Recenzje

Recenzja płyty, DVD etc.

Feb

2014

Adam Prescott – Liberation Riddim feat. Cornel Campbell, Donovan Kingjay, Galak Spiritual & Papa B

March 17th is the release date of the third production of Hundred Years label. It contains riddim made by Adam Prescott, well-known from Reggae Roast. Liberation Riddim deftly combines roots style with a modern steppers – nice, slightly dubbed melodies are embedded on a solid bass line with fast rhythm section. And the main thing – we have three great singers on this riddim. Cornell Campbell needs no introduction – the legend of roots music sings as usual on his excellent level. Galak Spiritual – one of the three frontmen of onlyjoe band – also is doing great job. And, at the end, I left my personal favorite – Donovan Kingjay wonderfully blends into riddim, strong but very melodic at the same time.

The fourth track on the album is an instrumental with a beautiful saxophone played by Papa B, associated with onlyjoe and Unit137.

To sum up – very good release, both musical and vocally. 100% quality!

: Adam Prescott

: Cornel Campbell

: Donovan Kingjay

: Galak Spiritual

: Papa B

And one last thing – on 21st of February will have place launch party in Bristol, driven by LionPulse Sound System. There will be Mad Professor, Adam Prescott, Donovan Kingjay and others.

More details on the event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/196937427170031/

Feb

2014

Hatti Vatti – “Worship Nothing”

Not too often, but we try to present far bass music regions, where broadly defined dub is hearable in the producing technique, and electronic music is the content. We can’t omit some of that albums – dub is an art, it’s so wide and deep like delays and reverbs generated by it, like the musical landscapes it takes us to. [However, minimal dub and surrounding regions isn’t our daily bread – therefore we are looking for a person, who lives in this world, tracks that regions and would like to write album reviews.]

Back to the essence – the new Hatti Vatti album is very mysterious and every time you are listening to it you discover new, unindentified sounds, as if they were crackles or swooshes; and that bass, which pierces the whole body. Hatti Vatti – Piotr Kaliński – releases his singles since 2009 for such labels as Mindset, New Moon, On The Edge, Absys, Kanu Kanu, Nowe Nagrania. Some of his productions appeared on netlabel releases as well, e.x. Qunabu. It’s a fact that Hatti Vatti project is more popular abroad than in our country – but it’s probably just a matter of time.

Album “Worship Nothing” is opened by „Ae”, which introduces us to the mysterious flavor of the release, to fluently evolve into “Struggle” with beautiful voice of Sara Brylewska – usually vocalist of Hatti Vatti project and Enchantia band. After the land of smoothness we are attacked by a wave of sounds co-created by Synkro, a “half step with oneiric vocals”. We still stay in the cannonade of percussion beats and reloading guns in “72 dub” with quotes about the Creator. That’s how we approach to a beautiful tune with Ciann Finn on vocals, who fits Hatti Vatti’s rhythm perfectly. After 5 tracks we get a moment to calm down, and then smoothly move to “Synthesis” in 170 BPM tempo. Next we dive into crazy “Treasure” and we can again calm down by “Nights” – all of that being a preparation to “Black Flowers” with beautiful vocals of Lady Katee – I feel that some pairs will spend valentine’s day listening to this tune J To end the exciting journey through the album we have “1ne” and a little need to listen to more. I encourage all of the music fans to step into that world. Listening to the album you can read what the author has to say, it will open your eyes to those non-trivial sounds.

You can download one of the tracks for free here:

http://www.xlr8r.com/mp3/2014/01/treasure

Feb

2014

3×7” from Dubkasm and Solo Banton

From February 3, a set of three 7” vinyls from Dubkasm is available. Stryda and Digistep, vocally supported by Solo Banton (and Buggsy in “My Music”), pay their respects to producers and labels of the 1990s like Xterminator or Two Friends. So this releases have rougher style, based mostly on the strong rhythm and powerful rap. There is less melodic themes, but still a lot of the subtle, dub ornaments and a dense atmosphere like in “Listen To Me Dream”. Most dance is probably the one-drop “Can’t stop this” with saxophone parts and crazy bass line.

“So let the party begin, get your music medicine from sound system!”

Jan

2014

Strictly Sound Prodz. feat Jah Screechy (7”)

Cubículo Records have just released their second work, what glads us – the first 7” that appeared six months ago (http://dubmassive.org/5797/subactive-feat-mikey-murka) was very successful. This time the Portuguese label placed in London offers us conjoined forces of vocalist – a veteran of UK dancehall scene Jah Screechy, known from chatting in Sir Coxsone Sound (and presently supporting Reality Shock) with producer Marco ”Docta Strictly” Musetti. He is connected with Italian soundsystem scene, he’s been busying himself with music for few years, but he started to create it just recently. He uses original 80s equipment to get the proper and warm analogue sound.

Riddim from the new release is typical digital reggae. Prince Jammy himself wouldn’t be ashamed at all, plus Jah Screechy’s vocals makes you want to dance madly. This tune wakes up the spirit of 80/90s UK soundsystems and Strictly Sound crew isn’t anonymous anymore. For some time we see that digital reggae/dub conquers soundsystem halls – i.e. thanks to Mungo’s Hi Fi, Subactive or Dougie Conscious. Although I am not a fan of digital sounds, this production changes my mind a bit, let yourself flow with this digital vibe too.

Jan

2014

Ras Mykha – Mighty Jahovia (10″)

On 15th of December another 10” by Roots Ista Posse and Cry in Soul Record has been released. The guests are Ras Mykha (vocals) and Shaky Norman (melodica). The French should be already known to public at large, we have mentioned their previous release too http://dubmassive.org/5561/wieza-kontrolna-nadaje/ This time we again have a strong tune with very good lyrics by Ras Mykha, who praises the lord. Musically it’s a solid steppers, pulsating and turning the listener into a meditative state. There also is a version containing Shaky Norman’s melodica, which makes that state even deeper. Besides, we have a dub version by Roots Ista Posse, which impresses a lot – melody that pierces the whole version makes you want to listen to it all the time. Additionally there is a version for vocalists. That production presents very high level and confirms my belief (and probably not only mine) that French dub scene is the best in the world (not to unappreciated other scenes – i.e. the British one), this is the place where the most things happen and, what’s most important, they still have fresh approach to dub music.

Jan

2014

Dub Conductor – “Festival Riddim” (12”)

After 2 greatly appreciated releases, Manchester’s dubheads present us a dub roller with two amazing vocalists – Cornell Campbell and Wayn McArthur. It’s 3rd album released in their own label Dubconductor Music, on the previous ones we could hear i.a. Iration Steppas, Bunnington Judah, Dixie Peach or Reality Souljahs, what shows us that they set high standard – both guests and music are outstanding.

In “Crisis” Cornell Campbell sings his view about the world crisis and warns us of it, perfectly fitting the militant rhythm that reminds a bit of French dud productions. There is also a dub version of this tune, which sweeps me off my feet. For the balance, Wayne says about a lighter things – listening to “Festival Warriors” makes you want to celebrate the life and in addition, Dub Conductor gives us a rough dub version making you wish to be on a dub session. What can I say more – another hit for every dub selector!

Here you can see Dub Conductor mixing those tunes:

And here what Mark Iration does with them on a session (sound only for maniacs – for your own responsibility!!!):

Dec

2013

Elephant Bass – a new netlabel

Elephant Bass (http://elephantbasslab.tk) is a new Italian netlabel focused on dub/steppers/electro/dubstep music. On their debut they released 2 compilations: Various Artists-Elephant Bass vol.1 and vol. 2. The first one contains mostly ‘standard’ compositions of digital steppers that don’t outstand especially, but tune by Mexican Stepper, who has also been included on Original Dub Gathering netlabel compilations, raised my blood pressure. The second one is more interesting, musically more experimental and various. There are not only 4/4 compositions – you can hear some breakbeats. Again crew known from ODG – U.Stone (remixed by Dziga), Phoniandflore and Mexican Stepper – they presents a high level, but others like A Man Called PJ don’t fall behind.

To sum up – it’s pretty good and promises well.

Dec

2013

Jago – “The Wicked Try” (12”)

On December 18^th there will be a premiere of Jago’s single, who is taking part in onlyjoe project (we have already written about them) and in Hylu&Jago duet (producer from Unit137). That talented vocalist with a characteristic voice is working on a solo album, and “The Wicked Try” is a foretaste. The Sea is responsible for the pulsating riddim and there are 3 MCs alongside Hylu: Serocee, Ghost Writerz & Junior Dangerous. Additionaly, on the single you can hear wicked remix by DJ Vadim, who ties up cosmic dub with hip hop rhythm.