Recenzje

Recenzja płyty, DVD etc.

Jun

2016

[Review] “Homage To The King” – King Yoof (Moonshine Recordings)

Attention all classic dub lovers! The next LP from Moonshing Recordings brings us a delightful dose of old-school dubbing style and sounds. English producer King Yoof has worked on it for years and the time spent on polishing these tunes can be easily heard. The sound is amazing – warm, with vibrant basslines, mild drums, like taken straight out of Jamaican studio in the 1970s. But the best thing for me is the style of dubbing – all these delays, reverbs, flangers, lo-fi processing especially in the higher frequencies – they create absolutely stunning dub soundscape. Excellent arrangements with attention to dubwise parts complement the overall perception of this album.

“Homage To The King” is a time machine to the golden era of classic, Jamaican dub. If you love King Tubby, Scientist and other masters of dub, then you’ll love it from the very first sounds. I am completely under the spell of its old-school charm.

https://soundcloud.com/moonshine-recordings/sets/mslp005-king-yoof-homage-to-the-king-clips

Release info:

Release ID: MSLP005
Release-date: 10th of June 2016
Format: 12” vinyl & digital
Label: Moonshine Recordings
Tracklist:
1. King Yoof – Rum On Ice ft. I-Lodica
2. King Yoof – Bushwacka Dub
3. King Yoof – Barter Town ft. Raggs
4. King Yoof – A New Dawn A New Dub ft. Raggs
5. King Yoof – Lion Sleeps No More ft. Earl 16 & MC Spee
6. King Yoof – Welcome To Bandit Country
7. King Yoof – Homage To The King
8. King Yoof – King Sleng
9. King Yoof – Dinkys Dub

Buy:

https://moonshine-recordings.com

All good record shops

Links:

Facebook: http://bit.ly/kingyoof-fb
Twitter: http://bit.ly/kingyoof-twtr
SoundCloud: http://bit.ly/kingyoof-sc

Facebook: http://bit.ly/moonshinerecs-fb
Twitter: http://bit.ly/moonshinerecs-twtr
SoundCloud: http://bit.ly/moonshinerecs-sc

Jun

2016

[Review] Dub Invaders vol. 3 part 2 (Jarring Efects)

In March we were writing about the first part of the 3rd release (http://dubmassive.org/en/12317/dub-invaders-vol-3-part-1-aku-fen-feat-omar-perry-twelve-feat-doubla-j) from French crew Dub Invaders; now the time for the part 2 has come! Dub Invaders consist of members of High Tone band – if this name is familiar to you, then you know that their music has no borders and limits. With the trademark of a musical vision fueled by endless creativity, you never knows what sounds will reach your ears and test your speakers.

Keeping in mind the above, I will not try define the genre of “Boom Sound” by Roots’N Future Hi-Fi with Isiah Mentor on the vocals. This tune is 100%, totally, completely and maximally MAD. Sharp synths will drill your ears, digital flavour rhythm will start your body bouncing, steppa drums and wild basslines will try to crush the walls in your room, while Isiah’s vocals will increase your desire to teleport immediately into the epicentre of a soundsystem session.

On the B side we get Troy Berkley (Fogata Sounds, OBF, L’Entourloop) on the vocals and the riddim made by Led Piperz. He’s easily switching between rapping and singing, as the riddim changes – really lots of things happen in this electro-style dub. The same is with the second track on this side, where Hatboy Harry flows on a pounding electronic riddim.

Dub Invaders knocked me out with their music once again but please – don’t stop doing this.

https://soundcloud.com/jarring-effects/bright-lights

Release info:

Format: 12” / Digital

Label: Jarring Effects

Release date: 24.06.2016

Tracklist:

Buy:

All good record shops

Links:

http://www.hightone.org/dub-invaders/

Jun

2016

[Review] “Dub Revolution” series – Indica Dubs meets Forward Fever, Crucial Alphonso, Echo Vault

The next triple 7” set from Indica Dubs was inspired by Belgium “Dub Revolution” event, where he performed in November 2015. Sukh invited three talented producers from this growing scene. Forward Fever has already co-operated with him on previous releases, here they prepared a mystical and monumental instrumental dub “Jah Lead Us” with old-school sounds of strings and horns. “Oluwa” with Crucial Alphonso is a massive, rolling steppers with a strong, main theme. The last one – “Judgement Dub” with Echo Vault is the fastest one, also in a heavyweight style. The nice things is that all three 7” are different but have a common mood – mystical, deep and heavy dub, where melodies are built mainly with horns and strings sounds.

Tuff vibes, highly recommended for all dubheads!

Release info:

Release ID: ISS038-40

Format: 7” / Digital

Label: Indica Dubs

Release date: June 2016

Buy:

Preorder: http://indicadubs.com/product/dubrevolutionseries

At the record shops from:
Part 1: 24th June
Part 2: 13th July
Part 3: 29th July

Links:

http://indicadubs.com

https://www.facebook.com/forward.fever

https://www.facebook.com/crucialalphonso

https://www.facebook.com/EchoVaultDub

May

2016

[Review] Dubateers & Friends – “Dubplate Attack”

When I was listening to the opening track from this album, I thought that this gonna be the most eclectic album by Dubateers so far. “Beat It” – a famous tune by Michael Jackson sounds very nice in a dub style! The next one “Roots Power” with vocals of El Indio also is in a slightly different, soul-dub mood, as well as “Humanitarian Crisis” or “Monster Mix”. For me all these tracks for are paying tribute to the sounds of electronic music 80s/90s – all this long pads, drums structure, and especially synth sounds! I really love them, they are one of the best I’ve recently heard in modern dub productions. It’s very refreshing for me to hear some different approach to modern dub compositions. Of course we still hear Dubateers’ hallmarks – soft drums and little bit crushed hi-hats and cymbals, fast basslines. Moreover, we get some tracks with Nick’s unique digi-dub style – from excellent, more rootical “Production” with Brother Culture, old-school “Hola Medi” with Singer Blue, through pounding steppa in “Learning Curve” with I-Mitri or very moody and dark “Take Care Of Another” featuring Sista Jane on the vocals.

This album is confirmation of Dubateers skills in using the dub art – reusing, innovating, playing with music, continuous act of creating and re-creating, composing and decomposing into something new. Dub is not only music without vocals, it’s not only putting echoes and reverbs. It can be if you want to see it in that way, but the real pleasure starts if you find how it can enrich your whole perspective on music.

https://soundcloud.com/dubateers/sets/dubateers-friends-dubplate-attack-coming-very-soon

Links:

http://www.dubateers.com

May

2016

[Review] “Love & Understanding” – Henry & Louis f. Johnny Clarke (ZamZam Sounds)

ZamZam 40 comes with the legendary Jamaican roots singer Johnny Clarke. The people responsible for this version are also an institution – Henry & Louis (Jack Lundie and Andy Scholes) are one of the Bristol icons of ‘Bristol sound’. This crew has started their musical journey in 1988, forming 2Kings label in 1990. A heavily edited version of “Love and Understanding” was released on their “Time Will Tell” LP; this release is the first time the full vocal and full dub version have been heard in all their glory.

The vocal part from this release comes from 1996 when they travelled to Jamaica. The riddim is very moody and subtle, with clipped horns and hypnotic vibe; the dub version goes even further, stripped to pounding bassline percussion hits and vocal snippets with long delays.

A truly extraordinary, hypnotic dub experience with the specific 90s sound.

https://soundcloud.com/zamzam-sounds/henry-louis-f-johnny-clarke

Release info:

Release ID: ZAMZAM40

Label: ZamZam Sounds

Format: 7”, 900 copies, no repress

Buy:

All good record shops

Links:

http://zamzamsounds.com/

https://www.facebook.com/2KingsRecords/

May

2016

[Review] “Shaka’s Truth” / “Atha Dub” – Compa (ZamZam Sounds)

Another pearl for deep, dubstep and very-very-very low frequencies lovers out of ZamZam Sounds. Compa’s first release for this label is a real journey into a dark bass valley. The A side with “Shaka’s Truth” brings us mystical vibes on a broken rhythm with vocal samples and synth melodies. On the flip side we get pounding and crushing riddim with delays and flying, distorted snares. Above sweeping low frequencies, melodies from outer space are appearing and vanishing into the dark.

Two tracks for taking you into another dimension.

https://soundcloud.com/zamzam-sounds/compa-shakas-truth-bw-atha-dub-zamzam-39-7-edits

Release info:

Release ID: ZAMZAM39

Label: ZamZam Sounds

Format: 7”, 800 copies, no repress

Tracklist:

A Shaka’s Truth
B Atha Dub

Buy:

All good record shops

Links:A Shaka’s Truth
B Atha Dub

Links:

http://zamzamsounds.com/

https://soundcloud.com/compauk

May

2016

[Review] “If It Wasn’t For Jah” – Anthony Selassie / “Politician” – Ranking Joe (Med Tone Records)

Forthcoming 12” from Med.Tone Records brings us a great roots anthem “If It Wasn’t For Jah” with a soulful voice and rasta lyrics by Anthony Selassie . The riddim is made in a steppers style and carries maximum uplifting vibes. The dub version featuring Med Tone All Stars Band follows a good old dubwise fashion. On the B side we have true veteran Ranking Joe, who is deejaying strong lyrics about politicians. An additional instrumental version is kept in nyabinghi style with I Jah Salomon’s saxophone.

Release Info:

Label: Med.Tone Records

Format: 12”

Produced by Asaf *Il Smilan

Release date is the beginning of June.

Tracklist:

A1 “If It Wasn’t For Jah” – Anthony Selassie

A2 “Red Sea Dub” – Med Tone All Stars Band

B1 “Politician” – Ranking Joe

B2 “Unity Horns” – I Jah Salomon

Buy:

Pre-order at https://medtone.bandcamp.com/.

<a href="http://medtone.bandcamp.com/album/if-it-wasnt-for-jah" class="external" rel="nofollow">If It Wasn’t For Jah by Anthony Selassie / Ranking Joe / I Jah Salomon</a>

May

2016

[Review] “World Destruction” – Dreadsquad & Blackout JA (Superfly Studio)

Polish talented producer Marek Bogdański aka Dreadsquad and Jamaican charismatic vocalist Blackout JA met at Uprising Festival in Slovakia and decided to spend a week writing and recording to produce what is now the main body of ‘World Destruction’. We’ve had a sneak preview of what to expect thanks to singles “Last Tune” and “A Girl Like You” (http://dubmassive.org/en/12137/new-dub-releases-from-dreadsquad).

The full album brings us best of the duo with an eclectic set of tunes varying from steady, moody reggae in “Innocent Persecution” or “Take My Love” to a crazy steppers with a wild horns section like mentioned “Last Tune”. Between these we get what is Dreadsquad’s strong suit – a mixture of modern low-bass music, raggamuffin, rub-a-dub and dancehall vibes in “Drop The Bassline”, “Dance Fi Mi” or “Sound System”. The overall combination shows how flexible and talented are both producer and vocalist. Blackout JA can easily suit his very strong voice even into lovers vibes without losing his “harsh” uniqueness. All riddims produced by Dreadsquad sound very soft and especially in old-school tracks they have this smooth and warm flavour – but watching Marek’s activity about equipment on Facebook this is not surprising for me.

Supplementary to main album, a separate one with versions is also available.

https://soundcloud.com/dreadsquad/sets/dreadsquad-blackout-ja-world

Release info:

Release ID: SF032

Format: digital download

Label: Superfly Studio

Tracklist:

Innocent persecution
Dance fi mi
Never give in
Drop the bass line
Sound system
World destruction
Take my love
In My Head pt.2 (feat. Dub FX & Adam Faz)
Police brutality
Last tune (feat. Kush Arora & Smerins Anti-Social Club)

Buy:

https://dreadsquad.bandcamp.com/album/world-destruction

https://dreadsquad.bandcamp.com/album/dreadsquad-world-destruction-versions-2

Links:

https://dreadsquad.bandcamp.com

https://www.facebook.com/dreadsquadsoundsystem

https://www.facebook.com/Blackout-ja-103860269652986