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Saturday, December 30, 2000

Playlist - 30th December 2000

Danny Byrd -Changes -(Hospital)
Major Force -The re-return of the original art-form -(Mo Wax)
Clappers All Stars -How can a man dubwise -(Clappers)
Boozoo Bajou -Divers -(Ocho)
Rhubadub -1 breath 1 -(echo)
King Tubby's -Dub on the street again -(Jamaican Recordings)
Watty Burnett -Open the gate -(Music Club)
The Meters -Sophisticated cissy -(Rhino)
Suns of Arqa/Muslimgauze -How further now is heaven -(Arka Sound)
Larmousse -Relics & artefacts -(City Slang)
Savath & Savalas -Paulo -(Warp)
SchneiderTM -The light 3000 -(City Slang)
Mouse on Mars -Chromantic -(Domino)
Red Snapper -Bussing -(Warp)
Boards of Canada -Kid for today -(Warp)
Ian Simmonds -Alvin's blues -(Studio)
The Cinematic Orchestra -Channel One suite -(Ninja Tune)

Fenny's Selection

Mrs Cakehead -Track 9 from his CD President Hoover (pick up your feet) -(£2.50 by post from 8, Cowtoot Lane, Bacup, Lancs)
Ceramic Hobs-Track 5 from their Not for Sale CD-(Free Tim Telsa)
Ten Benson -Listen, the snow is falling from their Black Snow EP -
The Czars-7" Single Song to the Siren-

Saturday, December 23, 2000

Playlist - December 23rd 2000

Christmas in Detroit

Cybotron -Clear -(Fantasy Records)
Channel 1 -Technicolour -(Metroplex)
Model 500 -Techno (m500 version) -(R+S Records)
Shake -Mood Swing -(Frictional Recordings)
Andre Holland -They will never know -(Underground Resistance)
Condition Red -Cosmic Osmosis -(Underground Resistance)
Rhythim is Rhythim -Beyond the Dance (Cult Mix) -(Transmat)
Blake Baxter -Does Not Compute (Remix) -(Incognito)
Separate Minds -First Bass -(KMS Records)
Carl Craig -Televised Green Smoke -(Planet e)
Claude Young -Change of Pace -(Elpysia Records)
Psyche -Andromedia -(Transmat)
Inner City -Praise (May Day Mix) -(Ten Records)
Rythim is Rhythim -Strings of Life (unreleased mix) -(Transmat)
Lark -Tedra -(Buzz)
Infiniti -Think Quick -(Metroplex)
Innerzone Orchestra -At Les -(Mercury Records)
Jeff Mills -They who lay beneath -(Tresor / Axis)
Subterfuge -Death of Love -(Prime)
Rythim is Rythim -Nude Photo 88 -(Transmat)
Model 500 -The Passage -(Network)
Innerzone Orchestra -Bug in the Bass Bin -(Planet e)
Stacey Pullen -Air Puzzle -(Transmat)
Electronic Warfare -Illuminator -(Underground Resistance)
Symbols and Instruments -Tear Drops of Yesterday -(KMS Records)
Scottie Deep presents Fathoms -Scott's Ambient Dream -(Aztonik Records)
A Guy Called Gerald -Automanikk (Derrick May the force be with you mix) -(CBS)
MK Productions -Get Up Early -(Masahiro Records)

Saturday, December 16, 2000

Playlist - December 16th 2000

The Band -Ferdinand the impostor -(Capitol)
The Band -Get up Jake -(Capitol)
The Band -Daniel and the sacred harp -(Capitol)
The Band -Don't do it -(Gaye)
Gene Harris -Higga boom -(Blue Note)
Gene Harris -Put on train -(Blue Note)
Medeski, Martin & Wood -The dropper -
The Fall -Hot runes -(Eagle)
Fela Kuti -Kalakuta show -(Universal)
Jimi Hendrix Experience -3rd stone from the sun -(MCA)
Thievery Corporation -A guide for I & I -(4AD)
Pressure Drop -Warrior sound -(Hard Hands)

Saturday, December 09, 2000

Playlist - December 9th 2000

Little Feat -Rat Faced Dog -(Warner Archives)
Spoonie Gee -Spoonin' rap -(BGP)
Papa Noel -Malou -(Sterns Africa)
Orlando Julius & his Modern Aces -Ijo Soul -(Afro Strut)
Junior Kelly -Jah Jah live on -(Jet Star)
Capleton/Terry Linen/Anthony Malvo/Red Rose -Love is coming at you -(Jet Star)
James K-Nine -Live it up -(BGP)
Toby King -Mr Tuff Stuff -
Herbie Hancock -The spook who sat by the door -(Obsessive)
Isley Brothers -Fight the power Part 1 -(Harmless)
Johnny Dowd -Big wave -(Munich)
The Gaturs -Cold bear -(BGP)
Gorillaz -Tomorrow comes today -(Parlaphone)
Sylvester Boy -Monsters rule this world -(Chix On Speed)
Thomas Newman -Dead already -(X:treme)
Kid 606 -Whereweleftoff -(Mille Plateaux)
Ursula Rucker/Jazzanova -Circe -(JCR)
Sad Rockets -Senio junior -(Matador)
Audio Active -Basspace -(Dream Machine)
Senor Coconut -Supertropical -(Multicolor)
Culturcide -Depressed Christmas -(White Label)
Pistol Grip -Roll that -(Delph Tone)
Ike Turner & his Kings of Rhythm -The new breed part -(Ace)
Otis Redding -My lover's prayer -(Atco)
Otis Redding -You left the water running -(Atco)

Fenny's Selection

The frightened prioners of the Kracken -Turquoise hope from their Demo cassette soon to be a CD -(www.gmcelroy.freeserve.co.uk)
The Fall-Hot Runes from their Unutterable CD-(Eagle)
Half Man Half Biscuit -t's cliched to be cynical at Christmas. From their Trouble over Bridgewater CD -(Probe Plus)

Saturday, December 02, 2000

Playlist - December 2nd 2000

Les Nubians -Makeda -(Delabel)
Lee Perry -Revolution dub -(Rhino)
The Wailers -Dub smudge -(M10)
Bim Sherman -Lover's leap -(Century)
Roland Alphonso -Do it good -(Heartbeat)
Bob Marley & the Wailers -Dreamland -
The Black Disciples -Death before dishonour -
Jack Ruby/Errol Thompson -Track 20 dub -
Little Axe -On the white horse -(CDR)
Johnny Dowd -From cradle to grave -(Munich)
T-Model Ford -She asked me so I told her -(Fat Possum)
North Mississippi AllStars -Shimmy she wobble -(Blanco y Negro)
Jim O'Rourke -Halfway to a threeway -(Domino rug)
Mos Def, Pharoahe Monch & Nate Dog - Oh no - Rawkus - -
Mark B & Blade -One shark one piranha -(Wordplay)
Fingathing -Just practice -(Grand Central)
Micranots -Pitch black ark -(Breakin'Beats)
KRS-One -My philosophy -(Jive)
Ernest Ranglin -Surfin' -(Soul Jazz)
Dry & Heavy -Rumble dub -(Beat Records)

Fenny's Selection

Jeb Loy Nichols -Heaven Right Here from Just What Time It Is -(RYKO)
Element-Zyntax Error. From Sourblaster-(CREEPING BENT)
Petit Vodo -GREY. FROMSIXTY NINE STEREOVOX -(BUTCHERS WIG)

Girl Boy Girl-God Squad. From Their Two Halves 7 incher-(SKYCAP)

Marshall Smith-Colours From Their 7 Big Shirt Back In Town-(EUPHONIUM)

The Go!Team -Get It Together! -(PICKLED EGG)

Friday, December 01, 2000

Dub Review - December 2000

Augustus Pablo Dub, Reggae & Roots from the Melodica King

OCHO OCHOCD004

Both the sourcing and selection of this new compilation are impeccable - as one might expect from that Howard Hughes of reggae fans, Mr.Ian McCann, who also provides the erudite sleevenotes. Twenty one tracks in all, mostly derived from original mid-seventies seven inch releases on Pablo's own Rockers imprint, cleaned to a spanking clarity for this officially sanctioned reissue. There are three guaranteed big sellers in the roots reggae market - Scratch, Tubby and Pablo - and all are represented here with Pablo using both producers' studios for either recording or mixdown facilities. Indeed the deep chanting track "Ethiopia Dub" has the involvement of the entire "holy trinity". Four key vocals, from Jacob Miller, Bongo Pat, Norris Reid and Tetrack, are scattered amongst the prime instrumental dubs which Pablo claimed as his trademark sound and together make up an essential purchase both for newcomers and diehard fans alike.

Banned-X Songs an' Trax

MULTICOLOR MCR110.2

If the music on this album had emerged in the late seventies or early eighties then it would have been dismissed without too much consideration as far too lightweight an offering for serious reggae buffs, and of course mainstream dance music still meant girls dancing around handbags down at the Golden Palms with males forever circling for the kill. An increasingly sophisticated approach from a dubwize angle now guarantees an advance on credibility which in turn demands heightened critical faculties to sort the dub from the drab. On the plus side this album possesses enough deep bass and invention - as well as irresistible Troutmanesque vocoder interludes - for any studious dancefloor selector to utilise in an eclectic set. On the downside bringing together x amount of global inputs can tend to confusion rather than fusion. Produced by Frankfurt DJ Gabriel le Mar.

The Congos Heart of the Congos

BLOOD & FIRE/SIMPLY VINYL SVLP247

Max Romeo Open the Iron Gate 1973-77

BLOOD & FIRE/SIMPLY VINYL SVLP250

Since its original re-release "Heart of the Congos" has sold in excess of sixty thousand copies worldwide and most of those were to committed reggae fans who knew that if this was not the best reggae album ever then it was definitely in the top two! The album was one of the contributory reasons for Lee Perry's split from Island records as it was rejected by the label on its completion, remaining as a Jamaican only release until its licensing for issue on the Beat's Go-Feet label in the early eighties. Justice now prevails as a deal between Blood & Fire and Simply Vinyl brings the set to heavyweight virgin vinyl. The tracks constituting this album mark the highpoint of Lee Perry's Black Ark creativity. These are truly sublime vocal performances from the Congos, all on a set of heavyweight roots tunes as strong as any of the contemporary offerings from Burning Spear and the Diamonds. Potential students of Scratch's baffling studio techniques are left hapless, helpless and in wonder at his 4-track manipulation of the Echoplex reverb unit and Muton phaser so magically displayed on his finest ever dub "Noah Sugar Pan". Stunning!

Max Romeo is undoubtedly best known for his "War ina Babylon", another Scratch classic but this one did see the light of day on Island. The collection both pre and post dates that classic set. Most of the tunes based on his "Revelation Time" and "Reconstruction" albums. Although the critical evaluation of his work was unfairly impacted over time by heights of "War ina Babylon", recent reissue programmes have helped to refocus on the true quality of his output. His vocal style is personal and his delivery is much more closely mic'ed than many of his contemporaries, resulting in an intimate sound and inevitably relaxed dubs - best captured on the 12" mix of "Melt Away".

Dry & Heavy King Jammy Meets Dry & Heavy in the Jaws of the Tiger

BEAT RECORDS BRC30

The European summer shows of Dry & Heavy, dubwize offshoots of Japan's Audio Active, were a big surprise to many. Not only can this band dub it up big style but their stage show carries an energy that can be alien to the newer reggae/dub acts. But the biggest surprise is how the band managed to elicit the regal presence of the Jammster who is not only tempted out to play but also dub it in the style in which he was apprenticed by his master the late Tubbster. Dusting off those classic effects which were trademarks of his work for Tubby, King Jammy takes a selection of tracks from Dry & Heavy's first two set for Green Tea and severely applies the Heineken in a fashion not seen for almost twenty years. The band are back for dates in the UK in November.

Dub Trees Nature Never Did Betray the Heart that Loved Her

LIQUID SOUNDS DESIGN BFLCD42

Not so much Youth's "dub project" as much as something he needed to work back into his system. For a musician/producer who could become an easy casualty of his own success, this album revisits previous obsessions, inspirations and the kind of energy that is all too often left behind. Remember the bass player for Killing Joke was cutting confrontational dub versions in the face of the New Romantics. Any jibes about his association with Sir Paul can be countered by recalling McCartney's visits to the Black Ark. Although this is a heavy bass-driven affair, it is more dub to the head rather than the feet in classic early-Orb style - with the exception of the heavily head-nodding "Concrete Tourist" a chugging machine-like rhythm of enormous proportions. In turn cinematic and episodic, all house inflections are wisely avoided, Ringo is sampled and Youth manages to bring it all back home - the title is autobiographical.

Love Grocer Rocking with the Love Grocer

DUBHEAD DBHD021CD

Various DubHead Soundclash Series Session Two

DUBHEAD DBHD022CD

Where there's dub there's brass - or so the old adage should go. One of the joys of seventies dub was the wonderfully cultured brass sections, made up largely of jazzmen, many tutored through Alpha Boys School, who just happened to be there when reggae broke and were key to its development but just as easily, and happily, could have dealt with any genre. It's a joy to check this new set featuring the talents of the horn duo Chris Petter and David Fulwood aka the Crispy Horns Brass Section but here mutating into the seductive Love Grocer! The album opens with a track entitled "A Little Rain Must Fall" followed by its dub version, the sound of the horns evokes the vision of a long-gone Boys Brigade brass section lost on the streets of a northern town on a rainy Sunday morning. A magical feeling, not unlike hearing the brass on Burning Spear's "Door Peep" for the first time. It's a live feel the whole way through and with the addition of congas and bongos in the mix there's a couple of instant rare grooves ripe for discovery.

Love Grocer also appear on the second in DubHead's soundclash series, offering up two tracks, as do Mad Professor, Nick Manasseh, Zion Train, Urban Dub and Vibronics. Half of the mixes are dubplate style and exclusive to the release and the other half are previews of forthcoming albums from the artists. Heaviest outfit are Leicester's Vibronics who are gaining a reputation for punching their weight live. Manasseh's track features the ethereal voice of the late Devon Russell, one of reggae greatest vocal stylists. Whilst Mad Professor uses some of Scratch's vampire rhythms as motifs within "Bitch Licks", Zion train thankfully avoid any temptations to house it up on their rootical selections. Urban Dub have a debut set due shortly on the label.

Pablo Moses Special Selection: Anthology Part 1

KEEP ON KICKING B12112

Summons is duly served that this volume is merely the first amongst six scheduled to document the majority of the output of this most neglected of reggae vocalists. Unfortunately there's a mix between the sublime, such as selections from the singer's elemental "Revolutionary Dream" particularly "I Man a Grasshopper", and the plainly dire, mostly the material recorded in the States and which is West Coast style "festival reggae" at its worst. Advice here is too look out for any straight reissues of that classic set and hold for what volume six in the series may bring - "Dubbing to the Max".

Muslimgauze The Inspirational Sounds of Muslimgauze

UNIVERSAL EGG WWCD031

The Tassilli Players An Atlas of World Dub

UNIVERSAL EGG WWCD033

Although the work of Bryn "Muslimgauze" Jones was no stranger to the pages of this magazine there's still people out there who have still not submitted to the experience. They must be persuaded. The Zion Train boys were planning this K-Tel style marketing wheeze with Bryn prior to his untimely death and, together with the forthcoming Suns of Arqa remix album, the audience for his music should continue to expand. I know that although this is a grim irony Bryn would not object. In the late eighties the boy from Swinton I used to discuss why he was producing all this music that nobody in the UK bought, let alone listened to. All sourced from Staalplaat the music is at once brutal and beautiful and a good place to throw the first dice on the Muslimgauze board.

Tassilli Players are Dave Hake and who happens to be around when Dave's doing a new album. This is his fourth in a themed series which have so far run though sport, herb and space. This time he's joining up the global dub dots, paying tribute to what has become an international network of dub disciples. As expected from the home of Zion Train this is all speedy, multi-layered stuff, and when they come back home to Wales for the final track it's a Wibbly Wobbly classic with what sounds like a washing machine in its spin cycle for the finale - a draining experience on headphones.

Peter Tosh Arise Black Man

TROJAN CDTRL436

Peter Tosh Live at the One Love Peace Concert

JAD RECORDS JAD1009

The history of the One Love Peace Concert held in Kingston on Saturday, April 23 1978, has been forever captured by the image of Jah Bob joining the hands of the uncomfortable political rivals Seaga and Manley in a gesture of enforced reconciliation. Here's the real story. Peter Tosh's revolutionary set included incendiary, confrontational speeches delivered in a no-sell out style before versions of "Burial", "Equal Rights", "Legalise It" and "Get Up Stand Up" respectively. Obviously delivered in his native patois, there's a translation in the sleeves notes - its not needed, its an electric performance. Tosh's solo work is now well documented between releases on Sony and Heartbeat, the Trojan set covers some of the same ground but amongst the twenty five tracks there are obligatory rarities. Productions are from Tosh himself, plus Bunny Lee, Lee Perry and Joe Gibbs. Both these releases are essentially documents, the "Live" set is a must for any serious reggae or Wailers fan - some great samples in there too!