Juno Recommends Dub March 2020

Review: Last summer, FourFourSelect launched with a toasty and soulful number by Earl Gateshead, produced by British dub scene veteran Nick Manasseh. Now that track has been completely re-made and overhauled by dub and dub techno producer Babe Roots. Slower, hazier, more spacious and closer in tone to ambient dub, Babe Roots A-side mix features re-recorded vocals from Gateshead in a slower, spoken style. It's rather fine all told, along with the producer's flipside "Version" - a kind of heavy ambient dub revision with even weightier bass, delay effects aplenty and some dreamy backing vocals that seemingly drift across the soundspace.

Review: Nick Manasseh's deadly reggae rhythm gets hooked up with new vocals from Garden Skari, a versatile young vocalist hailing from Mandeville in Jamaica who makes a fine debut here serving up sweet tones and words on "Run This Nation". Flip over for "Wrong Hands" - a fine dub that brings the drums to the fore, with subtle mixing tweaks, oodles of warm bass and atmospheric sounds providing a cocoon atop infectious drum rhythms.

Review: Main man Echo Ranks brings his meditative messages on "Politician" above some heavyweight and decidedly modern dub from Dubbing Sun on Moonshine. Such conscious messages will always make their mark when delivered on a decisive dub - the hits are fresh, the bass has that swagger and the whole mood is shady and nocturnal. Small Town offers a tricky "Dubz Roots" version while Radical Guru offers more broken beat and destructive remixes on the flip-side for when you need to rip the floor apart. Add in those warrior leads and you've got a real standout dub.

Review: London's Kibir La Amlak continues to breathe new life into the traditional sound system on this new one on WhoDemSound. He does so with respect, always, and with plenty of knowing nods to the culture. "Ascension Rock" has tons of reverb and delay and a mesmerising flute lead that floats high above the stumbling drums and tumbling toms. Flipside "Twists & Turns Dub" is a more heady workout with extra fx, analogue trickery and swagger to spare.

Review: Alchemy Dubs pull out all the stops to celebrate release number 10 as they present - for the first time ever on vinyl - the aptly named "Alchemy" by UK dub legends Alpha & Omega. It's a flabby number that stomps and swings like an elephant. Distant vocals and intoxicating melodies weave in and out as the beat plumps on and takes you every step of the way with it. Ojah sorts out a heavyweight dub refix on the flip to make this an essential little purchase.

Review: Tommy McCook was a go to guy for many reggae artists in Jamaica who were looking for a little extra spit and polish on their productions. A founding member of the legendary Skatalites with a penchant for r&b and jazz, Jamaican Recordings have put together a fine overview of some of his greatest moments, featuring the soaring saxophone of McCook over various instrumentals that roll deep and have plenty of lead lines that burrow deep into your soul. First released in 2011 but on CD only, this is the first time these tracks have been available together on vinyl.

Review: Belgian imprint Mania Dub's latest release offers up a fresh pressing of a late 1990s sonic showdown of epic proportions. Initially jointly released by UK labels Fashion Records and Conscious Sounds, it features a wealth of jointly produced - but separately mixed - digital dub workouts from The Bush Chemists and the Dub Organiser. The former's credited tracks can be found on side A and tend towards the dancefloor-focused, with reverb-heavy trumpet lines, melodica riffs and gargantuan basslines riding fiendishly club-friendly rhythm tracks. The Dub Organiser goes in a more heady and intoxicating direction on the flip, preferring more laidback grooves, even bigger bass and plenty of tape delay.