Dub Review - November 2002

Harry J Dubbing at Harry J's 1972-1975

JAMAICAN RECORDINGS JRCD009

Horace Andy Horace Andy's Dub Box - Rare Dubs 1973-1976

JAMAICAN RECORDINGS JRCD????

Latest collection of unreleased dubs utilising rhythms laid at Harry J's studio in the early seventies, though the mixes sound more recent than that. Includes dubs to the Twinkle Brothers' The Best Is Yet To Come, John Holt's Memories By The Score and Ronnie Davis' Every Rasta Is A Star.

Temple of Sound First Edition

WAGRAM 307 50 22

Thievery Corporation The Richest Man in Babylon

EIGHTEENTH STREET LOUNGE MUSIC ESL0060

Rob and Eric have been deep in the studio for the months of March and April to finish the forthcoming Thievery Corporation full-legnth LP. The duo has recorded two songs with Icelandic chanteuse Emiliana Torrini. Also visiting later this month is Notch from Born Jamericans fame.

A musical progression from earlier work, Thievery Corporation's new productions are often more complex in nature, yet still retain the signature Thievery sound. The release date should be sometime in mid-September 2002.

On the remix front, Garza and Hilton have recently re-worked "Who Needs Forever" by Astrud Gilberto for a new Verve compilation. The compilation also includes mixes of Verve classics from Masters at Work, Rae and Christian, and others.

After the new LP is completed in early May, Thievery Corporation will depart for gigs in England (Glastonbury), Spain, and Germany. There is talk of French, Portugese, and Swiss dates as well. We'll keep you posted.

Various King Size Dub Chapter Eight

ECHO BEACH EB040

The current release of King Size Dub, volume 8, is another impressive display of how a musical style has progressed. Dub as a style with all its reference points between commerce and innovation. The subtitle "file under dancefloor" shows the way and the track listing fulfills all expectations. The variety of styles (reggae, soul, pop, hip hop, trip hop, dope beats) is the pivot for more "logical dubgression" with all the usual - and some very unusual - suspects of the remixer and artist set.

Tracklisting:

1. Knowtoryus - The Revenge of the Bomberklat Joint (Kruder & Dorfmeister Session pt2)
On Munich`s Compost Records it has achieved cult status quite a while ago. Released as a 10 inch (with no B-side) a few years ago, this is the legendary Kruder & Dormeister Session of Bomberklat pieces by Knowtoryos. Knowtoryos, by the way , is a cover for, among others, DJ Reinboth of bespoke Compost label - a legend in his own right.
2. Noiseshaper - The Only Redeemer (Flat Finger mix) (DDrummer)
Berlin`s Noiseshaper in full force. Their debut on Different Drummer has already met with wide acclaim. International renown followed after their release in the US on Quango, a member of the Palm Pictures Label Family. Their ecclectic mix of downbeat, trip hop and phunky dub is quite unique and with "The Only Redeemer" sounding like a soul-meets-electronic-dub fusion project this track is one of KSD8`s highlights.
3. Underwolves - So Blue It´s Black (Heavy Manners Mix) 5.40
Underwolves from London were meant to start their breakthrough on Island Blue (one of Island`s subsidiary labels). Professor Stretch already did the complete African Head Charge album by On-U Sound, but wasn`t really allowed to do exactly what he wanted and his mix of soul, drum`n`bass and reggae did take quite a longe time before it finally could be realeased. "So Blue it`s Black" in a heavy Manners Mix ist a beautiful track indeed - causing quite a stir in London`s clubs in it`s 12 inch incarnation.
4. Anima Sound System - ´68 (De - Phazz Old Style Dub)
Anima Soundsystem hail from Budapest and have put in appearances on various releases of the German-Hungarian label UCMG. De Phazz who been nominated

for an ECHO (Germany`s most prestigious music award) as best German newcomer... did some Old Slyle Dub polishing of `68.

5. Virginia - Rainbows (Henry & Louis Mix)
Henry & Louis from Bristol did an excellent mix of vocalist Virginia. Perfect soul dub with effects that we thought only Smith & Mighty are capable of. No coincidence though, seeing as Rainbows was produced by Rob Smith - a third of Smith & Mighty.
6. Tackhead - Strange Things
The legendary Tackhead with a cover version of John Holt classic StrangeThings. Technically perfect and the vocals are done by Rolling Stones background singer Bernard Fowler. Smooth and dubby with that one in a million soul vibe.!
7. State Of Emergency - Babylon Meltdown
A West - London Production. Ex-Big Audio Dynamite drummer C. Kavanagh and Comanche Park vocalist Des Brown create a beautiful dub in the tradition of King Tubby and The Clash. In Englan their release met with an enthousiastic ". next big thing and 90`s future dub". Mixmag and NME reported: "90s beat sensibilities & soft downbeat instrumentation create a wondrously fluid take on dub." The vocal version has been featured on King Size Dub Vol. 7; now the fantastic instrumental version is brough to you. Enjoy!
8. Dubtari - Follow Me (babylon23 rmx - basso ostina vibe)
A welcome addition to Hamburg's ska/reggae scene is this well-working project. For quite some time now Dubtari have been northern Germany's best-kept secret and are now set to conquer the rest of the Germany, Europe, hey! the world with their unique blend of ska-reggae, dancehall and a sprinkle of Latin vibes. "Babylon23 Remix in basso ostina vibe" is definitely club-compatible and VERY danceable, indeed. Check www. dubtari.de for details.
9. Dubble Standart - Planet Egalica (Vienna Scientist rmx)
The Vienna Connektion had already featured on King Size Dub Vol.7! However, still relatively unknown and active more on the live circuit than the DJ circuit are Dubble Standart around mastermind Paul Zasky. With projects centered around Dillinger and Mad Professor they have made quite a reputation for themselves and are now featured on KSD8 with one of their best upcoming tracks "Planet Egalica". With some retouching done by Vienna Scientist!
10. Red Beat - Red Beat
Having shared more than a little weed with Killing Joke in the good old times, Red Beat had also managed to release two 12" records on KJ Label Malicious Damage. Dug out by Echo Beach this is one of these wonderful old style punk'n'reggae classics a la The Ruts. Amazingly sleekly produced this 1979 release is a track for the ages. Check it out!
11. Groove Armada - Tuning In (dub mix)
England's hit-makers, this time not with the usual suspects and not with "Superstylin" With their Dub Mix the two mates manage to precisely express the essence of the King Size Dub series: Spiritually guided by King Tubby and played by Groove Armada - a first class downbeat dub track and definitely one of the highlights on KSD8.
12. International Observer - Zoom Lo Fi
International Observer hail from New Zealand and the title of their track "Zoom Lo Fi" says it all: crystal clear electronic beats with "lo fi intentions"! An ambient downbeat production documenting their consistent development has just been released on Different Drummer.
13. The Lost Skrolls Of Hamaric - How to find royal jelly
Sugar B is Kruder & Dormeister`s MC and one of the big stars in Vienna`s Club scene (organizing among others the legendary "Wiener Dub Nacht" at the Flex). Teaming up with M. Forster he`s produced a dub space shuttle that`s quite the

pièce de résistance of the present KSD8. Futuristic soundboard excurse into the lost scrolls of harmony!

14. Rhythm & Sound + Cornell Campbell - King In My Empire
From Berlin the legendary.. Burial Mix / Basic Channel...posse ! Cornell Campbell, reggae - crooner from the seventies combined with the travelagnetsoundmachines of Rhythm & Sound ..., BIG !

Various Watch How the People Dancing - Unity Sounds from the London Dancehall 1986 -1989

HONEST JONS RECORDS LONDON002

Various The Biggest Dancehall Anthems 1979 - 82: The Birth Of Dancehall

GREENSLEEVES GREZCD4101 DOUBLE VINYL GRELD4101/GRELD4102

Unity 12" is a reissue, but has an unreleased dubplate version of "Watch how the people dancing"

Full LP due soon, with loads of unreleased dubplates. No website yet, but keep on checking our regular monthly sessions at the Bug Bar in Brixton.

As I remember in the 80's, most roots fans absolutely despised these tunes, calling them un musical, lightweight, follow fashion tunes etc etc, and I hated them too, till around 86 or so, I worked with a guy who loved em...he converted me...These tunes wouldnt have even got a look in down "Flash Forward" down Camden Town, but some of those guys from Flash Forward picked up on these tunes when they moved to work over at Daddy Kools...(forgot his name, solemn looking geezer with long wavy hair and beard..went off to India in the end I think! )
Now? I'm not sure what i'd make of em, but I LOVE what happened straight aftrer these tunes in UK....EG Hard Junglist stuff....plus, some of these guys have good voices...Play the tune "Watch how the people them dancing", enjoy the sweet vocal, turn off all the treble on the dub.....frequency vibration rather than tune!
The material on this album was produced by Ruddy Ranks and Red Eye and originally issued on the Unity label owned by Ribs, proprietor of the Unity sound system.
Unity sound was founded by Ribs, formerly the selector for Fatman sound in North London. Even before Fatman sound was created, both Ribs and Fats had been part of the earlier Sir Fanso sound, another North London set. Unity were hugely popular in the mid to late1980s when they had the first exclusives and specials from Prince Jammy. They were big on artists like Nitty Gritty, King Kong, Johnny Osbourne, Cocoa Tea, Echo Minott, Little John, Super Black and other artists from the Jammys stable. The sound split up at their peak when Ribs suddenly decided he no longer wanted to be involved.

G'sleeves set

Beaver hat at a jaunty angle, Gabicci, diamond socks and cris' Clarkes bootees at the ready! Forty original monster dancehall hits from the classic Greensleeves catalogue compiled from the early dancehall years including seminal hits from Eek-A-Mouse (Wa-Do-Dem), Ranking Dread (Fattie Boom, Shut Me Mouth), Clint Eastwood & General Saint, Yellowman, Barrington Levy (Shine Eye Girl), Michael Prophet (Gunman), Linval Thompson, Tristan Palmer (Entertainment / Joker Smoker), Dennis Brown (Foundation), General Echo, Freddie McGregor (Big Ship), Billy Boyo, Wayne Jarrett (Saturday Night Jamboree), Johnny Osbourne (Folly Ranking, Back Off), The Wailing Souls (Kingdom Rise Kingdom Fall, Upfront) and many, many more. The vinyl comes as two double albums

With the Dancehall era now over twenty years old, it was clear that a lot of stuff would soon be on the streets again. But there was not a set that pulled it altogether - that had the big hits. Now there is. And only one company could pull this off Greensleeves. And with this two CD's set they have done the business. A truly magnificent collection, and if you think you have them all, think again. Such was the volume of the hits coming from Jamaica then it just wasn't possible to keep up. Barrington Levy pops up time and time again, and that's only right. The man was a massive hit making machine. So of course was Yellowman. Its a great selection - Line Up And Come as they would often say way back then. If you thought it sounded good then, its sounds a lot better now