| DUB
music has become an influencial stream
within contemporary music. Driving drums and
deep bass lines playing a (Reggae) rhythm,
mystically accompanied by other instruments
popping in and out while effects are applied
excessively. It's a kind of music, that
stands strong throughout many decades. Music
like that must be accompanied by many
legends, and so it is. According to one of
these legends, it was King Tubby who first
discovered this powerful vibe called DUB.
The story goes that Tubby was getting his
four-track recorder ready for a mixing
session, playing the drums and bass
channels. When he wanted to add the other
instruments, he had, by accident, a lot of
echo on that channel. Can you say
"Eureka"? I don't know how much is
true from this legend, but I can remember
when I first heard this effect: I felt my
stomache turn upside down, a feeling you
usually get when you fall in love.
Talking about legends, this MOTION
RECORDS release contains 15 tracks,
skilfully mixed by the legendary master of
DUB. King Tubby is definitely legendary and
so are the Skatalites. As you might know,
Ska is a predecessor of reggae music and the
Skatalites were a major force in this genre
during the 1960's. But they also know their
way in the much slower Reggae Rhythm, as
this album proves. It's Reggae Music, played
with the energy and instruments so
characteristic for Ska. Heavenly Horns.
Authentic Rasta Nyabinghi drummings by
legends like Ras Michael. And the list
doesn't stop there.
The Legendary Skatalites in Dub is a
valuable historical document and the result
of a true labour of love. It comes with
beautiful Cover Art and some very
informative Liner Notes. The notes start
with a quote from Skatalites' Bass Player
Lloyd Brevett: "All my bass lines are
original - 100% original. I don't know how
to follow somebody". A remarkable
detail is that the bass lines are all played
on an upright bass. The sound is warm and
deep and when you play this album at the
right volume it will definitely "check
down your spinal colom", to quote
Linton Kwesie Johnson.
All the 15 tracks come from sessions
played in the year 1975, a time in which
digital studio's didn't exist. Everything
was recorded and mixed on equipment that is
now considered inferior. But that doesn't
mean that the music is inferior, actually
quite the opposite is true. This is King
Tubby at his best, fe true! Every single
tracks has it's own atmosphere, varying from
upfull and skanky tunes to deep psychedelic
Dub vibes, the ones that so many people
immitate until this day.
I Highly recommend this album to all
lovers of true Roots Reggae. It's the result
of a true labor of love and worth every
cent. The album is available directly from
Motion Records and the better Record Stores.
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