The Groove Thief

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:

Dirrrty electro-funk band Chromeo are currently between albums, so in addition to a nice thank you video for their fans, they’ve also released a pair of older mixes up on their Soundcloud account.  Their 80s-inspired cheese-pop is so funky that any negative influences are washed away in a sea of clever lyrics, huge synths, and dancefloor beats.  Enjoy both Le Mix (2003) and Un Joli Mix Pour Toi (2005) from this fine Canadian duo:

TooNice play slightly tongue-in-cheek optimistic poppy ska, somewhat similar in style to the once mighty Reel Big Fish, especially the track “Radio.”  Blending slow tempo guitar licks with catchy melodies both vocal and instrumental, this is simple music done right.  The four-piece’s lyrics are playfully naive, the horns emerge at just the right moments, and the music’s sufficiently raw while still sounding cohesive and well-rehearsed.  The most recent song, “Hand In Hand,” is perhaps the most polished, but all four are well-worth a listen if you enjoy the lighter side of the reggae-sphere.  Best band creation story ever, it should be noted.  Download or stream below, and hopefully this promising Canadian band will release some fresh tracks soon:

Canada’s Dubmatix makes classic dub sound fresh.  His latest release, “Renegade Rocker Dub,” has a catchy main rhythm that alternates with spacier drum sections, making the horns a delight each time they return.  With almost 100 tracks on Soundcloud, there’s lots of buried dub treasure here, like “Deep Dark Dub” and the surprisingly funky “Pirate Dub.”  Reggae and jungle tracks abound as well, but it’s the hazy head-nodding tracks that are the most impressive:

The tribal drums lead Masia One’s “Warrior’s Tongue” until her slightly digitized flow leaps onto the beat.  This is a tight future-bass production, with squelches M.I.A., Santigold, and Nicki Minaj can all appreciate, but Masia One holds her own spitting this track hidden under an androgynous hoodie surrounded by Asian street scenes…

As a bonus, she’s released the acapella track for DJs to freely download and remix, and has posted several already on her blog.  Scroll down for the exclusive .wav, it’s hidden on Soundcloud so there’s no link, sorry.  For more music including remixes from Mochipet & ill.Gates, check out Masia One on Soundcloud.