Review: Bernard Cumberbatch - presumably no relation to actor Benedict - and Garnett Cross are Aquizi, the dub duo fromed in the early 80s and Aiwa label mainstays. Their most notable 12" - aside from maybe 1981's 'Merry Christmas' was 'Kunte Kinte' earlier in the same year. It is a bit of a collector's fav that has more than held its value over the ensuing 40+ years. Driven by lazy dub swagger and carefree keys, it's a lovers rock outing peppered with toms and hits and plenty of echoing depths. Flip it over for version if you want something that will boggle the brain more with its endless mixing board effects.
Review: CosTafari is Everald Collins and he has been churning out crucial dub and reggae since the turn of the millennium. He's voiced four albums to date and plenty of EPs on labels like Roots Injection, Ark Music and I Negus Records, as well as working under tens of different aliases. 'Freedom' is a happy dub with jangling drums and perc and his cries for freedom up top. It's well-versed in the classic sound but has a fresh contemporary production twist. It comes as a dub, of course, with the rousing 'Get Up An' Fight' on the flip. This one is more laidback and spare but packs no less of a punch, not least with the charged vocals up top.
Review: Sao Paulo's Junior Dread brings his world reggae excellence to this latest gem from Red Peak Sound. The collaboration began when J.Brenner met Junior at Minneapolis' Word Sound Power Festival back in 2022 and soon after they began making music and it led to two powerful tracks act were finely crafted through extensive mixing and testing. On the A-side here is a slow, heavy stepper evoking a vision of resilience atop Babylon's heart, paired with a dubwise mix that strips the rhythm to its core. The B-side offers a meditative one-drop rhythm and uplifting lyrics and is also accompanied by a swirling dub version that transcends space and time.
Review: The mission continues here for Reservoir Dub Records who have been working most recently on putting out this one "Aim High' tune on a 10" with four different cuts from four different artists. This one features the legendary Macka B and the talented saxophonist Guru Pope bring their skills to a rhythm that was originally produced by the one and only dub-making don that is Jacin, while all the cuts have been expertly mixed by Gamma Sound's N-Tone DUB. It's a heavyweight package of fresh dub sounds with nods to the old school but plenty of new school cool.
Review: Niney The Observer's Set Dub Free vinyl delivers two exceptional dubs straight from the heart of the 1975 dub scene, a period when the genre was reaching its peak. On the Side-1, 'Set Dub Free' presents an unreleased dub cut of Michael Rose's 'Freedom.' This track showcases Niney's mastery in crafting deep, resonant dub that captures the essence of the era. The production is rich, with heavy basslines and echo-laden effects that transport listeners to the golden age of dub. On Side-2, 'Dub Born Free', features a rare King Tubby dub cut to 'Rasta No Born Yah,' originally voiced by Sang Hugh. This track is a true gem, blending Tubby's innovative mixing techniques with Niney's powerful rhythms, creating a sound that's both timeless and deeply rooted in reggae history. This 10" is ideal for any dub enthusiast looking into the creative forces that shaped the genre.
Tony Roots - "Lickle Wikkid" (feat Jahbar I) (4:10)
Fire House Crew - "Lickle Wikkid" (dub) (4:13)
Clive Hylton - "Jah Is Watching" (4:08)
Fire House Crew - "Watching Dub" (4:16)
Review: Ras Guerrilla opts for a 10" slab of wax for this new one which features two vocal and two dub cuts. Tony Roots is the man main but also featuring on it are Jahbar I, Clive Hylton from Colour Red association, plus the always eager to impress Fire House Crew with none other than Flabba Holt on bass. Four vital cuts of seriously sick roots and lovers rock fusions with head twisting versions so that all moments in the party are catered for.
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