Recenzje

Recenzja płyty, DVD etc.

Jun

2014

Cubiculo Records – “Crucial Stepper EP”

Cubiculo Records label has surprised me very nice – they has been releasing rather digital reggae so far, but this time they gave us very tuff, heavy steppers. This amazing 12” is the 5th piece from Cubiculo and its power comes from Belgian guy Digid, who is responsible for three versions. First one is voiced by Brazilian Junior Dread, known from his works alongside fellows from DigitalDubs, who is fighting hard with surrounding Babylon. Second one is dub with heavy bass, which sounds like proper thunder and in third version it is exposed very strongly – yeah, it is RAW. The dessert we got remix from Alpha Steppa, who adds his very characteristic flavor which ensures, that a lot of dances will be mashed up by this EP.

People from Cubiculo Records describes this EP as heavyweight music, full of cosmic basslines surrounded by spacial atmospheres and this is good summary for this release. Solid one, a “must have” for every dubhead!

Jun

2014

Digital Seal Hi Fi – “Warrior Arena/Steppatune” (10”)

Digital Seal Hi Fi are Brittany located Vax and Nozeanbondstyle, where these two previously operated under the name Acolytes Reggae Sono, mixing dub and jungle styles. Ten years later, after All Night Sound festival featuring O.B.F., Stand High and Jahtari, they decided to set up new project. A couple of months of studio work resulted in solid productions – we can listen them on the Cubiculu Records EP “Ganjaman”, where they presented strong, digital tune and on reviewed here 10” “Warrior Arena/Steppatune”. This one was released by Culture Dub Records and it is distributed by Control Tower.

A side is “Warrior Arena”, digital sounds in a steppers flavor, which strongly reminds me Stand high productions. Its dub version hits forcefully. B side is “Steppatune” – even the title attracts such maniac of steppers like me and I am not disappointed, despite the fact, that this tune is also in digital style. My sympathy is especially gained by vocal, amazing chat with a cool flow, it is talent and skills. Dub version is a boom shot in a digital disco steppa style, maybe it seems funny for someone but believe me and listen what crazy things these French do. I can totally sign the Culture Dub words, that Digital Seal Hi Fi is the discovery of the year!

Jun

2014

Addis Pablo – “In My Father’s House” (LP)

Everyone, who listens to dub music, probably knows a legendary melodica master Augustus Pablo. And, if you heard his artworks, you can’t wipe them out of memory for sure. I belong to this group of dubheads and I’d give a lot to – what’s impossible – hear him live. Luckily, Augustus Pablo left on the earth a multidimensional legacy: his music and his son – Addis Pablo, who pleases us with a longplay after several years of polishing his musical workshop.

The concept of the album is surprising because many of the tracks got a version with melodica exposed, the second one with amazing guests – Earl 16, Sylford Walker, Prince Alla, Chezidek, Jah Exile or Rockers International and a third one – dub version. The album is opened by “Road to Addis” with Earl 16 and a soothing melodica. The next tune is an incredible meeting with Sylford Walker and beautiful winds section that adds a lot of power to it. In “His Majesty” we hear very good melodica by Addis and, when in the vocal version Prince Alla (one of my favorite vocalists lastly) joins him, it could be said that we don’t need anything more. Yet, we get mystical nyahbinghi version that takes us to a land of wonderful sounds, reverbs and echoes – everything that dubheads like. The next tune – “Walls of Jericho” reminds us of best Augustus Pablo’s tracks and similarly “Wareika music” vocally enchanted by Chezidek. On the end there are, in my opinion, two best tracks from that album – “Rockers Version” and “My Father version” with deep bass and body-piercing drums – the essence of the dub!

To sum up, Addis Pablo and his guests give us everything that’s best in roots reggae and dub music. I’m glad that he doesn’t cut himself off his father’s legend, but completes it with his musical character and follows his own path.

May

2014

Roots Resolute Records – Donovan Kingjay/Lyrical Benjie

It’s just second release of Belgian label Roots Resolute and yet it already brings on amazing, positive emotions. Crucial Alphonso from Belgium is responsible for all of that. If you haven’t heard of him, you missed few good tunes like “Warrior Fi Jah Jah” released by Debtera Records or mighty “Pressure Steppers” for Lion Roots (check it out here: https://soundcloud.com/crucial-alphonso).

The album contains a steppers with beautiful winds section, Donovan Kingjay on vocals, who praises The Highest One using his beautiful voice and Lyrical Benjie alongside him, who sounds tremendously on steppers – this time it’s the same. The dub version also deserves attention – it’s heavy bass obligates us to say that Crucial Alphonso done a really good job, but it didn’t get by without help of dub guru Russ Disciples, who mastered it. Look out for this release, it’s really worth it!

May

2014

Alpha & Omega – “The Half That’s Never Been Told” (LP)

For a long time I was wondering if I should write a review of this album. Review, at least in theory, assumes any critical approach but I am not a fan of Alpha & Omega – I am their believer and I bless the day when I got to know their music. Therefore it would be rather hard for me to have some more objective opinion…

“The Half That’s Never Been Told” it is not re-edition, it is not a re-press, it is also not an album just composed from scratch. The songs on this release were created between 1989 and 1995 and have been remastered and released by Steppas Records. And thanks to Steppas Records I got more Alpha & Omega from my favorite dub sound period of 90s. First listening and after “What About the Half” I was under the spell of dub magic, surrounded by dense bass fog, hypnotized by echo and reverb spreading over this musical landscape. Multiple times when I am listening to different tracks of Alpha&Omega I have a feeling like I am traveling through some full of vibration, fairytale land and so it is also with this album.

I think that this album would be good for someone new, who would like to know what the Alpha & Omega is like, but also old fans will find some new flavors here (especially on an extended version of the CD) .

In conclusion – more, more Alpha & Omega!

May

2014

Mr Money Man Riddim – Rod Taylor, Brother Culture, Ranking Joe

Three big singers – Rod Taylor, Brother Culture and Ranking Joe – over a rootical, swinging riddim with a nice dub flavour – if such prelude has already encouraged you then you have to check new release from Evidence Music label (collaboration of Little Lion Sound and Derrick Sound). Musically Mr Money Man Riddim was made by Primate and Little Lion Sound.

So far these tunes are only to buy as digital download, but such things are worth pressing.

May

2014

Inspirational Sound feat. Sister Charlotte, Richie Ranks & El Fata (10”)

Inspirational Sound from Bradford give us their 7th release – an amazing 10”. They specialize in heavyweight tunes and this time it’s the same. On the vocals you can hear Sister Charlotte, a beautiful woman voice straight from France; she has already appeared on Weeding Dub and Roots Ista Posse productions. The second guest is Richie Ranks, who comes from Leeds. He started his career aside Inspirational Sound. In his version he created incredible mood and the rhythm seems to be even heavier. The last vocalist is my personal favorite – El Fata, who passes a strong message to politicians and men at charge in all over the world in “Vampires”. On the end there is version “Wisdom dub” with Bunnington Judah as a guest. It came into existence in 1999 and has been improved during all these years to make a mess on the scene now. For many months it has been tested on Iration Steppas sound system, so there is not much left for me to say – it’s a must-have!

Apr

2014

Beam Up – “Divers / Kick Off” (7”)

After the first 7” from Beam Up I had a hunger, that it is only 7”, only 2 tracks – but this new release entirely compensates me everything. First tune “Divers” it’s a heavy bass, good drums and amazing trombone, all of this recorded from scratch in a studio in Berlin, not in Jamaica. You can hear strong influences of reggae from the 80s, although Beam Up is taking Manasseh riddim as a direct inspiration. On the other side we have “Kick Off” and lot of Roots Radics echoes, with melodica in the foreground, just roots at its best. What Beam Up is doing nowadays deserves highest appreciation, because it is a really high level.

Ps.By the way I recommend to all 17 amazing songs from the Sizzla’s album “I’m Living”, which includes Beam Up’s dub version of the title track with lots of echoes and reverbs. It is worth checking whole album, if only because of duo Burro Banton and Cornell Campbell or beautiful Prince Alla’s anthem, especially in acoustic version.

Recenzje

Cubiculo Records – “Crucial Stepper EP”

Digital Seal Hi Fi – “Warrior Arena/Steppatune” (10”)

Addis Pablo – “In My Father’s House” (LP)

Roots Resolute Records – Donovan Kingjay/Lyrical Benjie

Alpha & Omega – “The Half That’s Never Been Told” (LP)

Mr Money Man Riddim – Rod Taylor, Brother Culture, Ranking Joe

Inspirational Sound feat. Sister Charlotte, Richie Ranks & El Fata (10”)

Beam Up – “Divers / Kick Off” (7”)

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