The Groove Thief

FLeCK and Blue Hill combine dub forces for a heavy-hitting EP: Zippin’ Up My Roots. Exploring where rootstep meets future jungle, each tune reinvents a reggae classic for the late-night dancehall. Bookended by versions of FLeCK’s “Love In The Community,” this features seven original productions and a Duckem remix. The original alternates roots and jungle vibes; Duckem explores the crossroads of dub and breakbeat. Blue Hill’s initial tune is the swirling “On That First Train,” full of echoes and skank. Alternating tracks, FLeCK’s “Chalice” is heavy future jungle with a wicked vocal while “Too Much Informers” gives Jacob Miller’s “Tenemant Yard” a funky reverb-laden update. Then “Smokin” combines deep bass and meditation before Blue Hill’s “My Dub Is Bionic” lets the horns lead into a well-paired beat, creating a tune that’s driving yet haunting. “Junglist Princess” is upbeat and more than does the wicked Tapper Zukie vocal justice. Other originals by Barry Brown, Lackley Castell, Guinney Pepper, Linval Thompson, and Dub Specialist. Free download available via Original Dub Gathering.

Dub Caravan and Hornsman Coyote unite forces for an inspiring dub journey. “Tribute to the Fathers,” with its skanking guitar and brooding trombone, makes Breath of Peace instantly captivating. The well-produced tunes continue from there: “Natty On Board” is mellow yet uplifting, while “Innocent Blood” and the matching instrumental is also solid. “Burning In The City” has a nicely layered and funky groove; “Make I Win,” the second vocal track, is catchy, with the right blend of roots tradition and innovation, while the Version lets the horns shine. Other standouts include “Air Raid,” which has the air of a spy film, “Spanish Town,” which mixes Latin horns and strong percussion, and “Egypt,” which is heavy in all the right heady ways. “Trail of Tears” and “Machine World,” the final two tracks, add Native American influences and crunched guitars, respectively, to lead this adventure to its close. This album is loaded up with impressive tunes - and while the groove is clearly and rightfully a priority, the quality of musicianship and attention to detail rewards multiple listens of these lush dubscapes.

Dubmatix has just released Rebel Massive, a huge album loaded up with classic reggae influences and modern dub wizardry. That alone is impressive, but then the guest vocalists really shine: from legends like Eek-A-Mouse, U-Roy, and Horace Andy, to dnb standout Tenor Fly and the versatile Longfingah. Where to start…

Oh yes, the anthemic “Pull Up Selector” which comes fully-equipped with a fun and frenetic video:

Big bass, great vocals, this is what a reggae single needs to be.

“Black Market War Dub,” the only instrumental, more than holds it own, full of Dubmatix’s distinctive style of slow crushing bass and well-crafted layers. “Seeds of Love & Life” (feat. Luciano) is another stormer, and the early W~rm Dub Mix is spectacular as well. Lots of great tracks here, all sorts of reggae vibes to satisfy!

Here’s the full album preview, plus that remix and a jungle version from Marcus Visionary:

Hailing from Budapest, Burkus König play live dub full of echoes, haunting tones, and a pulsating rhythm section. Latest track “MonszunZe” builds to a wild crescendo before the beat drops, keeping the vocals and Eastern European instruments a secret until late into the track. EP 0% SEMMI features five nice cuts, with the dark “Kos” providing the soundtrack for an isolated night-time forest while “Inbusz” features some catchy vocals atop an inviting groove. DU3normal was evidently so inspired, since his heavy remix takes nothing away from the power of the original yet lets his distinctive steppers style come through as well.

Rubadubstep Emergency begins with an auctioneer settling prices, before the wobbly bass-laden digital reggae begins from Fogata Sounds. Incorporating some older productions from the team (best known for Krak In Dub, but also featuring Hug Ho and Nino Selecta), sounding freshly polished here, as well as new tracks just for this release: this is modern French reggae at its heaviest. Featuring an impressive lineup of vocalists, often competing for best effort on high quality riddims, Capleton gets things started on “Rise (Remix)” before Alborosie takes on the same instrumental with “Rainy Day (Remix).” Both vocalists call for action against Babylon, a refrain that Tippa Irie continues on the sparser yet still powerful “Loud & Clear.” Next, Solo Banton comes full-force on “In The Place,” spitting fiercely over a striding riddim. Lone Ranger, the veteran MC, follows with “Step It” - same riddim, and another quality track.

The second half of this features two tunes with Troy Berkley, Fogata’s in-house MC, with “Matta” the clear winner as the on-and-off fast-paced beat matches nicely with MC Troy’s varying vocal styles. “Slow Motion” features a huge vocal from Demolition Man, while Capleton returns, with Luciano at his side, for the massive “Bun Babylon,” a slower-tempo assault on the status quo. “Can’t Get We Out (Remix)” is another heavy tune, with Mad Cobra and Luckie D sharing mic duties. The album continues with Steppa Style - “See The World (Remix)” which features a nice digital groove and some conscious globe-trotting lyrics. After this bevy of diverse vocalists, hailing from Jamaica, Italy, Britain, Bermuda, and Russia, the album ends with “Roll Deep (Dub Version),” a striking instrumental apparently waiting for the right MC…

Previous reviews of Fogata, including some of these tunes, can be found here: Wicked Man, Bun Babylon / Can’t We Get Out, Rise / New Start, Loud And Clear, 

After a quick sample, a heaving dubbed-out bassline emerges as Hope One’s Scientist Beat Tape Side B begins. Coming out of “The Wilderness,” this trend continues as the Hong Kong-based producer digs deep into dusty samples, inspired beats, and hazy swirling effects. In one sense this is instrumental hiphop - in another this is the origins of dub pushed to the present.

“Hearticulation” builds up to thunderous drums and  a warning flute; early release “Aggressive Construction Co.” features catchy chopped vocals and a strong low-end groove; “Shaolin inna Babylon” bangs away with equal force in half the time. “Saturn x Hope” provides transportation to a glitchy dub jungle, setting up the relatively melodic closer “Self Help Dub.” With sounds equally influenced by early 70s Jamaica and the current clouds of sound, this is another quality release from Dub Temple Records.

Also check out my review of Side A, as well as Dub Temple’s fresh all-Hong Kong podcast featuring Hope One and Hidden Dragon.