Hip-Hop News

DJ Neet & Gordon Brown Jr strikes back with their second release on Local Talk, the follow-up to their Breaking Dub release.
They are continuing on the same route, creating their own unique twist on dub and adds an homage to the early dub creations on Ninja Tune.

Dopewise sets things off with its dubbed out slow motion groove, simplicity combined with hypnotic.
Searching for Gold showcase the duo's space and melodic dub with a smash of heavy analogue bass and melodic mood-enhancing brilliance.

Alpine Sound is a new production unit based out of Withington S.Manchester. Heavily inspired by the rich lineage of militant steppas producers that have come from the UK and beyond, they put their own unique take on the genre - keeping things heavy, meditative and ready for any dance. Their first eponymous single starts with Withy Step, a bouncy, sub-loaded and locally-inspired weapon designed to shake up the dancefloor. On the flip is All Bases, which gets heads down and legs gliding with the submerged atmosphere it creates. Both clock in at 140 BPM - rude DJs better get 2 kno!

Soundclash or romance? Androo versus Bony Fly have composed six tracks finely balanced between the care given to sound experimentation and the explosive ardor of the dancefloor. Love Affair EP was born from this particular research, the fruit of a common passion for dub music, dancehall and its infinite variations. Radical and popular, the EP carries within it this generous and spontaneous quest for dance, naturally provoking body movements. It is also combined with a particular attention to sound textures, subtle and harmonious, whose multiple references (to jazz in particular) testify to an overflowing curiosity.

Heavy Roots 12" backed with a massive dub. Full colour jacket.
Ltd To 300 Copies

Incienso is excited to announce ‘basement, etc…’, the debut album from Brooklyn producer downstairs J a.k.a. Josh Abramovici.

Combining elements of Trip-Hop, Acid House, Dub, Korg Triton timbres and a healthy dose of the most chilling beats of the ‘20s, J steps out into the world from down below with an entrancing set of seven songs that warmly elude to his previous releases under the aliases snacs and VOSE 106, but taken in new directions and heights - strangely familiar but fresh, friendly, and uniquely J…

As we approach to the summer – it’s that time to deliver some fresh vibes in the most finest form as what we would present to be the tenth release from the Ashanti Selah Music label featuring a deep and heavy 12” alongside, Swedish reggae artist; Dan I Locks, as featured on other releases such as ‘Solid Foundation’, ‘Glorious Days’ and ‘Better Be Careful’ - is now stepping up to forefront once again; with some more powerful word sounds ‘Jah is Love’ – coming complete with trilogy of dub versions – This one is sure to bring that dancing feeling again to your mind, soul and body!

This release project incorporates the essence of which both Ashanti Selah & Dan I Locks are best known for individually bringing that ancient sound of Nyahbinghi transitioned into the power of the modern roots steppers style (most profound through the sound system); which you can clearly hear infused within the mix – comforting the sound of the Drum & Bass; emphasised by the Kette & Thunderdrum. There is also an array of bells and retro-influenced synth melodic elements accompanying around the vocal arrangement enforced with an addition of traditional spring reverb licks & strong feed-backed delays throughout the dubbed versions of the creational work!

Repress!

Reissue of Red Sea, Augustus Pablo's 1998 LP, containing material recorded between 1970 and 1973 produced by Herman Chin Loy. The music on the album is among the earliest instances of Pablo's revolutionary use of the melodica as a viable musical instrument.

Seminal 1979 roots LP from Barry Brown reissued here by Black Soldiarity, featuring classic production from Bunny Striker Lee.

Arranged by Calvin "Bubbles" Cameron (Wareika Hill Sounds, Light of Saba). Dancehall, originally released in 1986.

* Heavyweight dubplate pressure from veteran producer Jah Warrior with a crucial bass and drum-led work-out from1996, followed by a dubplate mix. Flip over for a later remix from 2001.
* All tracks make their first appearance on vinyl.
* 300 pressed.

* An uplifting soulful vocal from Lucy Vandy riding a tuff digital rhythm dating from 1995
* Production comes from Riz All Stars (Nick Manasseh and Gil Cang) with a stripped down dub ‘Big Hearted Version’ on the flip.
* First time on 45.
B. Riz All Stars – Big Hearted Version

* Solid production from the Riz crew aka Nick Manasseh and Gil Cang (Tuff Scout) featuring the legendary Willie ‘Armagideon Time’ Williams from 1995.
* UK roots reggae sounding crisp and sweet with a dub-wise excursion `Higher Than High’ on the B-side.
* First time on 45.

GALATHEA is the new project by DJ Massimo Napoli, and the title of his first solo album. Borrowing the name from the homonymous Nereid from the Greek mythology, the album is a deep dive into dub, spiritual jazz and African surroundings. Over 12 tracks, the LP conceals a strong personality. Departing from club culture with particular emphasis on electronic dub, Galathea unfolds into many influences and styles, making it a unique listening experience. Mediterranean culture, afro and cinematic melodies, jazz, spiritual echoes, and soothing beats lead the listener into a subliminal escape, where the fluidity and the convergence of genres freely progress into a dream-like journey.

Stuart Evans, aka Sordid Sound System is one of the founders of The Green Door Studio, a not for profit, analogue recording studio in Glasgow which emerged from an increasing disillusionment with the modern ways of music production. His sound holds outsider qualities, being everything but generic and predictable, mixing dub with movie soundtracks in the tradition of Carpenter and Italian likes.

On this 7” released on Höga Nord Rekords, SSS deconstructs and rebuilds music in an imaginative style, pairing tribe-ritual “back to ape”-beats with synthesized cosmic harmonies. In a way, we are enjoying straight up dub here but this record is also a display of the vivid and creative Glasgow scene centred round “The Green door studio” and record labels like “Invisible Ink” where krautrock and 80’s/90’s electronic music is part of the foundation. Boundless joy for every girl and boy!

Stored in a basement since 2016 and previously pressed on few acetates only. Acid-electro-dub fused in pure Itinerant Dub style.

An Gleann Dubh are on a quest for new sonic domains with their mutant machine creations, bringing together abstract dub, electro and IDM that invokes a feeling of the early 90s where possibilities with techno seemed limitless

Summer Time: This unknown vocalist offers up a cool version of the standard, somewhat in the style of Lord Creator. with a nice tenor solo.

Hey Train: A version of Duke Ellington’ s “Take The A Train”, with solos by Roland Alphonso, Lester Sterling and Don Drummond.

Deep Nigerian late 80's Digi-Roots Reggae LP . Loaded with dope digital roots riddims filled with mad synths , deep conscious lyrics and a deep bassline, it's quite unique as the two main track comes with a raw Dub which isn't very common on any other African Reggae albums , the last track call “If I'm To Rule The World” is a very interesting blend of Reggae and Boogie.

The Lp never really saw a commerical issue and was probably pressed in very few promotional copies for Radios and Djs making the original nearly impossible to be found nowdays.

The cover has been fully restored and Audio remastered , the LP we'll comes with an insert with Lyrics , original pictures from back in the days (and a few new ones) , a newspaper article from 1990 and an extensive interview by Sharon Escco Wilson.

Dubquake Records presents a new addition to its modern roots singles: Jamaïcan poet & Dubquake veteran Nazamba meets Telly* (aka Biga*Ranx) the prince of Vapour dub on this sweet lo-fi summer hit “Do Me Right”. A severely chill 7” release to play on repeat

- limited edition 10" vinyl
- hand stamped
- no digital
- never to be re-pressed

Driller killer roots tune from the early 90s - a Jah Shaka sound regular - with a deep and deadly dub.

Reissued briefly in 2013, seeing a small re-press in a few weeks.

* In 1980 Gerald Moore - of G.T. Moore and the Reggae Guitars and Heron fame - was in Kingston, Jamaica working with Lee Perry on the `Return of Pipecock Jackxon’ LP. Gerald went into Harry J’s studio with James Lascelles (Global Village Trucking Company, The Breakfast Band) and Bud Beadle (Ginger Baker & Salt) alongside members of Zap Pow: Don Grant, Cornell Marshall and Dwight Pinkney.
* `Jerusalem’, a meditative and reflective track was one of four tunes recorded.
* Previously released on the `Harry J Sessions’ on Partial Records (PRTLLP001/CD001), this is the first time this cut of `Jerusalem’ appears on 45. Backed with a previously unreleased dub version, mixed by Dougie Wardrop direct from the master tapes.

Limited to 300 copies!

"The 11th single on Riddim Chango imprint features Kingston Dub Poet, Nazamba, who dropped his debut single on The Bug's Pressure label and an LP on Dubquake Records (O.B.F.). The riddim track on this one produced by Element, co-founder
of Riddim Chango records.

-sideA, Nazamba's earth-shattering vexed poetry tells a true story of oppressed black people's
history and the minimal tech-stepper riddim accelerates the power of the dub-poet.

On the flip side, “Xpander” is instrumental stepper track influenced by 90s UK militant digital dub. It is
build by layered Oberheim's classic synth sounds with solid drums and bass. low-end focused part2
has lesser elements with greater energy in a classic dubwise manner.

The 3 tracks on the 12” has been soundsystem approved for promised bass weight and balance."

comment to come

All Nations Records come again with a proper 7inch full of roots flavour. The man at the control of the label, Simon Nyabinghi, here calls out the talent of Belgium producer Unlisted Fanatic who
deliver once again a heavy riddim track, topped up by some deep horns arrangement from the Moonshine Horns. The riddim is sufficient by itself so when you hear the deep melodical voice of
MariJah on it with her uplifting lyrics hailing for more consciousness in this world, it ends up with a wonderful tune that surely will convince every great selector to put it on their deck now and for years
to come. Once again, just flip the records over to get the full dub treatment. This is roots dub music at its best.

“Sweet Child” released on his 1982 LP “I Am Ready”, and on a ‘Money Disc’ 45 in
the mid-1970s, this is a cover version of Linda Creed and Thom Bell’ s song, first recorded by Johnny Mathis on his 1973 LP “I’m Coming Home”. Backing vocals are by Enid Cumberland and Ernest Wilson.

“Instrumental” a mystery - this is an untitled and previously unissued instrumental featuring soprano sax and tenor sax. A likely contender for both horns is Dennis ‘Ska’ Campbell, who played soprano sax and tenor sax at Studio One in the late 1970s.

Roots Garden present a brand new single featuring the legendary Jamaican trombonist Vin Gordon. Inspired by his memrories of writing songs under the mango tree, in the iconic Jamaican 'Studio One' yard at 13 Brentford Road. Vin delivers a blazing horns instrumental, his confident style and sophisicated phrasing cementing his credentials as a true master of his craft. Brighton based saxophonist Leroy Horns adds further harmonies and majestic vibes to this contempoary roots classic.

Manasseh strips the rhythm back to its raw elments on the flipside, it's organic drums and deep bassline providing a heavyweight dubwise outing.

Wicked digital gem from Melody Beecher... this lady knows what she wants .TIP!
Ltd to 300 copies

Freiburg based Italian stallion Enea releases his 2nd longplayer "Overview" on his own, soulful South-German imprint, Beatalistics Records.

The 10 track album once again showcases the versatile background of the former Bass-Player, who grew up on the picturesque Lake Constance. Having been a familiar name in the international Drum'n Bass scene for more than a decade, Enea now also takes us beyond the classic 170+ bpm rhythm structures to give us a proper "Overview" of his musical philosophy.

Comprising his typical softer rolling, Liquid based tunes like "Wonders" featuring label partner MC Fava, "Earthrise" with "Freebird" or "Moon" alongside the vocal talent Vavunettha, he additionally presents various influential styles throughout the album. "Interstellar Dub" and the dub remix of "Nuh Smile" featuring Kyrad from Switzerland lead us off the beat on dubby paths, whereas the title track "Overview", "Clouds" or the remix of "Fly High" with Meks Sample & El Tronic show his affinity for smoother Trip-HipHop grooves. By the way, you might recognize an organic and pulsating bass here and there, of course played by the maestro himself! This is warm and beautiful music for sophisticated and open minded souls. Enea!

80s dancehall, Imo Jawara production

A Massive Skanker on the B1 !

It was a busy 2019 for Asian Dub Foundation with the long-awaited reissue of their Mercury Prize-nominated 1998 classic Rafi’s Revenge. The reissue garnered ecstatic reviews, all of which agreed that the sound and the message that ADF threw down in 1998 is as relevant now as it was then-perhaps even more so. So it’s timely that in 2020 the band are set to release their 9th album “Access Denied” which finds them as uncompromising as ever. The album showcases ADF in full spectrum mode from the tough Jungle Punk sound of “Stealing The Future” and “Mind-lock” through to the orchestral meditation of “Realignment” and the reggae lament of the title track.

With guestspots from Greta Thunberg, incendiary Palestinian shamstep warriors 47 Soul, Chilean revolt’s rap main figure Ana Tijoux and radical UK comedian Stewart Lee, Asian Dub Foundation continue their sonic opposition to the powers that be and “Access Denied” kicks harder and higher than ever.

Asian Dub Foundation are a genre unto themselves. Their unique combination of tough jungle rhythms, dub bass lines and wild guitar overlaid by references to their South Asian roots and militant high-speed rap has established them as one of the best live bands in the world. During their long and productive career Asian Dub Foundation have shared the stage with the likes of Rage Against The Machine, the Beastie Boys and Primal Scream also collaborating on record with the likes of Radiohead, Sinead O’ Connor, Iggy Pop and Chuck D.
The story began in the early 90’s when ADF formed from a music workshop in East London at the institution which is their spiritual home, Community Music. Their unique beginnings in a music workshop in east London marked out both their sound and their wider educational aspirations, as showed by their early involvements with Roma Youth in Budapest, hooking up with the leg-endary Afro Reggae in the favelas of Rio, and setting up their own education organisation ADF Education (ADFED), not to mention their campaigns on behalf of those suffering miscarriages of justice. Building a solid live reputation in the mid-90’s, particularly in France, they eventually es-tablished themselves as an important worldwide force and particularly as an explosive alterna-tive to the backward-looking obsession with Britpop in the UK.
In addition to their blistering live reputation ADF were one of the first bands to experiment with the now more commonplace live film re-score, beginning with their rapturously-received interpre-tation of the French classic La Haine back in in 2001. They’ve continued to perform said project or nearly two decades, taking in David Bowie’s Meltdown at London’s South Bank and a contro-versial show at the Broadwater Farm Estate, scene of the events that led to the London Riots of 2011.They’ve also rescored George Lucas’ debut THX 1138 (with encouragement from Mr. Lu-cas himself) and they’ve recently revived their explosive live interpretation to the continually rele-vant Battle of Algiers at the Museum of Immigration in Paris.