Dubtember 18, Twenty-five

 

Before founding Echo Beach in 1995, Nicolai Beverungen was responsible for marketing & distribution for Adrian Sherwood's On-U Sound in Germany between 1991 & 1995. This professional relationship fostered a lasting connection between the two Dub-centric imprints. Even after Beverungen launched Echo Beach, both labels continued to release complementary projects & share artists. A perfect example is this release from Dub Syndicate

In 1985, Dub Syndicate's fourth album Tunes from the Missing Channel was released. With this release, Dub Syndicate gave birth to a highly experimental technological Dub sound. It ushered in a whole new genre in Dub. What has been labeled 'new roots' can trace its ancestry to this one album, which I shared here. 

From that 1985 sound stage, Dub Syndicate sharpened their experimental Dub under the guiding hand of artistic genius & premier drummer Lincoln Valentine 'Style' Scott, R.I.P... 

Here is No Bed of Roses... Of all the groups fantastic releases, this is my all-time favorite Dub Syndicate. 

 

Dub Syndicate - No Bed of Roses, Echo Beach EB047, 2004.
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No Bed of Roses
Private I    
Jamaican Proverb
Fire Burning
Hard & Tuff
Uplifting    
Nothing Comes Easy
Adam & Eve    
Kingston 14
Kingston 14 (version)    
Fire Burning (version)    
Adam & Eve (mix 2)    
Nuttin Naw Gwaan

 

 

 

Kowabunga...Dub's Up,
NØ

Yes it is Bless

Dub Syndicate - Pure Thrillseekers is essentially a collection of previously released Dub Syndicate material from the Europe-based Lion & Roots label (much of it familiar to No Bed of Roses & Acres of Space owners, listeners, or followers).

Dub Syndicate – Pure Thrillseekers, Shanachie 45062, 2005.
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Tracklist –

Tricks (vocals by Cornell Campbell)

Weeping Eyes (vocals by Gregory Isaacs)

Breath of Fresh Air

Guns & Cocaine Crime (vocals by Jah Bless)

One in a Billion (vocals by Luciano)

Private Dub

Kingston 14 (vocals by Gregory Isaacs)

Time Dub

Ready for the World (vocals by Moses)

God is a Man (vocals by Junior Reid)

Yes it is Bless (vocals by Little David)

Sound Clash (extended)

bonus tracks –

Time (live)

Time (version)

Live on, Style!

NØ

The Evolution of Dub (Syndicate)

Re-uploaded by request 09/28/2024

 

Dub Syndicate initially evolved out of Creation Rebel. Dub Syndicate's evolution was rapid & large.

Their first outing, 1982s The Pounding System (pre-Lincoln Valentine 'Style' Scott's drumming or artistic & creative processes), was a perfect example of Adrian Sherwood's vision of his big sound in instrumental Dub.

Their second release, in 1983, actually came out on ROIR's cassette only label out of New York. By this time Scott was a major presences. But his & Sherwood’s vision was not clearly defined as of yet. The release is primarily dubs or versions from other On-U projects of the era. "Drilling Equipment" was the only track exclusive to One Way System.

The album I previously featured, North of the River Thames, showcased Doctor Pablo (Peter Stroud) who had been a constant around On-U for many years, serving up his melodica & keyboards with both Creation Rebel & Dub Syndicate as well as a host of others.

Then came this, Dub Syndicate's fourth album, 1985s Tunes from the Missing Channel. 

With this release, Dub Syndicate gave birth to a highly experimental technological dub sound. It ushered in a whole new genre in Dub. What has been labeled 'new roots' can trace its ancestry to this one album. While working in Switzerland, Sherwood discovered an emulator (using it to implement the sitar sound from the keyboard in the song "Ravi Shankar Pt.1"). Also Sherwood began using a technique he called 'captured sound' using an AMS digital harmoniser. Now it was possible to forgo the cut & paste tape deck fiasco to get the cuts of Emperor Rosko into "The Show is Coming". Another difference was the addition of ex-PIL members Jah Wobble & Keith Levene, members of African Head Charge, & the sweet vocals of Bim Sherman. Tunes from the Missing Channel became one of the best-selling albums in the entire On-U catalogue & a new direction & sound for Dub Syndicate.

Dub Syndicate – Tunes from the Missing Channel, On-U Sound ON-U LP38, 1985.
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Side One –

Ravi Shankar Pt. 1

The Show is Coming

Must Be Dreaming

Over Board

Forever More

Side Two –

Geoffrey Boycott

Wellie

Jolly

Out & About

Enjoy,

NØ

The Doctor is In!

Guess I’ll finish up with week-end Dub. Here’s another dose of On-U Sound from 1984. Doctor Pablo paying homage to Augustus Pablo & AP’s release East of the River Nile.

On NotRT, players are: Dr. Pablo – guitar, keyboards, & melodica; Ashanti – guitar & percussion: Frederix – guitar & bass; Bloodvessel – guitar; Fatfingers, Kishi, & Webster – keyboards; Evar, George Oban, Lizard, & Ras Ani – bass; Bonjo & Jah Dave – percussion, & Style Scott & Fox – drums. Recorded & mixed at Berry St. & Southern between December 1982 & January 1984. Produced by none other than Adrian Sherwood.

Doctor Pablo & The Dub Syndicate – North of the River Thames, On-U LP30, 1984.
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Side One –

Man of Mystery

Dr. Who?

Pressurized

Tribute

Side Two –

A Taste of Honey

North of the River Thames

Red Sea

We Like it Hot

Enjoy,

NØ

Sunday Dub Plate Special

Before I slip into unconsciousness…

For breakfast, two former Pink Dots band-mates, Edward Ka-Spel & Ryan Moore (Twilight Circus Dub Sound System) get together to serve up something.

For Breakfast – Edward Ka-Spel & Twilight Circus Dub Sound System
from 800 Saints in a Day, 2013.

 

For lunch, let’s go south of the border for some Aztek grub from bass master Keith Levene.

 

Aztek Dubd – Keith Levene
from Murder Global:Killer in the Crowd EP, 2002.

For dinner, let’s go all out. Maybe hit an All-You-Can-Eat smorgasbord. Fill up like there may be no more tomorrow. I’m a bit short on the Benjamins, so I just might have to sing for my supper. Here’s hoping nobody else is hungry. My singing has been know to scare some folks off their feed.

I Got a Song to Sing – Little Axe 
from On-U Sound 30 Year Anniversary King Size Dub, 2011.

 

 

Cook’n Curry – Liquid Stranger 
from The Invisible Conquest, 2007.

 

Overloader – Dub Syndicate
from One Way System, 1983.

 

Optimism Dub (feat. David Lynch & Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry) – Dubblestandart
from Marijuana Dreams, 2010.

 

& On the Seventh Day Dub – Sheriff Lindo & the Hammer
from Ten Dubs that Shook the West, 1988.

Enjoy & Goodnight,
NØ