PUPAJIM Vinyl & CDs

Review: Les Rhythmes Ruban's tunnel-visioned modus operandi is to churn out some of the toppest reggae and ambient dub on the East side of the Channel. This time they welcome twin producers Blundetto (Max Guiguet) and Pupajim (Jean-Marie Cariolet) to their roster, for the ambitious and sensorial collaborative version record Tancardub, in turn a comprehensive dubbing of their 2024 record Tancarville. Guiguet is a longtime favourite on the French dub, electro, jazz and all-else underground, having made his initial way in Dijon before cutting his teeth as the seasoner of many a vocal artist's track, including Akale Wube and Hindi Zahra. Cariolet, meanwhile, is a favourite member of the renowed dub troupe Stand High Patrol, and has been at and about it since at least 2009. Together, Tancarville was an impressive roots rollick, with 'Groenland' standing out as the vespertine vocal number; but system huggers will appreciate this version much better, since Tancardub wholly commands a crisper yet stiffer, rattlier POV on an initially serene album.