And Nairobi...

 

Nairobi is an Argentinian Dub band. Theirs is a shamanic approach to Dub with their own unique perspective & fresh interpretations of the genre. Wu Wei is their debut album, mixed at Ariwa Studios by Mad Professor. It includes collaborations by Lee "Scratch" Perry as well as Sly & Robbie, among others.I shared their album Angkur (also with Mad Prof & Super Ape) one Dub September here.

Nairobi meets Mad Professor - Wu Wei, Crang Records EFLP001, 2008.
decryption code in comments

Nairobi Dub
Agave Dub featuring Lee Perry
Sin la Polera
Elastic Plastic
Channel 12
Arca Dub
Leh Go
Nürcanguas
Melodion King
Paraíso Islámico featuring Lee Perry
Thornton Heath
Girl from Córdoba
Storm Dub
Cliffedge Dub
Tulim Dub

 

 

Enjoy,
NØ

And Susan Cadogan...

 

In 2009 Mad Professor released Ariwa Aloha/Hawaii Tour with a set of songs & their Dub versions by various artists. The album contained "Losing You/Losing Dub" & "Baby I Love You/Baby I Dub You" from Susan Cadogan.

Recently (October 2023) three brand new vocal roots LPs were released by Ariwa Sounds label featuring Susan Cadogan, Sandra Cross & Nadine Sutherland inna showcase style with Mad Professor in finest Dub form at the controls with a stellar list of musicians featuring Rico, Vin Gordon, Black Steel, Addis Pablo, Horseman, Sgt Pepper amongst others.

Here is the set of Susan Cadogan nuggets including the Ariwa Aloha bonus tracks.

Mad Professor - Dub Showcase featuring Susan Cadogan, Ariwa ARILP314, 2023.
decryption code in comments

Side A -
Fever    
You Turn Me On    
Nice & Easy     

Side B -
Cross Roads    
Baby in Your Arms    
I Can't Count the Days    
With You Boy

bonus tracks -
Losing You
Losing Dub
Baby I Love You
Baby I Dub You

Enjoy,
NØ

And Horace Andy...

Fast forward to Dub.

Mad Professor remixed Massive Attack's album Protection as No Protection. It has remained a top-shelf release since it came out. Through his work with Massive Attack, Mad Prof became aware of the mighty talent of Horace Andy. In 2004 the two men put out Horace Andy meets Mad Professor - From the Roots to showcase the fruits of their union.

The following year Mad Professor & son Joe released the second volume.

Rewind to Dub...

 

Mad Professor & Joe Ariwa featuring Horace Andy - Rewired for Dub, Ariwa ARICD177, 2005.
decryption code in comments

Ffwd to Dub    
Hiding in the Asylum    
The Coolest Dub    
Dub Her for Me    
Rewired for Dub    
Garvey Rock    
Noiz Bud    
Escape to Dubscape    
Truths & Dub    
Non Violence Dub    
Give Me More Dub    
Analogically Speaking    
Burning Dub    
Rewind to Dub

 

 

Enjoy,
NØ

And Mishka...

 

Mishka (John Frith) is a Bermudan reggae arists originally making a name for himself in the late 90s London indie music scene. He is the brother of Heather Nova, another well known Bermudan musician. Mishka recorded on the influential UK label Creation Records. In 1999 he released his self-titled debut to rave revues. Creation Records had the idea to have Mad Professor work out a Dub version of that album.

Mishka in Dub is a Dub reworking of that first album. The track order is different from the original & I have marked the original track position & title after the corresponding Dub track. The song "Johannah" has been replaced by "Mystic Dub (Mystic Music Dub remix)" on this outing. 

 

Mishka - Mishka in Dub, Creation Records ESCA 8170, 2000.
decryption code in comments

Give & Receive (01 - Give You All the Love)    
Plastic Dub (02 - Happy)    
Broken Hearted Dub (05 - Bring a Man Down)    
Mystic Dub (Mystic Music)    
Rainy Dub (10 - When the Rain Comes Down)    
Catch This One (04 - Still Got Love)    
Just Ambience (08 - Out the Door)    
Know This One (07 - One True)    
Eastbound Dub (03 - Lonely)    
Wilful Dub (09 - Another Like You)

 

 

Enjoy,
NØ

And Sly & Robbie...

 

It seems obvious that sooner or later the paths of Mad Professor & Sly/Robbie would collide with the resultant explosion of Dub. Here's the aftermath... 

 

Sly & Robbie meets Mad Professor featuring Dean Fraser- DUB BB-BBBB Revolutionaries,
Real Authentic Sound RZDCD004, 2004.
decryption code in comments

Stepping Out a Space
Peaceful Warrior
Freedom Illusion
Kaballa Rock
Dean's Mood
Finger on the Pulse
Cool Dude
On the Drop of 1
Victory Jam
Memphis Happiness
Peaceful Dub
Finger Dub
Victory Dub
Cool Dub
Freedom Dub
Dean's Version

bonus tracks from Japan edition -
Run Down Dub
Works to Do (featuring Queen Omega) 

 

Enjoy,
NØ

And Baba Zula...

 

Now for this one, Mad Professor heads out on an excursion to Istanbul to work with the Turkish alternative musical group Baba Zula. Baba Zula showcase a wide variety of influences & play a wide range of instruments to create create a unique psychedelic sound. Combining their sound with Mad Professor's mixing skills created a great piece of musickal creativity. 

 

Baba Zula & Mad Professor - Ruhani Oyun Havalari (Psychebelly Dance Music),
Doublemoon DM019, 2003.
decryption code in comments

O Divanın Üstünde Baygın Bakışın (Your Languished Gaze on that Couch)
Kısaltmalar (Abbreviations)    
Tilki Dansı Dub mix (The Fox Dance Dub)    
Fayiman Cüneyt
Cecom    
Şu Dağları Sardı Feryadım (My Cries Have Covered All These Mountains)
Tek Kürek Yalova (Married to Five Fingers)    
Nöbetçi Felsefeci (Watchman the Philosopher)
Ser Ver Sır Ver Dub mix (Sacrifice Your Secrets, Sacrifice Yourself Dub)
Seksek (Hopscotch)    
Biz Size Aşık Olduk Dub mix (We Fell in Love with You Dub)
Seks Sinemasının Esrarı (Mary Jane of the Sex Cinema)    
Urfa Beşiri Hoyratı
Kısaltmalar Dub mix (Abbreviations Dub)
Zerrin Öz'Ün Odasına Girdim (I Stepped into Zerrin Öz' Room)

 

 

Enjoy,
NØ

And Scientist...

 

An inevitable match-up. This one is a true heavyweight clash. Two giants of Dub, Mad Professor & Scientist meet up to exchange chops. Even Lee Perry vocals find their way in on this hotplate, when the two engineers meet at the Dub Table in Ariwa Studio's. The riddims are varied, some are mixed crucially where others might very well be filed into the "reggae instrumental" category. 

 

Mad Professor meets Scientist - At the Dub Table, Ariwa ARICD160, 2005.
decryption code in comments

Banga Mary Mix 1    
Banga Mary Mix 2    
Hungarian Goulash    
Curton Dub    
Jamerican Dub    
Big Ben Dub    
Boo Boo Dub    
Too Many Pills!!
Iguana Dance    
Schitzo at Work    
Stalip Dub    
Buju Dub    
1835    
Brand New Dub

 

 

Enjoy,
NØ

And Natiruts...

 

For this meeting, Natiruts, a reggae/Dub band from Brasillia, Brazil showed up at the Ariwa Sounds with some of their favorite Raçaman tracks with the idea of hearing what the collab between the two might produce.

Natiruts - Raçaman vs Mad Professor, Ariwa, 2010.
decryption code in comments

Raçaman Dub
Vento, Sol Dub
Fogueira De Desilusões Dub
1996 Dub 

 

Enjoy,
NØ

And the Mad Men Band...

 

Mash-up from Mad Prof studios, this one was recorded at Ariwa Sounds using the "Phraser Sounds' as well as Are We Mad? Studio using the "warbler". It contains some Mad Professor Dub infected lover's rock. The Mad Men are Mad Professor's posse (Black Steel, Kofi, Micharl Rose, Fan Tan...all Mad as the Professor) doing what they do best.

Mad Professor & the Mad Men Band - Dub You Crazy with Love (Part 2), 

Ariwa ARICD132, 2000.
decryption code in comments

Miracles Dub    
Dub Serenade    
Reflections Dub    
Spaceflight 2001    
Heartaches Dub    
Romantic Rockers    
Neighbourhood Watch    
Heartbreaker Dub    
Oh Dub!!    
The Dub is Mine    
Togetherness Dub    
The One to Dub You    
Angelic Dub    
Harmony Dub    
Hopeful Dub    
Bedroom Dub    
Dub Ballad    
Gone fe Dub

 

Enjoy,
NØ

And Massilia Sound System...

 

Massilia Sound System is a reggae band from Marseille, France, formed in the early 1980s. The band's name is derived from Massilia, the traditional Occitan name of Marseille. Their decision to sing in Occitan was inspired by hearing the music of Jamaicans singing in Jamaican patois. Their debut album Parla Patois came out in 1992.

For Marseille London Experience, MSS teamed up with Mad Professor & the Robotiks to explore a new style & reach a broader audience.

 

Massilia Sound System - Marseille London Experience, Eve EVE99013, 1999.
decryption code in comments

Parla Patois
Qu'elle est Bleue
Reggae Fadoli
Lo Oai
Joyeux Voyous
Canti, As, A
Interdit aux Conos
Ma Ville est Malade
Fai Virar
Degun
Violent
A La Rasbalha

 

 

 

Enjoy,
NØ

And Mazaruni!...

 

Rupununi...Mazaruni...Jungleruni...check out these tunis!

Another Mad Professors excursions into jungle. This one has him teaming up with William the Conqueror on the Dub mixes & King O'di Jungle & Juggler doing the jungle mixes with Macka B, Eddie Brown, Mad Prof, Nolan Irie, Kofi, & John McLean handling vocal duties.

This release has plenty of really stony jungle tracks with strong Dub flavors...bassy, lo fi, with odd filters on the drums & samplings of nature/wild animal sounds throughout. 

 

Mazaruni! - The Jungle Dub Experience, Ariwa ARICD109, 1995.
decryption code in comments

Dub in a di Jungle
Mazaruni
Doppler in de Jungle
Jungle Fever Getting Stronger
Original Tarzan
Lost Tribe
Cry of the Wolf
Natural Progression
Concrete Jungle
True King of the Jungle
Bungle in the Jungle

 

 

 

Enjoy,
NØ

And Rupununi Safari...

In the early days of jungle, Mad Professor tried his hand at hyperactive reggae-breakbeat fusion over the course of several albums. 

This one's got quite the line-up: Mad Professor doing the Dub mixes, of course; Dougie Digital & Juggler doing the jungle mixes; Lee Perry, Aisha, & Princess Sharifa handling the vocal duties. 

A blend of Mad Prof style Dub & breakneck jungle workouts. 

 

Rupununi Safari - Steaming Jungle (The Jungle Dub Experience 2), Ariwa ARICD111, 1995.
decryption code in comments

Perry in the Jungle Dub    
Kunte Kinte Jungle    
Organic Pressure    
Ecologically Speaking    
Desolate Lagoon    
Girl Friday    
Natural Rass    
Beat of the Wild Beast    
Steaming Jungle    
Rupununi Savannah    
Juffre View    
Banjul Belly

 

 

Enjoy,
NØ

And Mafia & Fluxy...

 

Mafia & Fluxy are a British reggae rhythm section & production team. They are brothers Leroy (bass) & David Heywood (drums). They began their musical careers with the London reggae band The Instigators in 1977. They were heavily relied on as rhythm section for many Jamaican artists on UK tours. They also created rhythm tracks for producers such as Bunny Lee, King Jammy, Mad Professor, Donovan Germain, & Philip "Fatis" Burrell.

This is their first meeting with Mad Professor...

Mafia & Fluxy - Meets Mad Professor, Ariwa ARILP051, 1993.
decryption codes in comments

Side A -
Rude Boy Dub    
Black Sheep Dub    
Rough Ride    
Hypocrites & Parasites    
Bad Bwoy Dub

Side B -
Six Million Dub    
Pumping Iron    
Dancehall Cowboy    
Shush

 

 

 

 

Nearly twenty years later the three teamed up again (this time with Mad's boy Joe), erupting with Dub lava, burning up the landscape... 

 

 

Mad Professor meets Mafia & Fluxy - Sci. Fi. 3: Volcanic Dub, Ariwa ARICD232, 2011.

    
A Fresh Eruption
Old Eruption
Big Big Piton
Original Piton     
Etna Ready
Etna is Cuming    
Raining Ash
Ash
Dub Explosion
Eyjafjallajokull
Askja
Hekla
Laki

 

 

 

Enjoy,
NØ

And Yabby You...

 

Shouldn't have to sez!  Vivian Jackson...Yabby You.  You all know You.  Here he has somehow made his way to Peckham, he finds the basement lair of the Mad Professor & string-slinger Black Steel. The results are still blowing in the winds of Dub.

Yabby You meets Mad Professor & Black Steel - In Ariwa Studios, Ariwa ARICD083, 1993.
decryption code in comments

Blowing in the Wind
Winds of Dub
Commercial Dreadlocks
Righteous Dublocks
Death Trap
Dub Trap
Dub Flight Out
Amen
Spiritual Dub
Steppers Corner (featuring Augustus Pablo on bass & piano)
Rootsy Mood

 

 

Enjoy,
NØ

And Puls Der Zeit...

Puls Der Zeit is made up of members of Taugenixe, the first German reggae group & Addis Rockers from GB, Jamaica, & West-Africa, fronted by the mysterious Nico-like Soer La Blanche (White Sister).  

This cassette is a unique Dub/reggae confrontation between the Mad Professor & Puls der Zeit along with their master mixer/mentor Peter Vinyl

At the time of this recording, Mad Professor was becoming one of the world's greats in Dub, rivaling Jah Shaka & Adrian Sherwood of On-U Sound for his extremely eccentric / psychedelic heavy-bass reggae-influenced rhythms.

Puls met The Mad Professor in 1983 & from then on they worked on a variety of records & experimental musical projects. The resulting fusion of talent, temperament, & love for the true Roots of JA led to these tracks..

In 1989, ROIR, then a cassette-only company, released this gem to rave reviews from the reggae / Dub press. This cassette helped introduce the brilliant UK Dub mixer Mad Professor to the American public.

 

The Mad Professor meets Puls der Zeit - At Checkpoint Charlie cassette, ROIR A-164, 1989.
decryption code in comments

Side A -
Sex & Crime Dub
Abu Dhabi Check
Walkman Blaumann Yellowman
Graffititiger
Taugenichts
Nordpol Emil

Side B -
Tribute to Joseph Beuys
Flower on the Slope
Spuren im Wind
Zaire

 

 

Enjoy while we can,
NØ

And Abbaba Soul...

 

Abbaba Soul is a reggae band from Cholula, in the state of Puebla in Mexico. In 2012 they had the opportunity to be a support band for Prince Alla & Sylford Walker. This led to recording the single "Rootsman Connection" with Jamaican producer Leon Cameron.

The success of "Rootsman Connection" paved the way to collaborations with artists Horace Andy, Macka B, & the Heptones, thus solidifying the bands position as one of the top purveyors of the Jamaican sound in all Mexico.

As a studio band they have collaborated with Scientist, Dean Fraser, Linval Thompson, Jah Gumby, among others.

In 2016 Abbaba Soul released their debut self-titled album on the Mexican label Ghetto Foundation,  mixed & mastered at the legendary Lion & Fox Studios. 2017 was a busy year that saw the band launch their first International Tour throughout the United States, release the "I Mean It" single with Dean Fraser, & "Love Me/Dub Me" mixed & mastered by Scientist.

The groups latest release, Babylon Kingdom Fall was mixed & mastered at Ariwa Sounds by that mythical producer of Dub, Mad Professor & released on their Ghetto Foundation label. 

This is the Dub version of that album as only the Mad Professor could do...

Abbaba Soul meets Mad Professor - Babylon KingDub, Ghetto Foundation, 2024.
decryption code in comments

Dubshine
Time fi Dub
Babylon Kingdub
Dub the Music
Full of Dub
Dub No Fight
Peacefull Dub

 

 

Enjoy while we can,
NØ

And Bob Andy...

 

Bob Andy was one of the founding members of The Paragons, along with Tyrone Evans & Howard Barrett, with John Holt later joining. Andy left after Holt joined. He worked for Studio One delivering records & songwriting before embarking on a solo career.

In the early 90s he relocated to London, where he worked as a producer & spent long dark nights recording with Mad Professor.

During one of those late dark Voodoo Dub nights, it was revealed to the Mad Professor's third eye that Bob Andys Song Book was intended by the most high, H.I.M. as a Dub book. Thus it was translated & preserved for eternity. 

 

Bob Andy - Bob Andy's Dub Book as Revealed to Mad Professor, I-Anka AV007CD. 1989.
decryption code in comments

Mind Jungle Dub    
You Know it Dub    
Tribal War Dub    
Devastation Dub    
Chain Free Dub    
Brothers Faith Dub    
Share it Out Dub    
Rasta Victory Dub    
Dubbing Home

 

 

 

Enjoy it while we can,
NØ

And Pato Banton...

Herein the Mad Professor captures & recaptures the wily Pato in a tremendous race to the fishnet.

For these albums, Mad Professor collaborated with singer Pato Banton, a reggae artist from England, using his lyrics over Mad Prof's Dubbed sounds. Captures is Banton's first album, the first of two albums he recorded with Mad Professor. The second was appropriately named Mad Professor Recaptures Pato Banton.

Mad Professor uses a lot of echoes in this music. He also makes changes to the frequency & pitch of the echo for some really great effects. Although the echoes are added in & the music is heavily Dubbed, most of Pato Banton's singing on the album is left alone. This keeps more of a reggae sound in the music than a lot of other Mad Professor Dub albums.

Mad Professor Captures Pato Banton features the likes of Black Steel, Preacher, Drumtan Ward, Robotiks, Bobby Valentino with Pato toasting & Mad Prof roasting.

 

Mad Professor & Pato Banton - Mad Professor Captures Pato Banton, Ariwa ARILP023, 1985.
decryption codes in comments

Side A -     
Mad Professor Captures Pato Banton
Gwarn! (Go On)
Nuff Kind of Dread

Side B -
King Step
Give Me Oil
My Opinion

 

 

 

 

Of course Pato smooth-talked his way out of Mad Professors grip. The Prof just bided his time & five years later he would recapute his foil one more time, once more with an incredible posse: Black Steel & Preacher still hard at it, joined up with Vin Gordon & Michael Rose on horns as well as Sandra Cross sharing some vocal duties with Pato.

 

 

Mad Professor & Pato Banton - Mad Professor Recapyures Pato Banton, Ariwa ARICD043, 1990.

Recapured
Riot
Satan
Tek Me Time
Mr. Singh
Worries
Live is One

 

 

 

Enjoy while we can,
NØ

And Lee Scratch Perry...

And... February

Every February I try to have a theme that I carry through the entire month. It began with Black History Month (fuck Trump!!!) & has included Fems of February, Trip-hop February, Synth-pop February, well you get the idea.

This month I am featuring music from an artist that I hold in the highest esteem. Founder & head of Ariwa Studios, producer Neil Joseph Stephen Fraser, the one & only Mad Professor is that man. I have shared his music here more than any other artist (except for the stealth Muslimgauze links) & with the addition of this month, that record will go unchallenged.

Mad Professor has worked with fellow artist around the world, a truly eclectic bunch of collabs. So this month each day will be Mad Professor & somebody new...

 

Starting off the month is the one artist Mad Professor has collaborated with the most often, the two having released more than a dozen albums & a bunch of singles together. This is their first joint. Two mad men in Dub.

 

Lee Perry - Meets the Mad Professor in Dub Chapter One, Angella Records ANG008, 1987.
decryption code in comments

Side 1 -
Two Mad Man in Dub
World Peace
Blood of the Dragon
Space Dub
Power Dub

Side 2 -
Noah's Ark
Recornation
The Other Side of Midnight
Mark of the Beast
Hold Yu Corner

 

 

 

Here we go,
NØ

NØ Seal of Approval...Facts, not Fiction

After putting the finishing touches on February's And??? posts, I was pondering what to do next. I basically decided that I needed to address some NSS old business. I had numerous suggestions, name-drops, requests from Frenz of NSS that I had not addressed. Then I wanted to get back to one of my longest running series: Musick that Needed Work now on letter R.

I checked out the R folder & realized it was rupturing at the seams. I had just been putting broken files in there & never getting back to them. Between the old business & Musick that Needed Work - R, I have more than enough to fill out March.

While I was perusing the contents of R, I came across a release that I had stuck there over twenty years ago & then completely forgotten. When I first purchased it back in 2004, two of the tracks on the CD were completely unplayable but I so loved the rest that I stashed in the Needed Work folder with every intention of replacing the two tracks. There it languished all these years until now. I found a copy on Discogs for $15 & ordered it. I ripped a totally new copy in .wav, then converted it to 320Kbps in Audacity. I decided I couldn't wait until March to share it with you. 

 

For me this has everything going for it. The project was the brainchild of Charlie McGougan & featured vocals by Cheshire Cat (formerly with Leftfield) & Anthony Joseph. Many top-notch artists helped perfect this release:Keith LaBlanc; Adrian Sherwood; Style Scott; Brother Culture; Gaudi; Gregory Isaacs; & more. It has been on heavy rotation here at Casa Nada. It is now one of my top-ten releases. Something about it just clicks with me. Give it a listen. Let me know what you think. 

 

Red Seal - Black Ops, Flow Records FLR0411CD, 2004.
decryption code in commnts

In a di Battle
Forces of Creation featuring Nick Coplowe (Mutant Hi-Fi) on Chinese banjo
Knowing All Clear featuring Nick Coplowe on guitar
Machine Gun Tommy featuring Keith LaBlanc on drums
Cool Down
Facts Not Fiction
Back One Day featuring Nick Coplowe on guitar
Behold I Come as One featuring Brother Culture on vocals
Voices from Beyond featuring Gaudi on samples & Gregory Isaacs on vocals
Vibration Dub (Forces edit) mixed by Adrian Sherwood
Supernatural featuring Style Scott on drums
Zorushka featuring Irina Mikhailova

 

 

Enjoy,
NØ