Big Crux

This answers that question people sometimes as me - why I do so much work for Louder Than War totally unpaid. Yesterday I opened my inbox to find links from Bristol’s Mr Reggae, Mike Darby, that led to a download page for the new Dubkasm album.

Dubkasm are Bristol’s best band. No one can argue with that can they? Maybe, but they’d be arguing from a very wrong POV. I mean, these guys are even better than Zun Zun Egui, Big Joan, OLO Worms, Rachael Dadd & Big Naturals would be if they were all put together on the same record / bill! Seriously. (Oh ok, mebe I’m slightly exaggerating now butcha get me drift what?)

This album’s been a long time coming. They eked out all they could from their last album, I Transform, with a couple of (frankly unbelievably brilliant) remix albums so this is their first proper album of new material for aaages.

First time I listened to it I was taking the air yesterday, in the pouring rain, nipping down the shop for a bunch of green. A 10 minute walk turned into a 50 minute walk as I couldn’t bear the thought of going back into my flat where I’d inevitably wind up taking my sennheisers off BEFORE THE ALBUM HAD FINISHED! Sacrilegious crimes don’t come more sacriligeous or crimey than that.

Here’s a track off it anyway. Dont think I’ve upped this on here before. (Unlike this one).

Oh, & don’t forget they’re playing a launch gig for the album. Details here. Album drops on 8th Oct.

DUBKASM LP Launch Party “Brixton Rec” w/ ABA SHANTI-I & ROOTS RADICAL SOUNDYSTEM.

5th October 2012

The Attic Bar, Stokes Croft, Bristol.

Can. Not. Wait. For. This. One.

VP Productions & Peng Sound Present a night of STRICTLY 90’s Vinyl and Acetate ONLY. Brixton Rec is the new album by Dubkasm. 

Spiel:

Leading lights in the 21st century UK digi dub/roots scene Dubkasm have built themselves a worldwide following for their brand of reggae since launching their own Sufferah’s Choice label in 2003. What many fans may not realise is that even before that first Sufferah’s Choice release, Dubkasm had nearly a decade’s worth of recordings behind them. Unfortunately, other than a track on the 1996 “Dub Out West Volume Two” compilation album, those early recordings were the preserve of leading UK sound systems such as Aba Shanti and Jah Shaka and could only be heard played off dub plates at dances.

Dubkasm have finally decided that the time is right to share the story of those early years and make a selection of those formerly exclusive tracks available for everyone to enjoy. Being proud of their Bristolian roots, Dubkasm found the perfect partner for the project in Bristol Archive Records and the label’s ongoing programme to document and make available Bristol’s reggae heritage. As if a selection of previously unreleased tracks from Dubkasm wasn’t enough, these particular tracks were all played by leading sound system operator Aba Shanti and the versions were all personally mixed by him to achieve the ideal sound balance on his sound system. Once Dubkasm’s Digistep had finished initial mixes of the tracks, he would deliver the multi track master to Aba Shanti who would then mix down his own exclusive versions.

It’s the Aba Shanti connection that inspired the album’s title, for it was at Aba’s legendary sessions at the Brixton Rec that these tracks could be heard to full effect. The album is named in tribute to those great sessions and hopefully the music captures a bit of that magic as well as bringing back some great memories for those who were there, or even those who were only there in spirit through the medium of sound tapes.

Really looking forward to this one. Was a bit gutted it clashes with Dark Dark Dark but this’ll be a once in a lifetime chance to see these bands together so a no brainer really. 

I also love that they’re brewing up traditional roots reggae with contemporary grime in the form of Buggsy. Forward thinking, backward acknowledging. 

I also also love that the next day is the dead punk all-dayer. Reggae & Punk have always gone hand in hand although how many people will be double festi gigging I dunno.

The Bristol Reggae Explosion was a compilation series which included Black Roots who arent playing on this bill. I reviewed BR’s soon to be released next album (first new one for 30 years) on LTW here & concluded that “it’s a doozy”. I still stand by that.