Recenzje

Recenzja płyty, DVD etc.

Dec

2015

Weeding Dub – “Still Looking For”

2 years after “Inna Digital Age” French producer Weeding Dub came back with a new album. “Still Looking For” is a continuation of the style that he got us to know himself from the best side – a combination of electro-steppers with UK dub sound. When you add great arrangements coming out of well-worn schemas and good singers you get a very energetic mixture. The least interesting tune of the album for me is the calmest ‘Love’ with Parvez who doesn’t seem to fit at all here. However, Little R sounds much more interesting on the same riddim. In general, singers with a good flow plus Weeding Dub riddims is a very good conjunction – for example ‘Check Yourself’ with Oulda, ‘Free’ with Inja or Demilition Man. The arrangement side is very rich, there are a lot of details and great instrumental parts, that can be heard since the very first tune with a beautiful violin sound by Ras Divarius; ‘Shadow Soldiers’ sounds like an action movie soundtrack!

I left one tune for the summary – ‘Sound System DNA’ with amazing Mark from Iration Steppas and his speech. Ain’t much to say here – this tune is an absolute killer soundsystem anthem, period. It’s also the best signature of this great album.

Links:
http://weedingdub.fr

https://soundcloud.com/weeding-dub

Nov

2015

Dubkasm – “Victory” (Mala Remix) / “Stealth”

Dubkasm’s huge hit “Victory” is coming back one more time as a remix made by Mala. We hear the original horns, but the style of a track is pushed deeper, much deeper, into area of mysterious synth sounds, percussion hits and a slow bassline. This tune was Dubkasm’s and Mala’s exclusive for over a year, from today is available on a 10” vinyl. Bass meditation included.

On the B side we get a brand new tune called “Stealth” with fast &fat bassline and lots of flying, echoed sounds.

Links:

http://www.dubkasm.com

Dubkasm – Victory (Mala Remix)

Nov

2015

Alter Echo & E3 feat. Rider Shafique – “Heights”/”The Sound Tonight” (ZamZam Sounds)

Welcome to the world of psychedelic dub! This 7” from ZamZam Sounds comes with Alter Echo & E3 moody and heavy, deep steppers riddim, full of dark, mysterious pads, echoes, resonating bass and ricocheting snares. But this dense atmosphere is multiplied thanks to excellent vocals of Rider Shafique of Bristol’s esoteric Young Echo crew. His hypnotic, declamation-style flow takes us to some higher regions of consciousness, where the words are beaten into your mind with bass and kicks.

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/ZamZam-Sounds-341150589257161

https://soundcloud.com/zamzam-sounds/alter-echo-e3-feat-rider-shafique-heights-bw-the-sound-tonight-zamzam-31-7-vinyl-blend-rip

Nov

2015

Dubvault Vol. 4 // Bukkha vs. Jojo Mac – “Dread Out Dub” (Steppers Refix)

After the excellent recut of Aswad’s “Warrior” now, in the forth release of free download series Dubvault (http://dubmassive.org/tag/dubvault/), Dub-Stuy Records continues the road of taking classic tunes as a foundation. Bukkha (US) has rebuilt Jojo Mac ’s rendition of Joy White’s 1976 soulful anthem “Dread Out Deh”, turning it into massive, Jah soldier style steppers with excellent dubbed vocals and great soundscape, flying echoes and reverbs.

Play loud, skank hard!

Free download: http://www.dub-stuy.com/release/dsdv004/

https://soundcloud.com/dubstuy/dubvault4

Nov

2015

Brain Damage – “Walk The Walk”

After a genious album made by Brain Damage together with Vibronics it’s time for the next one. At the first look I’ve been scared by the number of vocalists (recorded in legendary Harry J studio in Jamaica by the way!), that was to appear on the riddims made by Martin. The first couple of minutes unveiled that my concerns were unnecessary and the step in the direction of more classic, roots music was a very good one – although I missed that recognizable, dark climate a bit. Any doubts were resolved by turning up the volume to the full, this is when my mental journey to Jamaica in the French dub style began. At the very beginning my senses got appeased by a great mystic Nyabinghi Ras Michael in an original roots&culture style, the second one is legendary Kiddus I who fits the rhythm brilliantly and makes me want to sing his refrain “Yes me Vamp Dem” alongside him on a track with a heavyweight bassline. Another artist that managed to ride a hard Brain Damage rhythm is Winston Mc Anuff, who pleases your senses like a vintage year Bordeux, similarly to Horace Andy in “Mama Words”, who shows all of his vocal assets on top of music supplemented by Mid-East influences and a lot of effects. We are getting to the entrée – Willi Williams who is proud of the young like the French are proud of their wine and this is just an appetizer as “Fyah bun” warms up like a good brandy. Then, the legendary Horace Andy gets back on a rhythm co-produced by Harry J with sounds of birds and amazing reverbs in the background. It’s a very joyful moment of the journey and we get to swing to the rhythm of the “Birthday song” alongside Winston, move to the dessert with Kiddus I and finish the album with one and only Ras Michael presenting what real dub poetry is.

On the album we can find the essence of dub – mainly for those who love roots singers, but don’t understand modern dub very well; but also for those who don’t know roots music and are able to get into its mysticism thanks to Brain Damage approach. A strong album-of-the-year candidate!

Links:

Home

Nov

2015

Junior Dread – “Wonderful Feeling” (Gorgon Sound ) / “Freedom” (DJ Madd)

Junior Dread is already well-known artist, who has cooperated with Cubiculo Records, Reality Shock, Mungos Hi Fi or Dubateers. Thanks to his a little bit hoarse voice and conscious lyrics he gains hearts both listeners and producers. Moonshine Recordings label likes to polish up such diamonds and this time they have done it with the help of Gorgon Sound and DJ Madd. The former has remixed Junior’s “Wonderful Feeling”, sending this tune straight to the soundsystem arenas; definitely this begs for a dub version! On the other hand Dj Madd sends “Freedom” into dubstep and jungle areas.

Links:

https://moonshinerecordings.bandcamp.com/

https://soundcloud.com/moonshine-recordings/sets/2-brand-new-releases-out-now

Nov

2015

Violinbwoy – “Six swords” EP

Violinbwoy has already established his reputation on the sound system scene – firstly due to many vinyl releases and secondly thanks to his acting activity. Presented EP was released during this summer and, as previous one, it was issued by Archetype Records label, which strongly supports works of our compatriot.

This EP presents us slightly different Violinbwoy’s musical world than we’ve known from previous releases. As publishers say – they wanted to experiment a bit and open the gates of soundsystem playing for a different ground. This step, although a little bit risky, was very worthwhile because we get intriguing music, which could be a musical background for not one movie. Both “Six Swords” with its moody intro, beautiful violin part and “Unforessen Circumstances” with an operatic vocal are on a very high, musical level. Sound system fans won’t be disappointed and that’s because of the B side of this EP, where we find “Long Way” in two versions. Here fat bass and a lot of reverbs rule on a massive riddim.

With this release Violinbwoy opened a new chapter in his artistic work and I wish him more such good music, played not only on sound systems, but also used as a musical background for many other, artistic activities.

PS. As usual big plus for the animation!

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/archetyperecordss

https://www.facebook.com/violinbwoy

Nov

2015

Sparky Riot – “Police Abuse” / “Riot Dance”

Sparky Riot has already been present on our site (http://dubmassive.org/search/sparky+riot). This crew is consequently building their style – both musical and lyrical, because they are often raising important social and political issues in their lyrics. So it is with this release – the first one is a protest song about police abuse in Baltimore, sung on a solid steppers. The second called “Riot Dance” has rich instrumentation on the foreground, carried by a fast steppers riddim with Daman’s vocals. We also get dub versions, which are a feast for bass addicts!

Links:

https://sparkyriot.bandcamp.com/

https://soundcloud.com/sparkyriot/sets/police-abuse-riot-dance

Recenzje

Weeding Dub – “Still Looking For”

Dubkasm – “Victory” (Mala Remix) / “Stealth”

Alter Echo & E3 feat. Rider Shafique – “Heights”/”The Sound Tonight” (ZamZam Sounds)

Dubvault Vol. 4 // Bukkha vs. Jojo Mac – “Dread Out Dub” (Steppers Refix)

Brain Damage – “Walk The Walk”

Junior Dread – “Wonderful Feeling” (Gorgon Sound ) / “Freedom” (DJ Madd)

Violinbwoy – “Six swords” EP

Sparky Riot – “Police Abuse” / “Riot Dance”

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