The Groove Thief

Representing Cyprus, the Incredible Dub Machine drops some deep heavy dubs. With three original tracks, and a live mix showcasing the best dubs from the island, this is the work of a versatile production and DJ duo . “Ain’t Got No Dub (Melodica Cut)” is a stand-out track: it starts out slow and haunting with a powerful melody while a slow steppers beat emerges beneath. “Traffic Universal” is chaotic and frantic, yet still dubbed-out, with an isolated beat emerging late in the song. The electro-steppers cut “Infected Man” pounds amidst swirls and samples; each song definitely has its own sound.

Here’s the live recording, appropriately called “The Rising of Cyprus Dub Live Mix:”

Kabanjak & Fat Albert Einstein have combined forces on a potent new melodica dub EP, Dub O’ Dup. With heavy bass rumbles, haunting melody lines, and piles of echo and reverb, the spirit of Augustus Pablo has been given due respect by these talented multi-instrumentalists. The organic sounds emerge beautifully on heady dubs like “Southern Hemi,” which slowly skanks alongside a gliding solo. The Ancient Astronauts - recently-reviewed! - remix of “Rail To Rail” (free to download) is warm and funky with a smooth horn-line, while “Shame Is A Lonely Word” feels like a dub dirge. “As Above” sounds timeless, hazy in all the right ways, but what’s personally most exciting is the remix contest the artists are running. There’s a great chilled-out remix out of “Dub O’ Dup,” called The Groove Thief Dreams Of Dub Mix, so you can probably understand my particular bias towards it:

Addis Pablo’s Suns of Dub has finally hit the mark with Dub Inna NewAge Vol. II, unleashing an inspirational deep dub journey.  As the son of the melodica maestro Augustus Pablo there’s undoubtedly pressure, but on this album Addis has stepped up brilliantly, avoiding the overly-atmospheric tones of Vol. I and allowing the strong melodica solos and dub-heavy riddims to come to the forefront.  ”Axum Border” is hypnotic while “Zion I (Melodica)” and “Rain Fire Ground” are light and playful.  The accompanying dubs make some subtle changes but keep the melodies and tempos intact.  Direct download and streamer are now available:

Also worth a listen is the recent and rather spiritual collaboration with Ras Jammy, 13 Months In Zion:

From France comes Phoniandflore’s Melodica Time, featuring the original dub track alongside three heady remixes.  The original of course features plenty of melodica, laid atop a nice steppas groove and a haunting Eastern-inspired melody during the latter parts of the track.  Shan-a-Shan beefs up the song, with the beat becoming heavier while still remaining smooth; Injham doesn’t alter the original much, but the adjustments make each section standout more; Jideh High lays the dub on thick, with echoes and reverbs coating the beat like mist, resulting in a hazy, late-night stagger of a remix.  Great stuff, well worth a listen and download:

As a bonus, here’s a brand-new super-nasty remix by P.A.F. of a DU3normal track:

Addis Pablo is following in the massive footsteps of his father, the late great Augustus Pablo - Jamaica’s melodica master.  The younger Pablo crafts dub music, and has released a whole compilation, For The Love Of Jah, with versions and dubs all on the same riddim.

Free DOWNLOAD.

Here’s the elder Pablo live in Japan, playing some groovy dub: