Recenzje

Recenzja płyty, DVD etc.

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

The powerful return of Alpha&Omega to ZamZam Sounds (7”)

Another tune from Alpha&Omega for ZamZam Sounds is a powerful, massive, earthshaking riddim vocally supported by don Dillinger’s DJing and Don Goliath’s warm voice in refrains. This is the essence of Alpha&Omega’s roller-style, with magic melodica and organ melodies, high speed hi-hats, spatial synths and bass&drums line crushing your bones.

This blazing tune will be available in late October.

Links:

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

Oct

2014

Two 7” from Destroy All Concepts – a dub mixture of urban sounds

Destroy All Concepts, a label maintained by Dub Gabriel, presents itself as a cross-cultural home of an exploration of music and artists’ collaboration. Two new 7” releases are a great proof of the above description. The first one (“Kulture”) takes us to the jungle sounds of Brooklyn. Brooklyn Jungle Soundsystem, formed in the late 90s by Dr. Israel, gives us a nice mixture of jungle and dub with so good, uplifting lyrics – at least for me, because sometimes this crazy world looks like there is still not enough words about knowing yourself and understanding others, about harmony. On the flip side the tempo is slowed down by Dubmatix, who put his light, spatial dub sound to the mix. Both sides I listen with a great pleasure and the lyric still resonates in my head.

The second release is also cross-genre. Here Dub Gabriel’s pumping club, raggabass sounds are voiced by an artist with appropriate skills for such sounds – Ranking Joe – who sings about freedom fighters. The B side contains dub version prepared by RSD aka Rob Smith and here the rhythm is more broken.

Links:

http://destroyallconcepts.com

http://dubgabriel.bandcamp.com

www.soundcloud.com/destroy-all-concepts

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

http://moonshinerecordings.bandcamp.com/

Cool Me Off by Jacky Murda & Tuffist ft Levi Roots & Mikal Rose

Oct

2014

Messian Dread Presents A Heavyweight Dubwise Selection Without Objection

If you like old-fashion dubbing style and compositions with heavy, raw, drum&bass line with a lot of wicked echoes then grab this free album by Messian Dread. Crazy detuned, de-rythmic echoes and effects similar to Mad Professor’s old style, heavyweight sound with flying vocals of Dillinger, U Roy, Trinity, Kojak, Lone Ranger or Dan Man – this is dub in a rootical way! Also check Messian Dread’s page – dubroom.org.

Links:

http://music.dubroom.org/netalbums-heavyweightdubwise.htm

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00N27IMXA/

Oct

2014

The Dubateers – Dubplate Collection vol.4

Nick Dubateers is a person who always makes me excited about his productions and when something is released under his name it’s a sure killer. Known collaborations with Charlie P, Kenny Knots, Singer Blue, Tenna Star, Ras Negus are one of a kind – strongly digital with heavy bass line. However, Dubateers on this album presents a collection of dubplates, which are tunes in a very heavy dub style. It’s fourth part of soundsystem ‘heavyweight style’ tunes and besides King Earthquake’s albums it’s undoubtedly unique.

Dubplate Collection Vol.4 consists of 11 tracks and the same number of dub versions. Every of them has amazing, piercing bass and a trance mood – listen to ‘Africa Dub’, ‘Loaded Dub’ or the heaviest gauge ‘Cutting Dub mix 3’, ‘Field Marshall Dub mix 2’ and dark ‘Predator Dub mix 2’. There are no doubts that heavy dub lovers will like that album.

Oct

2014

Tour de Force – “Battle Cry Remixed”

Several months after Tour de Force’s “Battle Cry” LP Dub-Stuy Records prepared a remix album, available soon as CD/Digital. And I must say that this is a “must have” item for lovers of all colours of dub and its impact on current electronic music. Listening to a remix of one title you are going from DJ Madd breaks to Double Tiger’s deep steppa; Dub Terminator serves you a dubstep flavour, while OnDubGround smashes you with electronic dub madness. Digital sounds of Naram, a reggae groove of Brain Damage or Dubmatix, club beats of Dub Gabriel and more, over 1 hour of good music. 15 tracks made by talented artists, gathered on one release, connected by idea of dub and remix – congratulation Dub-Stuy!

Links:

http://www.dub-stuy.com

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