Sound Systember 12

Zion Train & Universal Egg

 

 

Universal Egg was initially begun by Zion Train to promote their music & productions. This expanded into the release & promotion of labels like Studio One, Blue Note, Real World, ECM, Deep Root, & Sun Ra's Saturn imprint.

Zion Train are a British Dub ensemble that formed in Oxford in 1988. They have consistently released music & toured from 1992 to present day. Their mix of Dub reggae with dance music was a notable innovation in the early 1990s.

Although initially formed in Oxford as a Sound System in 1988 by Neil Perch & Ben Hamilton, Colin Cod & Dave Tench joined in 1990 upon Zion's relocation to London. Their first release was the single "Power One" b/w "Power One (version)".

 

Zion Train - Power One, Wibbly Wobbly World of Music, 1991.
all decryption codes in comments

Logo Side -
Power One
Blank Side -
Power One (version)

 

 

 

 

The Zion Train crew added vocalist Molara in 1992. That same year they released the groundbreaking "Follow like Wolves" single, which fused Dub with acid house styles. Here's a compilation they released of their early recordings...

 

Zion Train - The Early Recordings, Universal Egg, 1992.

Llanberis Pass (previously unreleased demo)
Amlach
JD Dub
8.90m (previously unreleased version)
Eagle Ray (previously unreleased version)
Darker
Jupiter (previously unreleased version)
Watch Out Dub (previously unreleased version)
Spiky Dub
Granby Street
Elephant (previously unreleased version)
Follow like Wolves (previously unreleased demo version)
Untitled
bonus track -
Follow like Wolves (single)

 

 

 

 

Zion Train have released numerous albums on Universal Egg & other labels. Additionally, they have worked with The Shamen, Afro Celt Sound System, Loop Guru, Kava Kava, & many others. Also they have recorded extensively under the name Tassilli Players.

 

Zion Train presents Tassilli Players - The Wonderful World of Weed in Dub,
Universal Egg WWCD011, 1995

Sensi
Kerala
Durban Poison
Malawi
Hawaiian
Coconut Island Special
Purple Power
Northern Lights
Level 11
Poison
Twilight Zone
Pumping up London

 

 

 

 

This just in: I just got this from a good friend, been searching for it for quite some time, decided I'd add it on here cuz it's a doozy. The Tassilli Players going at us from Outer Space...

 

Tassilli Players - Outer Space, Universal Egg WWCD021, 1996.

Interstellar Overdub    
Bass, the Final Frontier    
Bass 1999    
Satta Light of Dub    
Outer Bassways Incorporated    
Dub of Tranquility    
One Giant Dub for Mankind    
Hubble Dub    
The Race Into Bass    
Neuromancer    
Lunar Module    
Untitled

 

 

 

 

Last up is a live Sound System set from 2001. Shortly after it was recorded, Neil Perch moved Zion Train, Universal Egg, & the newly christened Abassi Hi Power Sound System to their current home base in Cologne, Germany...

Here's that live set...

 

 

Zion Train - Live in Brighton UK, 2001.

 

 

 

Bass culture,
NØ