On any post, if the link is no longer good, leave a comment if you want the music re-uploaded. As long as I still have the file, or the record, cd, or cassette to re-rip, I will gladly accommodate in a timely manner all such requests.

Slinging tuneage like some fried or otherwise soused short-order cook

17 October 2024

Report Said

While I was reviving some long lost Meltd0wn in August, I shared Muslimgaze's Port Said that I had originally shared on DM. You can find the original EP here.

Frenz of NSS Rob has been leaving links to various Muslimgauze in the comments of daily posts. If you are looking for anything from Muslimgauze, go back & check the comments & leave a thanks to Rob if you grab something.

There is a re-issue of Port Said from 2017 that contained the extensive Report Said as well. These are tracks commissioned by the record label, remixes of the original Muslimgauze tracks.

This is the rest of the Report... 

 

Muslimgauze - Port Said/Report Said, Aquarellist aquarel38-17, 2017.
decryption code in comments

Report Said (CD 2) -

Ionospheric Dub - A.P. (Anders Peterson)
Port Said - Bass Communion
MZmz - Dead Voices On Air
Geometric Said - Esplendor Geométrico
Port Said (iDie mix) - In Death It Ends
Lavish - Pacific 231
Port Said (QST 2015 mix) - QST
Night Train to Heliopolis - Rapoon
Horizontal (elemental mix) - Scanner
Pad Riots - Simon Crab
بورسعيد (صدى الروسية) - Velehentor
Port Sad - Troum

Enjoy,

15 October 2024

Leaking (on) Another Track

It's been since January that I let slip a track from Bukowski in Dub

Here a harrowing tale...just another typical day in the life of Hank Chinaski...Dubbed as should be...

Bukowski in Dub, EP Records EP909. 

Charles Bukowski - track 11: Christ, You’ll Never Know

To excess,

14 October 2024

Destined for Stardom

 

Stellar was a New Zealand pop-rock band, active 1995-2010 with Boh Runga on guitar & vocals. They were primarily a pop-rock band, but this, their debut release, was a much more trip-hop affair. 

 

  
Here Stellar is: Boh Runga - vocals & guitar; Chris van de Geer - guitar; Kurt Shanks - bass; & Andrew Maclaren - drums & keyboards. Additional keyboards & produced by Tom Bailey.
 
Stellar* - Mix, Epic, 1999.
decryption code in comments

Violent
Part of Me
Every Girl
Nerve & Consequences
Undone
Tenderhook
What You Do (Bastard)
If You Lied
Slowburn
Breather
You
 
 

Enjoy,

13 October 2024

Monkey!!!



100th Monkey is Andy Guthrie, who has co-produced Banco de Gaia, Children of the Bong, Medicine Drum & Matsuri Productions to name a few.

Andy began his career as a keyboard player touring with Jackdaw With Crowbar & Bhangra singer Johnny Zee in the mid 1980s.

 



He worked at Island Records with reggae producer Paul 'Groucho' Smykle in 1988 before co-founding Banco de Gaia with Toby Marks & co-producing Banco's Mercury-nominated debut album Maya as well as Last Train to Lhasa. As a dance music producer during the 90s he worked with Medicine Drum, Prana, Eat Static, Tristan, Manmademan, & others as well as releasing solo work under the monikers 100th Monkey as well as Funkopath.

Writing in the Virgin Encyclopedia of Dance Music, Colin Larkin sez:
     "characterised by varied textures and grooves, and the most detailed, original production."

During the last 20 years he has worked as a composer & arranger for media, film, theatre, in teaching, as a choral conductor & arranger, as a freelance producer including recent work with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra & Deutsche Grammophon. He has an MA in composition, continues to release music as 100th Monkey, still works with a range of artists in the classical / electronic music fields.

The name 100th Monkey comes from research conducted in the mid-sixties by four Japanese primatologists into the eating habits of monkeys across several separate Pacific islands. The researchers found that a concept or skill learned by a few could spread almost overnight to the rest of the species across long distances provided a critical number of individuals was reached. This was later picked up on by Lyall Watson who gave the concept the name "the hundredth monkey phenomenon". The point being that a new skill or concept can be accepted into the gene stream, affecting evolution provided enough individuals acquire it. So proving that whatever we think or learn affects the collective unconsciousness... probably. 

 

100th Monkey - Space Dubs & Other Miscellany, Disco Gecko DSCGCKDIG065, 2019.
decryption code in comments

Hoffman Dub
Backwater Dub (Purple Pineapple mix)
Eclipse Dub featuring Miranda Matthews
Moonchild featuring Angèle
Until the Dawn
The Inuit Snow Song featuring Leq [Inuit singing] (Icescape Secret Beats remix)
Schumacher Levy No. 9
Oculus
Empyrean
Up & At It
Marakch
 
 
 

Enjoy,

12 October 2024

Here I Go...Babbling On

 

Babble is: Alannah Currie (Auckland, New Zealand singer, songwriter, Thompson Twins saxophonist, & furniture upholsterer married to The KLF's Jimmy Cauty); Keith Fernley (sound engineer, mixer, & producer); & Tom Bailey (producer, Thompson Twins / International Observer vocals, synthesizer, piano, contrabass, harmonica, guitar, & drum programming)

Written, recorded, & mixed at BABBLE H.Q., 'Karaka', New Zealand. 

 

Babble - Ether, Reprise Records, 1996.
decryption code in comments

The Circle    
Just like You    
Sun featuring Taisha Kuhtze
Love has No Name featuring Teremoana Rapley
Dark    
Tower featuring Taisha Kuhtze
Come Down    
Hold the Sky    
Into Ether    
Dreamfield
 
 

Enjoy,

10 October 2024

I.O. You

 

On the Pitch Black - First of All compilation, one name that popped up several times was International Observer. International Obsever is primarily Tom Bailey, musician & ex-lead singer of the British band the Thompson Twins. Following the demise of the Thompson Twins Bailey began producing the New Zealand band Stellar. He moved to New Zealand to work with them. The success of this collaboration allowed him to focus on his own music, which had moved into the world of Dub music, or chill music, as it is sometimes referred to in New Zealand. It was there that he met & became friends with Michael Hodgson & Paddy Free of Pitch Black. They have collaborated extensively.

Here is a smattering of works by International Observer. 

 

International Observer - Seen, Different Drummer DIFCD19,2001.
all decryption codes in comments


Vale
Minicell
Barone
Flat
Zoom Lp Fi
Friday Afternoon Dub
Indicator Dub
Flip-Flop Cemetery
Now a Major Motion Picture

 

 

 

 

International Observer - Heard, Dubmission Records CDDUBM008, 2007.

Welcome
Freyburg Place Mat
2 Steps at a Time Sweet Jesus
The International Parts 1 & 2
London Dub
At the Coronation
Hip Hop Final
Cellphone Dub
Pick Up Your Beater
The More We Know (live at BFM)
Dirty Harry
War Memorial Peace Museum Heard 
 
 
 
 
International Observer - Felt, Dubmission Records CDDUBM015, 2009.

House of the Rising Dub
Popcorn Slavery
The Death of Karamov
Rose Madder
Neelkanth
Lampedsa
House Made of Felt
Mudshark Lick
Binman Dub
Miss Hitt
Abode of the Setting Moon
 
 
 
 
International Observer - Touched, Dubmission Records CDDUBM045, 2014.

Drive (International Observer's Doordashan mix) - Bic Runga
Monsoon Malabar (International Observer remix) - Bombay Dub Orchestra
Pitch Black1000 Mile Drift (International Observer remix) - Pitch Black
Nowhere Dub (International Observer remix) - Warp Technique
Come to Me (International Observer remix) - The Black Seeds
Autumn Leaves (International Observer's Oak Tree Dub) - Minimal Compact
Lost in Translation (International Observer meets Horace remix) - Pitch Black
StellarSlack Bastard (International Observer Dub) - Stellar
Oreia (International Observer's Monkey Forest Dub) - Banco De Gaia
Lowery Dub (International Observer's Daddy Dub) - Tapes
Drive (International Observer's Interstellar Underpass mix) - Bic Runga
 
 
 
 
International Observer - Retouched, Dubmission Records CDDUBM053, 2015.

Love Has No Name (International Observer's Archaeopteryx Dub) - Babble
Speech (International Observer remix) - Pitch Black
Pretty Violent (International Observer's Dub Riotous Sound System Clash) - Stellar
Vista Pro Mar (International Observer's Dancehall mix) - Silva
Change Your Mind (International Observer's Slack Mind Dub) - The Exponents
Only a Dream (International Observer Dub) - Holiwater Band
Ivory Towers (International Observer remix) - Deep Fried Dub
Slack Dub (International Observer Instrumental Dub) - Stellar
1000 Mile Dub (International Observer's Stink mix) - Pitch Black
Drive (International Observer's Interstellar Over Drive mix) - Bic Runga
 
 
 

Enjoy,

09 October 2024

Pitch Black - First of All

 

One of the bands I listen to with total regularity (basically every day) is Pitch Black. October 12, 2023 I shared most of their catalogue. I still have a few releases I could share, but I thought up this crazy compilation in the meantime. Here is the first song from all of their releases in (basically) chronological order.... 

 

Pitch Black - First of All, NØ Comp., 2024.

The Gatherer
Melt (Dub Obscura mix)
Reptile Room
Electric Earth (video edit)
Electric Earth (DC mix)
Flex
Ape to Angel
Ape to Angel (Bluetechs‘s Evolution mix)
Freefall (Doof remix)
Lost in Translation (International Observer meets Horace remix)
Empty Spaces, Missing Units (Metalob remix)
1000 Mile Drift
South of the Line
Rude Mechanicals
1000 Mile Drift (International Observer remix)
Bird Soul (original mix)
Harmonia (Neon Stereo's extended remix)
Harmonia (Deep Seed's Beware of the Dubmonster mix)
Live in Tokyo
Te Po (Pitch Black remix) - Hirini Melbourne & Richard Nunns
Filtered Senses
Invisible Chatter
Without the Trees (Tom Cosm's Twitch Itch remix)
It's the Future Knocking (International Observer's No Smoking Dub)
Dub Smoke
It's the Future Knocking
Pixel Dust
Lost in (Bird) Soul (Live at Ozora '17)
Harmonia (Plasma Corp. remix)
The Gatherer (Live at Womad, Auckland Town Hall, 1999)
For the Love of It (Live at Womad, Auckland 1999)
No Sense Unfiltered
Artifical Intolerance
The Silver World
One Ton Skank
Third Light
Daylight Wasting (International Observer's Durian Hook)
Did You Get the Message
Reptile Room (Live in Studio 2000)
Transient Transmission (Adrian Sherwood's Delta B(0)=B remix)
It's a Future Dub
Exodus (version)
Sonic Colonic (Tom Cosm remix)

Enjoy,

07 October 2024

Taking Care

Before I take care (o b) I have a couple things to mention.

First, need to apologize to anyone whose re-upload request I have shirked or anyone to whose comments I have been vague in replying. 

 



About ten days ago some nefarious cold/flu mutation invaded Casa Nada del Este. First Black Dahlia fell under its grip, then Lao Elanya. Being the stubborn bull-headed Taurus that I am. I refused to give in & so for about five days I walked the quavering tightrope between sick & well. Finally I took a KO punch to the head & tumbled hard. I am just now coming out of the fog. 

 



It is such a weird sickness that we all took COVID tests just to see, but they all registered negative (the only good thing about this whole disease). It's been like the worst imaginable cold with heavy doses of influenza weirdness, chills & aches (but no fever).

So just wanted to say sorry for any vaguery. Should be back to form soon.

Second, for anyone interested in the machinations of the whole Interweb/Blogger bullshit that I have to endure, you might want to go back to Sound Systember. You might notice that Sound Systember 24 is no longer to be found. It suffered the rage of a Blogger take-down...a simple share of Roots Garden Sound System/Manasseh that was deemed by Blogger Cummunity Guidelines to be SPAM.

WTF! 

 



The Spam section of the guidlines seems plenty succinct:
     SPAM - Do not spam. This may include unwanted promotional or commercial content, unwanted content that is created by an automated program, unwanted repetitive content, nonsensical content, or anything that appears to be a mass solicitation.

Well it was none of those (no more nonsensical than usual), but nothing I can do but comply. I added an addendum on Sound Systember 25 to replace some of the missing material & explain what's up. But enough...

On with the show... 

 



Prompted by the previous Burial conversation, I shared several releases from Leyland James Kirby using the moniker The Caretaker. Got a lot of favorable response, so here are some more. The first two are from the Stranger, another nom de musique of Kirby's. 

 

The Stranger - The Stranger, Phthalo Records PHTHALO07, 1997.
all decryption codes in comments

The Wind is Blowing Cold Across the Moor
Over the Moor, I'm on the Moor
The Mists are Rising
Let Me be Void Still
Some People Need the Heroes
Like a Happy Child Lost in a Sudden Dream
I'll be Seeing You
 
 
 
 
The Stranger - Bleaklow, V/Vm Test Records VVMTCD26, 2008.

Something to Do with Death
Exposure
Exhumation
Solemn Dedication
Indefinite Ridge
Kirkbymoorside
Inverted Burial
Bleaklow
Bob Greaves
A Melody Dreags Me Back
Ominous Sunset
 
 
 
 

Then one under the name his birth name Leyland Kirby.
 
History Always Favours the Winners HAFTW010, 
2011.

The Arrow of Time
This is the Story of Paradise Lost
To Reject the World
No Longer Distance than Death
They are All Dead, There are no Skip at All
My Dream Contained a Star
 
 
 
 

& one by the Caretaker personae...
History Always Favours the Winners HAFTW-DL-010, 
2019.

Loss of Want Back There
I Might Be Vanishing
Empty Beyond Beyond Beyond
Losing Battle of Loss
Advanced Plaque Camaraderie
All Eyes Bewildered
Glimpses of Life Denial
Equinox Eyes Will Stop
Losing Loss of Battle
Plaque Advanced Despair
Benjamin Beyond Bliss
Drifting Sublime Hope
Minimal All You Are
Internal Unravel
Dusk Memory Fraction
Entanglement Synapse Ache
And Bliss Everywhere Bliss
 
 
 

Enjoy,

06 October 2024

Burial Ceremonies...I See Distant Lights

Back in June when I was finishing up Musick that Needed Work - P, I shared some Pye Corner Audio. That post elicted the following dialogue.

MarkyD sez:
     "Thanks NØ. I desperately want to like Pye but couldn't really enjoy Hollow Earth or Let's Emerge. I suppose I want my hauntology to be more James Kirby. I will listen to these with more humility."

In reply. I sez:
     "These four (Black Mill Tapes - Ed) seem different to me from Hollow Earth, but my idea of hauntology leans more toward Burial, so go figure. This was just something I wanted to share as I was finishing up the P file. Let me know what you think about these." 

 



Then MarkyD sez:
     "As for Bevan (William Emmanuel Bevan aka Burial), he peaked too soon with Untrue."

To which I sez:
     "As for WEB, I guess I was too vague in my comment. I meant Burial (self-titled). I am always entertained & intrigued by its uniqueness whenever I give it a spin."

Here's the release I mentioned. Sit down & let it teleport you to the South London Boroughs...C'mon, Spaceape fer Xist sake.

 

Burial - Burial, Hyperdub HDBCD001, 2006.
all decryption codes in comments

Untitled
Distant Lights
Spaceape featuring SpaceApe
Wounder
Night Bus
Southern Comfort
U Hurt Me
Gutted
Forgive
Broken Home
Prayer
Pirates
Untitled
bonus tracks
South London Boroughs
Nite Train
 
 
 

Here is a post-Untrue release. It is a compilation of tracks from EPs released from 2011s Street Halo to 2019s Claustro / State Forest. Songs that appeared over many years as separate self-contained units can now be seen as cohesive, showcasing diverse styles & approaches. If the individual EPs are self-contained worlds, the compilation makes it clear that it is a unified galaxy of Burial's own design....
 
Burial - Tunes 2011-2019 2xCD, Hyperdub HDBCD048, 2019.

CD 1 -
State Forest    
Beachfires    
Subtemple    
Young Death    
Nightmarket    
Hiders    
Come Down to Us    
Claustro    
Rival Dealer     

CD 2 -
Kindred    
Loner    
Ashtray Wasp    
Rough Sleeper    
Truant     
Street Halo    
Stolen Dog    
NYC
 
 
 

While I'm sharing Burial, here's a rarity & a real treat. INHALEGOLD is an anagram of Heligoland that contained the track "Paradise Circus". "Four Walls" is a remix of the Massive Attack song of the same name. Both tracks feature uncredited vocals by Hope Sandoval. There is a great deal of debate amongst audiophiles about the sound quality of these tracks. Since Burial uses a great deal of programmed noise, it is hard to tell for sure. I am sharing both the original test pressing & the WAV files. Decide for yourselves...
 
Massive Attack vs Burial - Four Walls/Paradise Circus 12", Inhale Gold INHALECOLD001, 2011.

Side A -
Four Walls
Side B -
Paradise Circus
 
 

 
 
 
Enjoy,

04 October 2024

From Beginning to End

One of the most earnest Dub followers & consistent commentors around this dump, a true Frenz of NSS, the legendary cultural geography Prof, the one & only Charlie T let it be known that even though I served up two separate servings of Alpha & Omega, he just couldn't get enough. 

 



I could instantly relate. I have a small collection of Christine & John's vast catalogue. I am wonderfully pleased to be able to serve up another serving of A&O. 

 

Alpha & Omega - Serious Joke, Alpha & Omega Records A&O2002, 2002.
all dcryption codes in comments

The Dub is Out There    
Alchemy    
Survivor    
Serious Joke    
Elementary My Selector    
One Love featuring Boney L & Vibronics ( A&O remix)
Only One Dub    
In My Dreams featuring Baxter
Who Jah Bless featuring Nishka
Bless This Dub    
Wolves in Sheeps Clothing featuring Messian Dread
Dub Files
 
 
 
 
Alpha & Omega - City of Dub, Alpha & Omega Records A&O2007CD, 2007.

Big Up Righteousness featuring Uprising & Jah Zebbi
Big Up Dub    
Nah Lef the Truth featuring Jonah Dan
Dub Roots    
Marching Warriors featuring Coz Tafari
Dub Warrior    
Massacre in Ghetto featuring Digitaldubs, Valnei Aine, & Jero Banton
Dub in the Ghetto    
This is My Prayer featuring Jonah Dan
Rhythm of Life featuring Juakali & Sparlha
Stop Your Lying featuring Nishka
Stop Your Lying Dub    
U Wrong featuring Gregory Fabulous
 
 
 
 
Alpha & Omega - One by One, Steppas A&OLP2017, 2017.

Poormans Style featuring Prince David
Walk Like a Warriah featuring Jane Warriah
Rough & Tough featuring Joe Pilgrim
One by One featuring Nai-Jah
Love Rastafari featuring Ras Tinny
Poorman Dub     
Dub Like a Warriah    
Rough & Dub    
Dub by Dub    
Love Dub
 
 
 

Jah Love,

02 October 2024

Black Lucifer

 

When I was restoring some of the lost Meltd0wn in August, I shared Black Devil - Disco Club. Here is the follow-up, Disco Club in Dub

If Disco Club was disco's "dark atmospheric electronic doppleganger", then the same can be said for the Dub here. Dub's dark atmospheric electronic dopplegangers followed by some equally gifted twisted remixed...

Black Devil - Disco Club in Dub, Lo Recordings LCD60, 2007.
decryption codes in comments

The Devil in Us (Dub)
On Just Foot (Dub)
Coach Me (Dub)
I Regret the Flower Power (Dub)
Constantly No Respect (Dub)
An Other Skin (Dub)
The Devil in Us (En Francais)
On Just Foot (Slide Inside)
Coach Me (Again & Again)
I Regret the Flower Power (Fragments of Fear)
Constantly No Respect (The Phenomena of)
An Other Skin (Days of Blackula)
 
 
 
 

While the Devil has his day, here's another one that sprouted up, reported by Bernard Fevre (the Black Devil himself) to be the last...
 
Black Devil Disco Club - Lucifer is a Flower, Lo Recordings Lo163DA, 2020.
 
Sweet Sins
Berliner Atoll
Synth is Not Love
Six Six Sex
Caresse un Opossume
Bossa Snooze
Ah Am Alone
Devil Charmed
 
 

Dance Natas Dance,

01 October 2024

Weird October...One Thing Leads to Another

Whenever I do a Dubtember, Weird October always follows close on its heels. This month is just one thing leads to another. It is the skewed trajectory of my seething cerebral wandering. So Sound Systember leads to...

I have a bulging folder of Dub Overflow left from last month. I'm going to sprinkle some of it about this month & keep the rest for a rainy day.

While working on Zion Train & Universal Egg, I pulled up a few from Power Steppers, great proponents of Sound System culture, but I just had too much going on already with the Uni Egg, so they got set aside. However, their style is so unique that I'm starting out with Enforcement & Re- 

 



Power Steppers (sometimes known as the Powersteppers) began life as an offshoot of UK Dub pioneers Zion Train. Created by Colin Cod, Dave Tench, & Neil Perch, (the three principle members of Zion Train), as an outlet for the more manic, Sound System Dubs that they created.  Power Steppers released two albums, Bass Enforcement & Bass Re-enforcement along with several singles, as well as appearing on multiple compilations. 

 

Power Steppers - Bass Enforcement, Universal Egg WWCD015, 1995.
decryption codes in comments


A Taste of Bass    
Precision Device featuring the Disciples
Bass Exploration    
Bass Communication featuring Ruts DC
Liberty, Power & Bass
His Masters Bass    
The Race into Bass    
Active Speaker    
Any Bass Necessary    
Bass Expectations

 

 

 

Power Steppers - Bass Re-Enforcement, Universal Egg WWCD020, 1996.

Aural Exciter
Parametric Equalisation
Bass Inspirations
Bass Community
The Enclosure
4 Way Crossover
Servo-Drive
The Sound of the Basskervilles
Woofer Alert
Super Stack
Bass Overdrive
Clarion Call
Feedback
 
 

Enjoy,

30 September 2024

Sound Systember 30

 Babylon

 

 

After referencing the film Babylon numerous times during this month, I decided it was the least I could do but share the soundtrack. This is the expanded version of the 1980 Chrysalis release with two bonus tracks from the Dennis Bovell original score.

Brinsley Forde of Aswad sez:
     "What elevates Babylon is the incidental music scored by UK Dub master Dennis Bovell, leader of Matumbi and LKJ's Dub Band, and previously a Sound System operator himself. Although plentiful, it seldom grabs attention but still provides an irresistible reggae soundbed, helping to reposition the grubby, hostile South London streets as Blue's own."

Franco Rosso's incendiary Babylon was proposed to the BBC around 1979. They rejected it claiming it was too controversial because of its accurate depiction of police brutality, racism, & poverty. It had its world premiere at Cannes in 1980 but went unreleased in the U.S. until 2019 for "being too controversial, deemed too likely to incite racial tension" (Vivien Goldman, Time Out). Raw & smoldering, it follows a young dancehall DJ (Brinsley Forde, frontman of landmark British reggae group Aswad) in South London as he pursues his musical ambitions, battling fiercely against the racism & xenophobia of employers, neighbors, police, & the National Front. Written by Martin Stellman (Quadrophenia), shot by two-time Oscar winner Chris Menges (The Killing Fields) with beautifully smoky cinematography that has been compared to Taxi Driver, Babylon is fearless & unsentimental, yet tempered by the hazy bliss of the dancehall set to a blistering UK Dub reggae / Lovers rock soundtrack featuring Aswad, Johnny Clarke, Dennis Bovell, & more.

Various - Babylon (The Original Soundtrack), Chrysalis , 1980 + bonus original score tracks.
decryption code in comments

Thank You for the Many Things You've Done - Cassandra
Runnin' Away - Dennis Bovell
Deliver Me from My Enemies - Yabby You
Jazterpiece
Manhunter - Dennis Bovell
Hey Jah Children - Aswad
School Skanking
Living in Babylon
Chief Inspector - Dennis Bovell
Free Africa - Yabby You
B Flat Reggae Concerto - Dennis Bovell
Whap'n Bap'n - I Roy
Warrior Charge - Aswad
Turn Me Loose - Michael Prophet
Beefy's Tune (long version)
Beefy's Tune
Jazterpiece (reggae version) - Dennis Bovell

bonus tracks from Babaylon original score -
Chief Inspector Part 2
Back-Weh Babylon - Dennis Bovell

Thanks for following along on this Sound System journey. It's been more than a pleasure for me.

You can watch the film Babylon on Facebook video here.

Tear down Babylon,

29 September 2024

Sound Systember 29

Valve --- The Return of a Champion 
 
 



Back in 2001, fed up with playing sets on mediocre Sound Systems, Dillinja & Lemon D hand-built their own Valve Sound System.

Named after the valve components used in old skool power amps which are said the give the music a 'warmer' sound, the Valve Sound System was designed from the ground up to showcase the full frequency range of the drum & bass spectrum, enabling ravers to be truly immersed in sound. Clocking in at a staggering 96k the Valve System is officially the worlds loudest D&B Sound System.

 



The system made a few infamous appearances back in the day, all of which are set in the memories of those that got to feel the trouser shaking power of a D&B bass line through the custom built subs… Ultimately, the Valve Sound System required three 7.5 ton lorries to transport it around plus a massive crew to set it up, so the system went quiet for a some years… Until now!

On August 8, Valve Sound System played the Boomtown Fair street party. Festivities kicked off at 2pm with Aum, then co-founder of Valve Sound, none other than Lemon D with 2Shy MC came on at 4pm, then the originator Dillinja with GQ hit it at 6pm. At 9pm Kara took the boards for the final hour. Here's what that sounded like... 

 

 
 
 

Bass culture forever,

28 September 2024

Sound Systember 28

UK Sound Systems Today 
 

Nearing the end of this project & still much to cover, this post will be quite a hodge-podge of musical shares. I've tried to move this labor of love along through time up to the present day. UK Dub today is as heart-felt as ever. Sound Systems still hold a place blessed by many. There are artists, producers, selectors, & crews out there making the pure Sounds everyday. Here is a handful of divergent Sound Systems working hard to carry forth the gauntlet of Sound culture in the UK.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
 
 


Bristol is the source of Massive Attack's granulated electronica & was ground zero for trip-hop, jungle & DnB throughout the 90s, but the city would be an entirely different entity if not for Sound System culture. One of the many crews continuing Bristol's pioneering legacy today is Maasai Warrior, the seven-piece self-proclaimed 'Thunder Weight Sound' born in the St. Paul's area in 2010. Led by Ben Maasai & made up of Sound clash veterans, MCs, & selectors loaded with one-of-a-kind Dubplates, Maasai are a longstanding source of pride for West Country Sound Warriors.
 
 
Maasai Warrior Sound System – A Taste of...Dubplates, NØ Comp., 2024.
all decryption codes in comments

Precision Device cut 1
The Return cut 1
Albrosie Police & Soldier cut 2
Rockaz to Rockaz
Sizzlin’ (Tribute to Frankie Paul Skengdon label)
Love Gone Wrong Dub
This is My Prayer vocal cut
Rasta Mafia cut 2
Stop the Robbery (Tribute to Early B)
Visitors from Outta Space cut 1
 
 
 
 

Sound System culture can sometimes be a purist pursuit, following a strict rulebook penned from the System Elders of the past. Occasionally, though, someone comes along & disrupts the order. You'll find that in Kai Dub's experimental productions as Dub Forward. Formerly a member of Maasai, as a solo producer Kai Dub crafts his niche from the Casio rhythms of DigiDub & dark, brooding basslines drenched in space echo. As resident producer & owner of the Dub Forward label Kai can usually be found behind walls of equalizers, compressors, & turntables, fuelling the dance on various Systems in his native city of Bristol.

Here's an EP from Kai Dub on the Lion's Den label, teaming up with some of the Lion's Den Sound System crew & some bonus tracks from his own Dub Forward label.
 
Kai Dub - Fresh like the Morning (& more), Lion's Den/Dub Forward, 2020.

Fresh like the Morning - Jesse Royal
Fresh Dub - Kai Dub
Rastafari - Wellette Seyon
Rastafari Dub - Kai Dub
House of Gold - Donovan Joseph
House of Dub - Kai Dub
bonus tracks -
Stay Tuff - Tenastelin
Tuff Dub - Kai Dub
Africa Forever - Donovan Kingjay
Forever Dub - Kai Dub
 
 
 
 

Here's a recent re-working of tunes from the original Maasai Warrior Sound System, from the time when Kai was a member, done in his Dub Forward style...
 
 
Kai Dub – Dubz from 2007, Dub Forward, 2023.

Fly Away
Dub Away
Heavy Vibration
Heavy Dub
Ital Drive
Dub Drive
Dedication
Dedication Dub
Youths of Today
Youths of Dub
Shaker Dub
Shaker Dub continued
Strong Stance
Strong Dub
The Creator
Creator Dub
Survivor
Survivor Dub
 

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Undoubtedly one of the best sound systems the UK has to offer, Sinai Sound System out of Sheffield have been regulars at Outlook over the years. In 2019 they brought their custom built Sound & a stack of killer Dubs. Producing predominately on 80s & 90s hardware, inspired by all the greats from the 1970s Roots & Dub to present day Steppers style, their Sound System presents UK influenced Roots reggae music in the traditional style with Cheff at the controls.

Here's a set recorded live at SUBDUB 21 in SUBDUB Arena, Saturday 7th September 2019... 
 
 
 
 
 
 

This is there first attempt at studio work...

Side A -
Melody from the Mountain
Dub from the Mountain (Cut 1)
Dub from the Mountain (Cut 2)
 
Side B -    
A New Creation 
A New Creation in Dub (Cut 1)
A New Creation in Dub (Cut 2) 
 

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Electrikal Sound System are a forward-thinking consortium of bass music event specialists hailing from Edinburgh, Scotland. Established in 2009, their distinctive, premium quality 50kw custom-built Sound System is optimised for sub-bass frequency music.

As a collective they supply the Sound System, décor, & lighting for events & festivals across the UK – including the Boomtown Fair Street Party, Belladrum's Temple of Dub, on board the famous Croatian boat parties of Outlook & Dimensions as well as providing a skate ramp stage in collaboration with Sika records at NASS Festival.

Electrikal Sound System are here to help us party. All we need is the Power.
 
 

Intro
Gorillaz in the Midst
Dubplate Skooler
Unite I & I
Riches on the Water
Diametrikal Electrikal
Gettin’ Hot in Here
Ganja Rubadub
Outro
 

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Next we'll uncover Undercover Cockney. One of the newest Sounds I'm sharing today, Undercover Cockney are Nick Philpin & Paul Emile from London. They both have eclectic backgrounds as touring musicians, producers , Deejays, & general musical malarkey. Drawing inspiration from London's melting pot of Sounds, setting out to create a musical experience that seamlessly merges Dub, traditional reggae, & rocksteady with both classic & contemporary influences. The result is a fusion of genres that transcends boundaries. The duo flawlessly incorporate electronic & rock'n'roll elements into their Dub & reggae foundation.

Underground Cockney do live sets across the UK & have their own radio Clash.

Here's a mixtape of one of their live sets from earlier this year…
 

Their only release to date is this single from a soon to be released album Double Double. The single features vocalist Coco Malone with Horsemouth toastin' & percussin'.
 
 

Am I Good Enough
Am I Good Enough Dub
bonus track -
City Dub
 

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Last up is Bokeh Versions Sound System.  Their sound is the most cutting edge of all the Sounds I've shared today.

Bristol's electronic music scene is an invigorating one, with labels, promoters, DJs, & producers springing from the city's Dub reggae roots. In recent years, label crews like Timedance & Livity Sound have adapted Dub, dubstep & other sub-bass-focused genres into new styles of UK techno.

Others like Bokeh have come at the city's heritage from a different angle. Over the last few years, Bokeh Versions has drawn from myriad influences connected to Bristol's DIY Sound System culture & an international roster of Dub, dancehall, reggae, industrial, & noise artists.

Here's an extensive mix from BKV Industrial & Robin Stewart featuring nearly all the artists associated with Bokeh & the Bokeh philosophy. The styles are widely varied but it is easy to follow the thread they have in common, a fine thread of richest silken Dub. Nearly two hours worth of top-notch tunes...
 
 

Rocket Repairs - Tradition
Never Play Dat 2021 - Lopo
TrustInDigikal - Seekersinternational
I Came I Saw - The Bush Chemists
Yahweh the Redeemer - TNT Roots
Eriksson – Bad Tracking
Shadow - Grove
Il Sonno Del Gigante - Sea Urchin
Desert K&Q Love Riddim - Smurhy
MIZUNOKUNI Side A - Gr◯un土 + Kabamix
YMFEES - Leslie Winer and Jay Glass Dubs
DRK BLNT - Sunun
Tears of the Righteous – TNT Roots
TrialByFire - Seekersinternational
Asa (Tahtib Tehbat) – Sea Urchin
Compound Dub – Jay Glass Dubs
Compound Dub (Kinlaw remix) – Jay Glass Dubs
Look Out Riddim – Low Jack
Cyborg Riddim - Tukinno & King G
Love di People (Cakedog version) - Sikka Rymes
Walk & Stagger – G Sudden
A Lifetime of Broken Dreams - Répéter
Sempre - Felinto
Growing - SRS
Não Tem Volta - Felinto
Bandersnatch - Mars89
Midnite – Johah Dan
Mix Over (Velkro version) – Buddy Don
Dark Just - Sunun
Dark Just (Kinlaw remix) - Sunun
Putting the Danger Back on the Road (live) – Leather Rats
The Summoning – Voodoo Tapes
Hedi Dodici Luglio – Sea Urchin
NEW MED - Aquadab & MCA
LoversDedicationStation - Seekersinternational
Growth - Smurphy
Last Gasp (featuring Rajib Karmakar) – Only Now
Growing (Lawncare version) - SRS
Pulviscolo Del Sonno, La Prossima Relatà – Sea Urchin
 
 


Soundward into the future,