Various Artists - United As One (Dubroom MP3 Album Review)

VARIOUS ARTISTS - UNITED AS ONE
DUBROOM MP3 ALBUM REVIEW

WWW, September 20 2014 - Something brewing in the Mediterranean: The Maltese Net Label Dub Key and it's Cyprus based Dubophonic counterpart joined strength with a solid and varied (DUB) Roots Reggae release as a result. Music with a message, music with a soul and general conscious vibes. Can't refuse this one. 

They've been anticipating this release with an excellent promo mix that could be download only a hundred times. That is, until the day of the actual album release and -not completely coincidental- the day of this review as well. Over here at the Dubroom we've anticipated with the inclusion of the very same promo mix in a podcast released yesterday and a determination to publish the first review of this more than excellent album for the online massive.

Why?

You've guessed it: this is not just another musical release. In fact, where the two Mediterranean Net Labels continually work on increasing their quantity and quality, this release drops the two heavyweights together with a musical explosion as result. Remember: when the music hits, you feel no pain but you do feel the positive vibes of this collaboration. "United As One" sets an example for this time, wherein we do no longer need to "kill soundboys" but rather say "One Love", especially in the Sound System culture with which both Dub Key and Dubophonic have their connections.

Both labels have singers and players of instruments, engineers and producers and they've been voicing, playing and mixing each other's work. The album that came out on this September 20 2014 carries 16 mixes of four riddims. Vocals and Dubs follow each other as each riddim is presented in a truly different form. Truly sixteen different tracks, that you really want to play from the top to the very last drop. Unless you're a (online) selector in which case you will find that the track will be very fit for a different sequence in your own DJ set. 

This is niceness, this is a must download. The only problem you face is this: from which website are you going to download it? From DUB KEY or DUBOPHONIC? 

You'll sort it out.

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Crucial Alphonso - Visionary Creation (MP3 Album Review)

CRUCIAL ALPHONSO - VISIONARY CREATION
DUBROOM MP3 ALBUM REVIEW

WWW, September 2014 - True Original Sound System Style: six titles all with two versions. Pumping steppers riddims, some played by the mighty King Earthquake (UK) and all created in Crucial Alphonso's Belgian Studio. When you like your digital, when you like your steppers, when you need your bass, just download this free release by that Maltese DUB KEY Net Label.

Crucial Alphonso grew up with Reggae. His father a Reggae DJ, his own voicing at Sound Systems and ability to create his own electronic devices, it was only a matter of time before he would start releasing his own production. As said, as done. Twelve outstanding pieces of digital niceness that yuou can play soft but preferable loud with a lot of bass.  

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Ondubground And Jahko Lion - Chapter One EP (Dubroom MP3 Review)

ONDUBGROUND AND JAHKO LION - CHAPTER ONE (EP)
DUBROOM MP3 ALBUM REVIEW

WWW, September 2014 - French (DUB) Reggae band OnDubGround with five tracks featuring Jamaican singer Jahko Lion. Both showing their versatility as Jahko rides laid-back, Ire riddims and heavy steppers with the same ease as they are played into the multitrack recorder.

In the abundance of water, the fool is thirsty. Someone said it sometime and it could very well be said about anyone looking for conscious (DUB) Reggae and not knowing about the enormous wealth of music from the online Net Labels. Thanks to the Internet, the world wide Roots Massive connects and produces collaborations that were only available for the industrial and commercial boys and girls. 

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Various Artists - Strictly Analog Dub (Dubroom MP3 Album Review)

VARIOUS ARTISTS - STRICTLY ANALOG DUB
DUBROOM MP3 ALBUM REVIEW

WWW, September 2014 - It comes with the puristic title "Strictly Analog Dub", but Dutch Net Label Dubbhism does not deliver that with this otherwise very interesting and enjoyable free Net Album. No, this is not the first negative music review in the Dubroom. Confused? Read On.

You got purists -some would say fetishists- of all kinds. Reggae purists, Dub purists, Analogue purists, Digital purist, Vinyl purists, ah, well you get the idea. The kind of purism that's brought forward in this really nice album is the analogue purity. That is to say, analogue recording and effects purity. Not all tracks are Dub, not all tracks are Reggae, not all tracks are played with analogue equipment. Unless you would call a drum computer and other obviously sequenced stuff analogue. Like these folks.

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Roots Raid - From The Top (Dubroom MP3 Album Review)

ROOTS RAID - FROM THE TOP
DUBROOM MP3 ALBUM REVIEW

WWW, September 2014 - Get ready for something really, really crucial: Roots Raid's "From The Top" is an album that you just have to hear. And since it's offered as a free download from the Original DUB Gathering Net Label, there is simply no excuse. Read on why.

Roots Raid is a cooperation project of the bassist of the French DUB Reggae Band Ondubground and Bongo Ben. They're based in the heart of the French country and are part of the Eurodub and Roots Movement. "From The Top" is an album where the two producers showcase their art and skills, along with vocalists like Ranking Joe and Billy Berry.

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Leah Rosier and Uptown Rebel - Ire Vibe (EP) (Dubroom MP3 Review)

LEAH ROSIER AND UPTOWN REBEL - IRE VIBE
DUBROOM MP3 REVIEW

WWW, September 2014 - One vocal and two Dubs from the French Original DUB Gathering Net Label, presenting the Ire Vibe EP featuring Dutch female singer Leah Rosier riding a, well, Irie riddim by the French Dub producer Uptown Rebel. Nuff niceness going on, in this well digital and well heartical track.

Bordeaux-based Uptown Rebel, whose album "Random Road" was reviewed earlier in the Dubroom shows his ability to create digital Roots with an impact once again. With Leah Rosier from Amsterdam singing about how Ireness will even land at the doorstep on enemies, at least when it is done in a musical way. Nuff niceness, no badness.

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Dubsynaticx - Studio Dubs Volume 1 (Dubroom MP3 Album Review)

DUBSYNATICX - STUDIO DUBS VOLUME 1
DUBROOM MP3 ALBUM REVIEW

WWW, September 2014 - Whenever you see "Part One" in the title of an album, it's always intriguing: when it turns out to contain niceness, you know there's more of that niceness coming your way. Right? Presenting Part One of Studio Dubs, presenting Dubsynaticx, presenting some Dub Niceness. Yes I!

Dubsynaticx is Daniel Rossman, from Vienna Austria. He grew up with Reggae music and in 2015, he can look back at ten years of releasing his music online. Yes, the Dubroom should apologize to this Dub producer for not having discovered him before. Is his music that crucial, you might ask, and the answer is YES. It's definitely an addition to the variety in Eurodub and Roots land. We can get it thanks to the Idren at the Cyprus-based Dubophonic Net Label, responsible for this excellent April 2014 release.

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Asante Amen - Praises (Dubroom MP3 Review)

ASANTE AMEN - PRAISES
DUBROOM MP3 REVIEW

WWW, September 2014 - Riding an up-tempo One Drop rhythm, Asante Amen tells us where he gets his energy, talents and skills come from. In the same time, he gives praises to the Most High Jah in such a way that you just got to start praising the Most High yourself.

Another contemporary Roots Reggae track that will drive away the bad vibrations, that will uplift those that listen to it. Another crucial free and legal download, for you to get and be blessed. From the heart, fe sure.

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Ibel - Love Fe Life (EP) (Dubroom MP3 Review)

IBEL - LOVE FI LIFE (EP)
DUBROOM MP3 ALBUM REVIEW

WWW, August 2014 - Three vocals, four dubs: Love Fe Life is a joyous collaboration between Jamaican vocalist Ibel and Med Dred based on another island, namely that of Cyprus. The Mediterranean vibes are there, undeniably. The Jamaican vibe, too. There's even a UK Dub vibe coming in the form of a Dub by Dub Caravan. Get this one for some Ireness!

Ibel Campbell (b. 1967) is a conscious, peacefull Rastaman who loves to share good vibes, because he knows that this is so much needed. Not just on Jamaica, not just on Cyprus, not just in the UK but everywhere. Love Fi Life comes with three vocal tracks, all equally conscious. Four dubs, too. The last track, dubbed by Dub Caravan in the UK is the heaviest, the other three dubs are more dub counterparts to the vocal tracks, giving you some time for meditation on the words you just heard.

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Junior Kelly - Receive (Dubroom MP3 Review)

JUNIOR KELLY - RECEIVE
DUBROOM MP3 REVIEW

WWW, July 2014 - Contemporary Jamaican Reggae, with Junior Kelly riding the smooth riddim alongside backing vocals and a well worked out arrangement is something we can only thankfully... receive. As far as we could tell, the track was released on 7" vinyl in Jamaica and is now also available for free download at Junior Kelly's Reverb Nation page.

Junior Kelly shows just how versatile he is. A heavyweight Roots Rasta track or a more smooth one like this: he is perfectly able to voice the riddim and share a good vibration while doing so. Download "Receive" and while you're at his page at Reverb Nation, consider buying a track or two more.

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Don Goliath - Rootsstep Colossus

DON GOLIATH - ROOTSSTEP COLOSSUS
DUBROOM MP3 ALBUM REVIEW

WWW, July 2014 - Twelve selections directly from the enormous catalogue of Don "Rootsstep" Goliath, who was recently reviewed and interviewed in the Dubroom. Twelve selections of pure niceness for the lover of Roots Reggae and Dubstep alike, an enormous accomplishment in itself. It's yours for free!

According to the folks at LCLWEB, the Net Label responsible for this 12-pack of digital roots niceness, it wasn't that easy to pick twelve tracks and we here at the Dubroom can only have empathy for that. When you love this sound, you just can't get enough of them and since the quality of the music is rather consistent, you just want it to play on and on. Well, we can do that for a full 50 minutes long at least, thanks to what must have been days of choosing time.

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SINGER TEMPA - CUT MORE COLLIE

SINGER TEMPA - CUT MORE COLLIE
DUBROOM MP3 ALBUM REVIEW

WWW, July 2014 - In this May 2014 release from the Maltese Net Label DUB KEY, we are getting introduced to Singer Tempa inna Showcase Stylee! UK DUB and Roots Reggae as authentic as it can be, from the top to the very last (DUB) drop. Skillfully played by the MessenJah Music Players, mixed by Apocalypse Dub Faction's Rod Chaplin, and skillfully voiced by a veteran in conscious Roots Reggae. Read on and download this gem for free!

First things first: this is Singer Tempa's debute album. He is the house MC for the Lion Heart Sound System, while he voices for MessenJah as well. Yes, he is based in the UK where a culture of Roots Reggae Sound Systems dates back decades. It is in this culture that Singer Tempa was born and where he grew his vocal talents by continually performing with sounds.

"Cut More Collie" is a ShowCase album. You will get the vocal tracks but the dub versions as well. Niceness fe true. Four vocals, four dubs, one Discomix long. Everything in the UK Roots and DUB Tradition, which simply means a massive piece of work that cannot be absent in your collection of better and higher quality free/legal DUB Reggae Music. 

A crucial release by DUBKEY once again! 

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SLY AND ROBBIE - A FIST FULL OF HORNS

SLY AND ROBBIE - A FIST FULL OF HORNS
DUBROOM MP3 REVIEW

WWW, June 2014 - This crucial remix of a very familiar track from the vaults of the Taxi Label serves as a teaser for the brand new Sly and Robbie release "Stepper Takes the Taxi". It features a little Dub mixing, a lot of horns and of course the undeniable Sly and Robbie drum and bass line.

"Stepper" is Guillaume from Paris. When he visited Jamaica in the 1980's he established a lot of contacts which led him to opened vaults at the archives of Sly and Robbie's very own Taxi label. The result is a set of remakes that have a contemporary and historical vibe combined, among which "A Fist Full Of Horns" is just an appetizer. 

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YEYO PEREZ AND BASS CULTURE PLAYERS - JAH JAH HAVE NO COLOUR PLUS DUB

YEYO PEREZ AND BASS CULTURE PLAYERS - JAH JAH HAVE NO COLOUR PLUS DUB
DUBROOM MP3 REVIEW/CREATIVE COMMONS DOWNLOAD

WWW, June 16 2014 - Yesterday was a day of protest against the "Foreigner Internment Centers", prisons where people are kept for being born in a certain place with a certain colour of their skin. It's all part of the spirit of racism that haunts Europe since times of memory. To contribute to the protest, LaFamille has released an excellent Anti-Racist track with vocals by Yeyo Perez and music by the Bass Culture Players.

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VARIOUS ARTISTS - LOST IN DUB CHAPTER ONE

VARIOUS ARTISTS - LOST IN DUB CHAPTER ONE
DUBROOM MP3 ALBUM REVIEW

WWW, June 2014 - Introducing the DUB Reservoir posse: from their base in Bruxelles (Belgium) they spread Roots and Culture vibes through radio and live sessions and also by releasing this free compilation of DUB and other Roots Reggae. Presenting LOST IN DUB CHAPTER ONE, with no less than seventeen tracks of pure niceness by names like Jah Free, Dubmatix, Wicked DUB Division. 

There's quite a bit of variety in the selection of Lost in Dub 1: from the opening by Dubmatix (a Steppers with crucial horns) to the very last drop of Duppy Dub by the Muzikal Ben (Steppers in the digital tradition) the listener is being treated to a surprising combination of styles including meditative vibes from Jah Free and a song of praise by Crucial Alphonso as well as heavyweight digital steppers Dub.

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VARIOUS ARTISTS - THE LOST BOOKS OF DUB CHAPTER TWO

VARIOUS ARTISTS - THE LOST BOOKS OF DUB CHAPTER TWO
DUBROOM MP3 ALBUM REVIEW

WWW, May 2014 - The second installment of the "Lost Book Of Dubs" features 20 massive Roots Reggae and DUB works by both well and lesser known names. This is another album that should not be absent in the collection of any self-respecting collector of the better works, and not just because it is offered free of charge by the DUB Iration Sound System!

Usually, a little name dropping sets the stage but this would absolutely not be justifiable in the case of "Lost Books 2". This is a release in the "all-killer-no-filler" category, where we're taken from a militant steppers to a meditative two drop and back again, while conscious messages are being delivered all the time as well.

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APOCALYPSE DUB FACTION - JAH NEVER FAIL I

APOCALYPSE DUB FACTION - JAH NEVER FAIL I
DUBROOM MP3 ALBUM REVIEW

WWW, April 2014 - Opening up with a very fine vocal and Dub carrying the voice of Rueben Addis (Unitone Soundimentional whose very fine "Zion Chant", released by DUBKEY.Com was also reviewed in the Dubroom), Jah Never Fail I is another crucial release by the Maltesian Net Label. The Apocalypse Dub Faction, no stranger to long time visitors and readers of the Dubroom, brings us 14 titles of pure UK DUB and ROOTS you just can't refuse. Read and download n.o.w.!

Rueben Addis is not the only vocalist featured on this release: Kenny Knots and Prince Alla join in and they do not dissapoint at all. The simple fact that everything recorded was recorded roughly between 2000 and 2005 simply shows another fact: this is music for all times and seasons and those who love their drum and bass vibrations simply know what to do with the album.

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UNITONE SOUNDIMENTIONAL - ZION CHANT

UNITONE SOUNDIMENTIONAL - ZION CHANT
DUBROOM MP3 ALBUM REVIEW

WWW, April 2014 - Those who know their UK DUB and ROOTS business when it comes to production and Sound System, should not need to be introduced to the UNITONE SOUNDIMENTIONAL. Rueben Addis has been running the Sound since the start when he joined Mixman who was then setting up his Blakamix productions back in the early 1980's.

Net Label DUBKEY.com's first release of 2014 carries singers as well: Zebby Blax, who provides us with the opening track for example. Together with a fine accompanying Dub by Rueben Addis, that is. Hatta Benji is there too and Sis Dinah, adding the Roots Daughter vibe.

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JAH ROOTIKAL STEPPERS - JAH ROOTIKAL STEPPERS

JAH ROOTIKAL STEPPERS - JAH ROOTIKAL STEPPERS
DUBROOM MP3 ALBUM REVIEW

WWW, April 2014 - Jah Rootikal knows his Reggae. Jah Rootikal knows his Dub. Jah Rootikal knows his Steppers! With his self-titled début album, the UK based producer delivered a magnificent piece of artistical work. Or should it be: works? Twelve titles filled with love for the music, love for the sound, love for the Dub. One Love!

For the music on the album, Jah Rootikal got together with a number of musicians he knows from his long time involvement in playing and producing music. Vocals, melodica, conga, nuff stuff. The result: a combination of played and programmed materials, everything skillfully mixed into Dub works in the UK Dub style avant la lettre. 

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UPTOWN REBEL - RANDOM ROAD

UPTOWN REBEL - RANDOM ROAD
DUBROOM MP3 ALBUM REVIEW

WWW, April 2014 - Three years after his debute album, Uptown Rebel returns in the year 2014 with a heavyweight nine-track DUB album. With collaborations by Dub Machinist, Sammy Gold and Zion UK, Random Road has become a more than pleasant work of DUB Art.

Electronic DUB Art, that is. In a Roots Reggae Style.

The opening track, featuring Sammy Gold at the microphone is an easy going One Drop style Roots tune, with conscious lyrics for your heart and soul to meditate upon. During the massive Dub version, for example. Bredda Sammy surely has a message for each and everyone to take heed while Uptown Rebel has the riddim and the Dub mixing skills to accompany it just in style.

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