Dub Dynasty - Thundering Mantis (Dubroom Album Review)

DUB DYNASTY - THUNDERING MANTIS
DUBROOM ALBUM REVIEW

WWW, September 2014 - Digital download, vinyl, CD, or a combination: the formats vary, the source does not. That source being the UK DUB Twins Alpha and Omega with a brand new release on their Steppas Records label. Nine vocal tracks featuring a world wide group of singers alongside their DUB counterpart carrying the unmistakable Alpha and Omega sound.

Dub Dynasty is Alpha and Omega and Alpha Steppa: yes, the next generation. Son and nephew, to be exact. 

With that out of the way, let's talk about the music. Thundering is the right word for the floor-shaking bass sound that we're used to when it comes to AO productions. This double vinyl release doesn't lack any of it. The real interesting part of Thundering Mantis is the fact that not just do we have a whole range of vocalists ranging from a more meditative eastern style talk to heartical singing (Prince David), there is an equal amount of producers who lent some of their material to Alpha and Omega. 

It's Alpha and Omega, yes, and it's more.

With two vocals and two dubs featured on Radio Dubroom 2014 Chapter Eight, you can get an idea.

This is a musical release that's, well, kind of obligatory when you are into the more heavy side of Sound System DUB. Whether you're into digital download, CD or just plain vinyl for that bass sound the choice is yours. 

Whatever you do: support the independent DUB movement with your purchase, it's so much needed.

BUYING OPTIONS

   

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Moa Anbessa presents: Prince David - Watch Them/Jules I - Jah Jah Calling (Dubroom Vinyl Review)

MOA ANBESSA PRESENTS: PRINCE DAVID - WATCH THEM/JULE I-JAH JAH CALLING
DUBROOM VINYL REVIEW

WWW, August 2014 - After five years of silence in the vinyl area, the Italian Dub collective MOA ANBESSA has scheduled a 12" release for September 15 in this 2014. The Dubroom had a chance to listen and wholeheartedly recommends all vinyl addicts to go and order the 180 grams of Roots Reggae Ireness from the Venice crew before it's sold out.

It's almost impossible to follow the Dubroom and not know about Moa Anbessa. This collective of conscious Singers and Players of instruments (including the mixing board) stood at the root of the -now online legendary- Italian Dub Community Showcase series, while their productions are well sought after by selectors of major Sound Systems like Aba Shanti-I and Jah Shaka. This is Roots Reggae (Dub) in it's finest form, namely that of the conscious kind. It comes with the kind of communication that actually fits the massive sounds of the drum and bass lines. 

They have no need to be introduced when you have downloaded the Italian Dub Community Showcase series. Solid as a rock, the Rock that is that solid foundation. The musical vibes go straight to your heart, and so does this vinyl release. Even more: those who know their vinyl usually prefer it over MP3 or even CD because of the lower frequencies and they definitely want these tunes. 

Actually, we're talking about two vocal tracks with their (separate) Dub/Instrumental counterpart. Two singers, too: Prince David and Jules I. Both are part of the Moa Anbessa collective, and both tracks have served as Dub Plates for the well known Aba Shanti-I Sound System until they were printed on this 12 inches of Righteousness. In fact, this release is not planned to be anything else but what it is: a stricktly vinyl release.

Both Prince David and Jules I deliver a very strong message. Actually, it is a call and a message. A remembrance call to all people, that is. A remembrance call to praise the Creator, to start following His ways rather than the vanity that Babylon has to "offer". It's a message of strength and encouragement to all those that are already aware that we have a Creator and that He must be praised. Yes, this is the kind of Roots Reggae that is so desperately needed in so many places all over the globe. Both singers deliver their call in a very heartical way, a way that can never be matched by the Babylon Industrial voices pushed into our ears each and every day.

Now, the music and especially the Dubs. Both tracks are steppers. "Watch Them" would musically be the sugar part, "Jah Jah Calling" the spice. Of course this becomes all too clear when you're listening to the Dubs. Or, to be more precise: an instrumental and a Dub. "Watch Them" comes with a pure instrumental (often called "pure riddim"), "Jah Jah Calling" is followed by it's militant, hard stepping Dub version. The production itself is clear yet fat, evidently mixed for vinyl. 

A very, very fine release that is expected to be in the better Reggae stores both online and offline from September 15, 2014. Phasebookers (and non-phasebookers) should visit https://www.facebook.com/MoaAnbessaItaly/ or http://controltower.fr to (pre-) order the release. Unfortunately, Moa Anbessa does not have a website of their own but these two links destroy that excuse not to buy the vinyl. Also, watch out for another release planned for November 2014.

 

DONE FE - JERICHO 12''

DON FE - JERICHO 12''
DUBROOM REVIEW

WWW, April 2014 - The first batch of vinyl was sold out quite easily, and not without reason: here are four tracks by the great producer DON FE by Steppas Records and they have a story to come with the music!

The opening, "Jericho" has server as an exclusive for the well known Channel One Sound System for quite a while. They've used the tune during festivals like Nottinghill Carnival, a highly popular event for the lovers of Roots Reggae Music. Listening to the tune, you can imagine it going through the speakers of one of the best Sound Systems and shaking the place.

It's an instrumental tune and it needs a Dub counterpart. Yes, it is given: "Walled City". Slightly more dubby than the first take.

The second riddim, or B-side of the 12'' is another massive one by the spanish producer. It has a different vibe but is nevertheless equal as a Dubrockers riddim. Like in "Jericho", there's a flute which is there but not in a boring way at all. This is a good addition to the solid drum and basslines.

These four upfull tunes, joyous and solid in the same time. Again,no wonder why the first vinyl batch was sold out. A fine release by the relatively new STEPPAS RECORDS LABEL.

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JOE FERRY - CONNECTED: MOB STORIES AND REGGAE RIDDIMS

JOE FERRY - CONNECTED: MOB STORIES AND REGGAE RIDDIMS
DUBROOM REVIEW

WWW, April 2014 - He won a Grammy award multiple times, and that's just for his musical works. His teaching and writing skills have not gone unnoticed either. Talking about Joe Ferry, dr. Joe Ferry: widely acclaimed bass player and record producer as well as talented writer. But this is about the music. Music with King Tubby and Augustus Pablo to be precise.
 
We're talking about "Perfida DUB", unmistakably a Jamaican Roots Rockers tune from the seventies. A Dub carrying King Tubby's mixing skills as well as musicians playing in ways that super stars can only dream of. 555 Crown Street carrying the works of Augustus Pablo is a true classic, needs no introduction or description other than the remark it is present on this album. Which says a thing about Joe Ferry!

Of course, these two tracks are appetizers. Appetizers for what is coming. And what is coming is more fat DUB and Reggae in the Roots tradition. Solid riddims, excellent works by the musicians and the engineer, matching perfectly with the classic historic recordings on "Connected". You'll even hear resemblances of Black Uhuru recordings in the guitar play ("Unwind" by Menace).

It's not only Dub even though the album is truly all about the Dub. There's a vocal track by Uzimon and The Dons called "Don't Go Bang", a thing which makes you realize something about the title of the album. Makes you want to listen to the Dub of the track as well... There's Victor Rice again (reviewed at mp3.dubroom.org), bringing you "Bango" which is kind of a hybrid between Dub and a vocal track. There's the Big Ska Band with a Dub that could be taken off a secret Dub album by the Skatalites.

If Joe Ferry's "Connected: Mob Stories and Reggae Riddims" resembles anything of the book that this release accompanies, you might want to check that out as well. The album surely brings that upfull yet intense vibe only Reggae Dub can bring especially when it is played in, as said, the Roots Tradition.

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JOE FERRY - BEST DUB 12'' EP

JOE FERRY - BEST DUB 12'' EP
DUBROOM REVIEW

WWW, April 2014 - Bass player and producer Joe Ferry has been in the business of Reggae music for many decades. He's been there, done it. Four tracks on a limited 12" released in 2014 to give you a taste of the crucial stuff he is/was involved in!

The 12" opens up with an old skool Dub by yet another expert in the discipline: Victor Rice. Second tune has a title we will not repeat here, but needless to say that here we have another analogue Dub in true old skool style.
The B-side carries another two tunes, with some fatter bass and more intense mixing. The Channel Tubes playing a solid Roots riddim with skillful effects on the bass and organ play Jackie Mittoo style. The Dons closing off with "Satta Big Dub": four minutes of Old Skool mixing in ambient style if you know what I mean.

A true collector's item, get one while you still can!

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Vinyl: Kalashnikov Records

VARIOUS ARTISTS - KALASHNIKOV RECORDS (VINYL REVIEW)



Jamaican based Kasashnikov Records, part of 47 Entertainment, recently put out some very interesting material on vinyl. In this review, we will talk about two of their riddims: NEXT LEVEL and HIDE AND SEEK.

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