Recenzje

Recenzja płyty, DVD etc.

May

2016

[Review] “War Inna Babylone” / “Skank It Up” – Ras Mykha / K-Sänn Dub (Patate Records)

This new 10” release coming from Belleville International Dubplate Special series won’t have mercy for your legs at a dance or for your speakers at home. A massive electro-dub riddim in “War Inna Babylone”, prepared by K-Sänn Dub, runs madly with perfectly suited, dynamic flow and singing by Ras Mykha. The next tune won’t slower you down also. “Skank’ It”, as the name suggest, will transfer you (both lyrically and musically) to an energetic soundsystem dance.

Release info:

Format: 10”

Label: Patate Records

Release date: June 1st, 2016

Buy:

https://www.patate-records.com

All good records shops

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/Ras.MykhaCryinsoul

https://www.facebook.com/pages/K-Sann-Dub-System/118736976024

May

2016

[Review] “Sounds From The Ark” – The Rockers Disciples meet The Producers

This is one of the best reggae albums I’ve listened to over the past few years. Ten incredibly beautiful tracks, rich, delightful and full of musical joy. It can’t be otherwise when you look at the musicians and producers – Blackboard Jungle, Prince Jamo, Don Fe, Roberto Sanchez, Ras Divarius, Joan Hoareau, David Garcia, Greg “Jata”, Clem Bernard, HP Barnet, Julo Gazeau, Jaime C.Montes, Gorka Fernandez and Harold Wolters. I credit them all here because they deserve it as hell.

Everything on this album is worth highlighting – amazing arrangements and compositions, diversity of instruments and melodies, excellent vocals by Prince Jamo, the sound of each section, warm and nonplastic overall taste of this vibrant music coming from the speakers.

Take this album to a party, picnic, your car, for a walk. A truly masterpiece for everyday enjoying reggae!

Release Info:

Release ID: BJLP003

Label: Blackboard Jungle

Format: LP / CD

Produced by Blackboard Jungle & Rock Dis

Tracklist
A1 Water of Life
A2 Mountain Rock
A3 Abyssal Groove
A4 Same old Story
A5 Lightning & Thunder
B1 Earth Rumbles
B2 Mystic Wind
B3 Jungle’s Calling
B4 Fire Rises
B5 Sky Melodies

Links:

Bienvenue Sur Blackboard Jungle

NEWS

May

2016

[Review]Uus Energia – “For the Benefit of Dub: Chapter One”

Uss Energia is an Estonian crew that started their adventure with reggae strongly influenced by dub in 2009. In 2012 they released their debut album ‘Studio Live Dub’ and now, after 4 years, we get an EP ‘For the Benefit of Dub: Chapter One’. It’s definitely been worth to wait that long for that mature compositions showing what the art of dub really is, what a dub version of a tune means and how to mix your national identity into it.

The release is opened by ‘Naturaalne Mustika’, which immediately carries you along with it – I don’t know Estonian language, but the vocals alongside the music are hypnotizing and the dub version proves it greatly, having every instrument brilliantly exposed. The next tune named ‘Rannapiiga ‘ is a show off of their amazing horns section and the climat is a bit jazzy, what is it’s big asset; the dub version contains a nice melodica. Following tune ‘Mina kes ma sundisin tahtedest’ causes a vivification, the vocalist ‘twists his toungue’ and chats with an extraordinary charisma on a heavy rhythm and the dub version emphasizes beloved horns with a lot of effects. The last one on the album is ‘Huhtikuu’, which has 2 versions and is the most hypnotic, pretty crazy tune with versions I liked more than the original. Congratulations to Uss Energia crew for such a meaningful EP. I am looking forward to more of their productions, they definitely know what dub is and how to use it. You can hear King Tubby’s school in their music if it’s up to mixing and another hearings made me feel that they have Polish Paprika Korps and Ragana albums on their shelves.

Links:

https://uusenergia.bandcamp.com/

https://soundcloud.com/uus-energia

May

2016

[Review] “Heavenless” – Vin Gordon & The Real Rock Band (Roots Garden Records)

If you love horns section in reggae, then you have to listen to this album. Especially if you like when these instruments are present not only in a repetitive manner in chorus. Roots Garden Records presents us Jamaican master, giant trombonist Vin Gordon with his great The Real Rock Band. The former is a living legend, his contribution to reggae music is amazing – The Wailers, Skatalites, Burning Spear, Dennis Brown, the Abyssinians, The Heptones, Delroy Wilson, Bob Andy and Alton Ellis are only a few names in his huge musical career, which has started in 1965. His biggest solo hits were “Real Rock” and “Heavenless” – and this fast, cheerful tune in a refreshed form we hear for the intro of this LP. Also the 4th track “Revenge” is a revisit to the classic one from 1974 – beautiful, moody roots reggae. The rest of the compositions are brand new and they are presenting from steady reggae vibes (“Minor Vibes”) to ska (“Slide Ruler”), mostly instrumental with the exception for 2 tracks with Shaka Black’s toasting.

There are two things, that are common for all tunes from this LP. Firstly – Vin’s beautiful, rich, extraordinary trombone parts, which we hear solo or with additional horns section. It plays key role here, spanned through the whole verses, where it tells us stories through melodies. Secondly – The Real Rock Band does it job perfectly, sensitively playing roots reggae and going dubwise in a old-school manner. The album were mixed by Nick Manasseh and sounds like it should – with a warm bass and well balance between all instrument parts. Listening to this album is a very pleasant experience!

https://soundcloud.com/rootsgarden7/sets/heavenless-vin-gordon-the-real

Links:

http://www.rootsgarden.com

http://vin-gordon.com/

Release info:

Release date: 02/05/2016
Format: Vinyl LP / Digital download
Label: Roots Garden records
Catalogue no: RGRLP003:
Produced and mixed by: Nick Manasseh at: The Yard studios London

Tracks:
1) Heavenless
2) Minor Vendor
3) Outta Jungle
4) Revenge
5) Raytown Rock
6) Slide Ruler
7) Heaven Again

Apr

2016

[Review] Earth Resistance Records – Dub Tree & The Maat Disciples / R. Souljah & Ital Horns

Earth Resistance is both a label and a sound system running since 2009 in Italy. On this release their producers duo Dub Tree & R. Souljah invited amazing musicians and producers, who know how to create a good dub. The A side presents Earth Resistance’s “soft” image – it is a tribute to the roots, especially that Dub Tree invited The Maat Disciples vocal duo, who are a great discovery to me – in ‘Come&Listen’ they create a mood in 70s classic roots style. The B side is the darker one, where R. Souljah gives us a FX-heavy stepper with Ital Horns, the best horns section in the world, in a track called ‘Indoctrination’. Additionally there is a special mix from Neil ‘Zion Train’ Perch!

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/EarthResistanceDS

https://soundcloud.com/erdsrsj/comelistenindoctrination-promo-discomix-a1-a2b1-b2-b3

Apr

2016

[Review] Beam Up – “Gerrup/Vibin”

We’ve been writing a couple of times about this talented producer (http://dubmassive.org/en/tag/beam-up/), and the new 7″ made me realize that music has no borders. Every time I get a message from Beam Up about an upcoming release I wonder what way he took and how he is going to surprise me but the newest one just brought me up short. ‘Gerrup’ starts with light, roots samples to take us into the land of breakbeat in a modern flavour with a horns section, all of this mixed up with a dub sauce. The B side of the extraordinary 7″ is ‘Vibin’ – a stepped-up version of the A side falling into jungle a bit, but in a light form, reminding of the style’s classics. This production confirms Beam Up’s class without a doubt!

Links:

http://beamup.org/

https://soundcloud.com/45seven/45715a

Apr

2016

[Review] Mahom & Sista Bethsabee, Adi Shankara & Maicee

It’s already the 6th release from Culture Dub Records, this time dominated by Mahom (http://dubmassive.org/en/search/mahom). The A side is ‘Justice’ – a heavy, electronic approach to dub music with a climatic vocals and strong lyrics from Sista Bethsabee; the B side is a UK stepper containing nature sounds – couldn’t be any different in a track called ‘The Big Bad Zoo’ with beautiful vocals of a young warrior Maicee. The dub version desires attention as well – Montepellier dubmaker Adi Shankara shows his skills alongside Mahom.

Links:

http://www.mahomdub.com/

Homepage

https://soundcloud.com/culturedub/mahom-meets-sista-bethabee-adi-shankara-maicee-10-culture-dub-records-cdr006

Apr

2016

[Review] Mungo’s Hi Fi feat. YT – “No Wata Down Ting”

This is it! After so many great collaborations, YT and Mungo’s Hi-Fi released a LP. Ten tracks full of rub-a-dub and reggae vibe sound just excellent. It can’t be otherwise when Prince Fatty is invited to cooperation – warm but powerful basslines (“Raggamuffin girl”!) and an analogue flavour are guaranteed. Besides YT we hear also two legends – Johnny Osbourne and Little John – and the tracks with these two are my favourites. Especially “No Wata Down Ting” sounds great, combining an old-school style with a modern beat. Back to YT – he proves with this LP, that he is a complete artist. Vocally he is moving smoothly between fast chatting and singing, also lyrically he is not afraid to touch many topics. Musically he fits in with reggae vibe (brilliant “Work to do”), not to mention rub-a-dub/dancehall and even jazz-like ska (“Bumpercart”). An excellent album for pleasurable listening.