let it rip

the snowball manifesto: The pulsing digital countdown is remorseless. On the PC menu bar. The projected hanging strip in the shopping mall. Numerologically, ‘ 2010‘ feels infinitely more apocalyptic than ‘2001‘, but the best sounds around continue to share a pedigree in the analogue. Served up reheated. Or merely compressed. A carbon footprint set in

brotherhood of dub

Coming from the 2006 Auralux issue of “Barrington Levy In Dub (The Lost Mixes From King Tubby’s Studio)”; itself a ‘lost’ counterpart to the 1980 Greensleeves UK release, “The Big Showdown“, featuring five mixes by Jah Thomas. The album was simultaneously issued on The Jah Guidance label in Jamaica as “Shaolin Temple” with virtually identical

ice cold in alex

I have – voluntarily, you understand, and strictly temporarily – been sidelined in our somewhat communal living space to wearing headphones. This is something of an alien experience. Hand on heart, motherf@ckers, it shall not last; it does not even enter the Top 50 in my new year’s resolution hit list. So. I trust you

dr. satan’s echo chamber, part ii

“I wouldn’t hold a Midnight Mass at midnight because of the drunks. There would be too much trouble.”– Father Joseph McNulty, Glasgow.Well, nØw. I am speechless. Utterly. And more than a trifle abashed.  1000 thanks.Allegedly, this is Pablo’s melodica dub over Earl Flute and Horace Andy’s “Peter and Judas“, appearing also on the Mafia and

midnight to six, six, six

Produced by Jimmy Radway for Feh-Me-Time records, this is Augustus Pablo’s version of the Errol Dunkley hit of the same name. Both versions appear on the Feh-Me-Time compilation, “Keep The Pressure Down“, covering the period 1974 – 1977. Reissued through Prestige on CD sometime in the late 90’s.▼ AUGUSTUS PABLO: CINDERELLA IN BLACK (VERSION) from

marley’s christmas carol

Many moons ago when we were all much younger – thirty years ago, to be precise – there was a certain Che who frequented the comments section on a Radio Clyde scheduled Wednesday evening show hosted by one Brian Ford. Kicking off a full two hours before Peel’s ethereal drone commenced, Che’s lucid ramblings became

pencil dub with inks

The version which appears on the Trojan volume, “Savage Pencil Presents: Lion vs. Dragon in Dub“, compiled by Edward Poncey. This would seem to be a mildly truncated version of the Augustus Pablo version released on his 1979 Rockers (JA) / Greensleeves (UK) compilation, “Original Rockers“, but I am by no means certain. The original

supergrass

“Somebody grassed me up,” he said. Eyeing the horseshoe bar like a felonon a three day ticket. A pocket fullof blunts, lids, and no sharp objects. “Aye,” said I. ” You are a fuckwit.” Nobody at our table slowed down a jot.Or quickened any. “Maybe it would be more prudent notto fire up your pipe

dr. satan’s echo chamber

From the same Success album print as featured previously, this is Rupie Edward’s “Dr. Satan’s Echo Chamber“; appearing more recently on Metro’s 2006 release, “Adventures in Dub“, and the 2004 Trojan double release, “King Tubby’s in a Fine Style“. It originally featured on the 1973 split 7″ pressing with Rupie Edwards & The All Stars

rude boy

Appearing on the Success label compilation, “Yamaha Skank“, in 1974 – reissued in 1990 on the Trojan CD, “Rupie Edwards & Friends: Let There Be Version” – this is, so far as I can gather, the earliest release by The President, aka Shorty.  Produced by Rupie Edwards.  wet mix by ib. ▼ SHORTY THE PRESIDENT:

straight time. yule do.

And the weather forecast is thus: freezing f@cking fog. White snow, or not. Yellow. Slush. Or snot. I have no idea why it is the case, but one of those few films I have watched ad infinitum is John Carpenter’s “The Fog“. It is not particularly a great film. Maybe not even close. I have

FSLN 1 > the armagideon times no. 3

Engineered and mixed by Bill Price. Version remixed by Mikey Dread. illustration by steve bell. ▼ THE CLASH: THE EQUALIZER from “Sandinista!” 3 x LP (CBS) 1980 (UK)

after the box, a wobble in space

john wardle, 1981. unemployed and still drowning in pussy. Disenchanted with the business model for Public Image Ltd., and itching to dub deeper, John Wardle stepped out alone to record a solo 45 followed by an entire LP, “The Legend Lives On: Jah Wobble In Betrayal“; an exercise in the perils of one man’s ambition

festive .o.range

Improvisational dub on a slow collision with middle-eastern undercurrents. .O.rang was founded by Lee Harris and Paul Webb, formerly of the mainstream pop group, Talk Talk. Their remit was to play unimpeded in the studio for hours at a stretch, later deconstructing the recorded sections and layering them into a final edit. “We used to

busboy blues

A cautionary tale, and an unusual stab at fusion from producer Bunny Lee which left everyone involved with undressed wounds in the back and sundry infections. At some point in 1977, Lee invited guitarist, Carl Harvey – born in Jamaica but raised in Toronto, Canada – to collaborate on an ill-considered production involving the reinterpretation

in my neighbourhood

illustration by edward poncey. overdubbed by ib. King Tubby’s dub on Horace Andy & the Aggrovators’ “A Quiet Place“, aka “Dub Place“, which originally appeared on Andy’s 70’s LP release, “Zion Gate“. Reissued on Culture Press in 1999. The dub was first released, for serious Tubby completists, on the 2004 Trojan double CD, “King Tubby’s

graveyard shift

The instrumental version of “Another“, which appeared originally on the flip side to their “Memories” 45. Sessions for “Metal Box“, arguably PIL’s finest moment, were reportedly as shambolic as those for its predecessor; and with drummer, Jim Walker electing to do just that, the scene was set for a succession of revolving part-timers.  Jah Wobble

on the route of the 19 bus

▼ THE CLASH: RUDIE CAN’T FAIL from “London Calling” 2 x LP (CBS) 1979 (UK)

two in the bush

“I’m a miracle man, things happen which I don’t plan, I’ve never planned anything. Whatsoever I do, I want it to be an instant action object, instant reaction subject. Instant input, instant output.” One listen to these Chris Blackwell denounced superlatives is sufficient to inform you where Public Image Ltd. were coming from. The second

holiday in कम्बोज)

HIT THE SPOT WIT’ ALL YOU GOT! “Kambuja or Kamboja is the ancient Sanskrit name of the Kambojas, an early tribe of North India, named after their founder, Kambu Svayambhuva.“Appearing in long player format on 1970’s “Reggae Movement“, released through producer Harry Johnson’s Harry J Records, I am assuming this rocksteady gem was first issued