[ aquarius records — Reggae Dub ]

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Showing results 201 through 250 of 699.

We love our dub hard and heavy and full of deep deep vibrations. Every few months it seems we're rediscovering an amazing dub record that had somehow slipped under the radar and are only now becoming total obsessions. That's precisely the case with this mind blowing full on dub joint by Gregory Isaacs recorded in Jamaica at King Tubby's studio in 1978. While Isaacs is usually most associated with and respected for his amazing singing skills, and for pioneering the whole lovers rock movement, Slum In Dub shows a completely different side of Isaacs' sound. This is a full on instrumental minded, way seductive dub record for sure. Very minimal singing, instead only small hints of Isaacs' voice which bleed into the mix occasionally, and one or two songs where the vocals appear a bit more pronounced, creating a truly singular dub exploration that stands as further evidence of just how on fire he was during this era, no matter what direction and style he experimented with. Smart as he was, he enlisted the legendary Prince Jammy to mix the album, giving it the timeless and intoxicating feel that we're totally addicted to now, thirty two years after its initial release. We could see modern day left-field dub lovers like Tussle, Excepter, Sun Araw, and the whole Dubstep scene freaking out about this record, or probably already listing it as an all-time favorite and major source of inspiration. Better late than never on this one, cuz as much as we can't believe we are just hearing this now, it almost doesn't matter considering how thrilled we are to have found a new favorite dub jam!

MPEG stream: Public Eyes
MPEG stream: Reform Institution
MPEG stream: Leaving

With limited info on the packaging we weren't able to tell right away when this was from. It had that really nice warm and not too polished sound of reggae's golden age, some nice dub elements that came to the forefront in the late 70's, but we were also sort of hoping this was actually new, so we'd have some nice reggae to get behind, unlike the usual slick sunsplash style of most modern reggae. But lo and behold we found out this is indeed a reissue from the early 80's. With a heavy roots sound and really nice vocal delivery it came as no surprise when we found out that Jezzreel's frontmen had spent many years in the background adding vocal harmonies for the likes of Sugar Minott. With all six songs coming in around the six minute mark they all start with strong vocals and some righteous praising of Jah before extending into some really tasty dubs.

MPEG stream: Sun Will Shine
MPEG stream: Living In The Ghetto

New collection on this Dutch audiophile vinyl label of early eighties dub mixes by Junia Walker. Heavy rhythm tracks -- real drums, not electronic -- with LOTS of effects of the percussive variety run through excessive delay, occasional analogue synth blasts, train horns, etc. It's almost hard to say it, but there's too much effects-foolery going on here at times. None the less, it's a pretty decent record if you want some off the wall dubs.

Good ol' Honest Jon's. Always with the nice packaging for one and, as evinced by the wonderful Cedric Im Brooks reissue of a couple years ago, excellent choice in music. Super rootsy, super heavy reggae from the 70's. Recorded at the Black Ark, Joe Gibbs and King Tubby's with guesting from Fred Locks, Pablove Black, Zoot Sims and engineering talents from Joseph Robinson (who worked on Light Of Saba). Possible bummer: this is one of those vocal, version, vocal, version style anthologies, so if you're not into hearing the same rhythm doubled on every other track you might want to program your CD player to play all the even numbered tracks (for vocals) and all the odd numbered tracks (for the versions). Comes in a beautifully printed digipak with glossy black ink on matte red and white.

MPEG stream: Look Out For the Devil
MPEG stream: Cobre Version

I really wanted to like this one a lot more. One thing Pressure Sounds can do really well is put together handsome album art and King Tubby's Firehouse Revolution is no exception. The vinyl especially cuts a dashing figure with its matte finish. Firehouse

RealAudio clip: Original Sound
RealAudio clip: Version

Low priced double disc anthology of King Tubby, apparently a part of a series of anthologies of Jamaican artists being released by Recall. Each collection comes with a fair amount of biographical notes on the artist and generally make good starting points if

RealAudio clip: Don't Try To Use Me
RealAudio clip: Fittest of the Fittest

So this collection of King Tubby dubs called "Lost Treasures" was released some time ago. It's one of the few on this label that we haven't listed yet. It's not because it's a bad disc that it hasn't been listed, but because apparently the dubs on the album are suspect, ie: bogus dubs. After King Tubby was murdered in 1989, friends coming by the studio to pay their respects made off with armloads of master tapes (including a good deal of Lee Perry produced material that was in King Tubby's possession.) Apparently, according to those in the know, those tracks on that Tubby mix were not mixed on his board, and do not include the trademark effects gear that Tubby used. It's actually a nice record, with some great rhythm tracks and excellent playing all over the place, plus the fidelity is superb -- coming from the master tapes -- they just weren't mixed by King Tubby, but were more likely done posthumously. So I'm trying to sort out this mess with the Tubby dubs, because I still want to list it, and then I find out that the Lee Perry disc on Jamaican Recordings -- "Skanking With The Upsetter" -- is also chock full of bogus dubs. Boy do I feel like a sucker. So now I'm wondering if any of the albums that Jamaican Recordings have released are legit. One of the biggest suspects in the 'theft' of Tubby's tapes is none other than Striker, a.k.a. Bunny, a.k.a. E. Lee (whose name is all over Jamaican Recordings' releases as producer and copywrite holder.) Bunny was one of King Tubby's biggest clients and through the seventies Tubby was essentially Bunny's engineer, so a lot of the sessions that make up the source material for much of Jamaican Recordings' catalog are in fact produced by him. In that case it is arguable that these tapes are legally his anyhow (except maybe the Perry tapes which make up 'Skanking With the Upsetter'). So technically these aren't even bootlegs, like the nefarious Abraham's LPs. But why bother faking it by calling them rare dub plates and yadda, yadda, yadda? If Mr Bunny Lee is the legit owner of the original master tapes, why not just release them as contemporary dub mixes of classic Aggrovators material? I think people would have more respect for that in the long run, as it is suspicion and allegations of illegitimacy that will eventually catch up with this label and hurt sales. Or maybe not; I've been surprised before. Legit-Tubby or ersatz-Tubby; this album is still fucking great. The slap-back delay on percussion never fails to float my boat and the source material is all first rate, taken primarily from mid-seventies Aggrovators productions by Bunny Lee and layed down at the best studios (Dynamic, Randy's & Channel 1.) Like all releases on Jamaican Recordings, the CD versions all have extra tracks not included on the vinyl and in the case of 'Lost Treasures' there are a few really nice ones that are only available on the aluminum disc.

RealAudio clip: Cherry's Dub
RealAudio clip: Cold Hearted Dub

THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

SORRY.

THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

SORRY.

Collection of all previously unreleased dubs recorded betweem 1975 and 1978. Features the usual cast of musical suspects: Sly & Robbie, Winston Wright, Scully, Tommy McCook, et al and the tracks were cut at Joe Gibb's, Randy's and King Tubby's studios. This

It's Laswell. It's dub. It's his 3047th album this year, with 943 on the way. What more do you need to know.

Oh, come on, Bill. Ry Cooder already did this with the Buena Vista Social Club AND without watering down the beauty of indigenous Cuban musics with tepid 'dub' basslines and generic 'ambience'. This is musical imperialism at its worst.

THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

SORRY. Hip hop remix. Rhythm = "I Just Wanna Love U" (Jay Z).

THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

SORRY. Hip hop remix. Rhythm = "Wait A Minute" (Ray J).

THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

SORRY. Hip hop remix. Rhythm = "What It Is" (Busta Rhymes).

THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

SORRY. Hip hop remix. Rhythm = "Best U Can" (Tha Liks).

THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

SORRY. Hip hop remix. Rhythm = "Best U Can" (Tha Liks).

THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

SORRY. Hip hop remix. Rhythm = "One Minute Man" (Missy Elliott).

Collaborative work betwixt dub guru Mad Professor and the German reggae group Puls Der Zeit, originally released in 1989 (recorded from 1984 to 1987) on cassette by Roir. All the tracks on this album were written by Peter Vinyl of Puls Der Zeit and performed alternately by Mad Professor (with his crew) and Puls Der Zeit.

THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

SORRY. I'll try to not be a cynical bastard and talk about the fact that the last two critically acclaimed Madlib records have been nothing but mixtapes. Partially because they just happen to seriously kick ass mixtapes. This time around, Madlib plunders the Trojan catalog and comes up with a dangerously wicked 65 minute mega mix. Byram was less than impressed, but I'm way more of a neophyte when it comes to reggae, and find myself listening to this all the time. Features David Isaacs, King Stitt, I-Roy, Lee Perry, Dillinger, King Tubby, Gregory Isaacs, Barrington Levy, the Aggrovators, the Ethiopians, Mikey Dread, the Upsetters, the Skatalites, Roland Alphonso, Prince Jazzbo and loads more. Mixing and scratching is kept to a minimum letting these classic tracks speak for themselves.

MPEG stream: Blunted Mix One

NOW ON VINYL!! We love dancehall, the beat, the rhythms, the toasting especially, the lurching hypnotic groove of it, but what we, and lots of other folks have always had trouble with, was the lyrical content, the whole scene in fact, rife with violence, and homophobia and misogyny, much like American hip hop, but even more fucked up and seriously unpalatable. So much so that plenty of folks around aQ land who might otherwise dig dancehall big time, have sworn off it completely. UNTIL NOW. Diplo and Switch, bring their twisted and tweaked approach to beats and grooves, and whip up one the wildest, craziest dancehall records EVER. And what better way to thumb their noses at traditional dancehall than by getting a whole gaggle of female rappers and toasters to team up with the more well know male Jamaican dancehall vocalists, often verbally sparring back and forth in the same song. The sound is supercharged, electrifying, the beats banging, the samples bizarre but perfect, a tangled technicolor musical backdrop over which the vocalists do their THANG. Morricone-esque guitars, the clip clop of horse hooves, ringing cell phones, horse whinnies, dizzying looped rhythms, a killer stuttery beat, tons of woozy low end, everything chopped and hiccuppy, an awesome deep growly bit of toasting, and some cool looped Santigold vox, before she gets to spit her own bad ass verse, and that's just the first song. The whole disc destroys though, relentless non stop hip shaking head bobbing sweaty sexy speaker destroying musical magic, some tracks bliss out into some sunshiney reggae grooviness, all laid back, infused with some awesome smoky sultry vox, other tracks get raw and rough, with buzzing guitars and fuzzed out bass lines, plenty of clatter and crunch, others are fizzly and festive, with vocodered vocals and skittery beats, and still others are dense tightly wound jams, drenched in effects and tangled up with rollicking block rocking beats and squiggly melodies. Even as an instrumental record, this would kill, but the vocalists push it over the top, tongue twisting flows all over the place, lightning fast sputters, growly drawls, head spinning back and forth and of course plenty of whoops and whooooooos... Summer dancehall party record of the year for sure, with awesome Major Lazer cartoon cover art, very reminiscent of the classic old Scientist albums!! So recommended. Every time we play this in the store, someone comes up to see what the heck it is!

MPEG stream: Hold The Line
MPEG stream: When You Hear The Bassline
MPEG stream: Can't Stop Now

Most of us were big fans of the Major Lazer full length from last year, but even those of us who didn't totally fall in love with with it are going crazy about this new ep of remixes especially the banging new track with M.I.A. that leads it all off. Major Lazer is the blasting, dance inducing, dancehall influenced project of master producers Diplo and Switch and with folks like Buraka Som Sistema and Thom Yorke giving them the remix treatment this is start to finish adrenaline pumping, body moving blasts of ecstasy. If we were hired as party planners for someone looking to put on a rager that we would want to lose our minds at we would urge them to blast this so loud loud followed by other smoking new releases from M.I.A., Omar Souleyman, and maybe that Shangaan Electro compilation of killer new South African dance jams. Maybe part of the magic is that it's an ep which makes this so perfect, there is no overkill or filler or duds. Every single second hits so damn right. And as cheap as it's priced this one is a no brainer!

MPEG stream: Sound Of Siren (Feat. M.I.A. & Busy Signal)
MPEG stream: Jump Up (Thom Yorke Remix)
MPEG stream: Bruk Out (Buraka Som Sistema Mix)

In contrast to the exceptional compilation from Trojan records of 70's Jamaican producers and vocalists performing Marley's numbers, this reeks of major label exploitation. "Duets" with the legendary Bob Marley and contemporary chartbusters Erykah Badu, Krayzie Bone, Guru, Rakim, Busta Rhymes, Lauren Hill, Lost Boyz, MC Lyte, The Marley Brother & The Ghetto Youths Crew, Steven Tyler & Joe Perry, Chuck D, and The Roots.

THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

SORRY. Hip hop remix. Rhythm = "One Minute Man" (Missy Elliott).

THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

SORRY. Hip hop remix. Rhythm = "Best U Can" (Tha Liks).

THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

SORRY. Hip hop remix. Rhythm = "Can't Deny It" (Fabolous). B-side says "version" but it actually has Capleton "Forward Inna Clothes" instead.

THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

SORRY. Hip hop remix. Rhythm = "One Minute Man" (Missy Elliott).

One of the most amazing Reggae debut albums of all time. Originally released in 1976, The Mighty Diamonds hit the scene with this rich roots album which decades later still stands as one of the fullest and warmest sounding reggae albums ever captured on tape. While the bulk of their lyrical content was all about hardcore political resistance, they were able to make their message go down so smooth as their vocal harmonies are some of the sweetest since the heyday of Studio One. Slow and steady with an ease that just flows through the album and makes it one of those records we just have to blast when the sun is shining so bright. Behind the amazing vocals are some serious chops courtesy of the kick ass ensemble gathered for this album which included (of course) Sly & Robbie. You can hear how they were influenced not only by the early years of reggae but also such a strong sense of Motown melody and a doo-wop sensibility. A total classic that we're happy to finally list.

MPEG stream: Right Time
MPEG stream: I Need A Roof

Mikey Dread is one of those cats from the history of Jamaican music that, while not as big a name as some, is about as responsible for bringing reggae to a greater world audience as anyone. In his early days Mikey Dread was a hero through his night job as the first DJ to broadcast reggae over the radio on JBC. He got the gig by convincing the station manager to let him start DJ'ing on the station (where he was working at the time) at 12am, when they normally would shut off the transmitter anyway. Due to some weird draconian regulation Mikey wasn't allowed to speak on his own show. Instead a woman with a sexy voice, who was an authorized radio personality, would do all the introductions and song disclosures. Apparently she wouldn't stay the entire length of his show (which went until 4:30 in the morning) so Mr. Dread would record his own jingles and sound effects to break up the monotony of just playing endless tracks. Eventually Mikey began working more and more with the likes of Lee Perry, King Tubby, Joe Gibbs and other heavy hitters on the island and began recording tracks with them as well. We're all familiar with the World War III album from 1981 (AQ list #143), but he also put together a collection of his own tracks that he recorded over the years edited together to play like one of his radio shows and called Dread At The Controls. This collection is the dub equivalent of that set and features exclusive mixes by and for Mikey Dread that were recorded at Channel One, Joe Gibbs', Treasure Isle, and King Tubby's. Interspersed throughout are some of Mikey's jingles and promos and mixed into the tracks themselves are all of his crazy sound effects. This is very much a crucial dub record to own, up there with Pick A Dub and the Impact All Stars albums. Highly recommended!

MPEG stream: Saturday Night Style
MPEG stream: Resignation Dub
MPEG stream: Pre Dawn Dub