (http://dubmassive.org/8724/gentlemans-dub-club-fourtyfour-the-remixes) and now we get a single named “Unbreakable” with an amazing Solo Banton known i.a. from collaboration with Dubkasm. The riddim created by GDC is a heavy soundsystem roller with beautiful horns and Solo Banton feels very well on it, you want to shout the chorus “Stand up!” together with GDC’s vocalist. Additionally, there is a mix and dub version from the master Russ D himself with more space, reverbs and bass. This production is an amazing gift for all fans and selectors. It’s also worth to say that the energy passed by the crew on live shows fills you with power for a long time. I experienced this on their concert on 30th of August at 8th Reggae Festival in Sosnowiec. These guys were able to move audience with their music, mainly because of apparent joy of playing. The bass coming from the stage was crushing and I also have to mention their dubmaster, who knows well what to do behind the console!

Oct

2014

Moonshine Recordings with two 12”

Moonshine Recordings label has just presented us their two fresh releases: Madplate Sound – a modern approach to the steppers style and Jacky Murda&Tuffist – Mikal Rose and Levi Roots in a dubstep sauce.

Bristol-based Madplate Sound on his debut 12” is vocally supported by Dan from Imperial Sound Army and Violinbwoy with a remix/dub version, which adds an amazing flavour to the production. Definitely this 12” gives energy in this running world, besides the second release acts the same – we hear influences of dubstep and drum&bass. On the flip side a jungle version waits on us and surely it will conquer a lot of dancefloors.

Links:

http://www.facebook.com/Moonshine.Rec