Mad Professor - Afrocentric Dub

Mad Professor - Afrocentric Dub
DUBROOM ALBUM REVIEW



Yet another masterpiece by the hands of the Mad Professor, straight out of the Asylum of Dub. This album contains some of the ruffest riddims from Mad Professor's ARIWA Studio's. Most of the ten killers are kicking DUBS from Michael Prophet's album Rootsman, which is ofcourse also an Ariwa release. Ofcourse?

Yes. Mad Professor mixes and produces music which is recorded in his own studio and he also releases the material. A common, but often misunderstood aspect of Reggae Culture. So that's why you'll find Michael Prophet on tracks attributed to Mad Professor. Or vice versa, in the case of Michael Prophet's Rootsman. Mad Professor definitely goes deeper where he stopped on that album: complicated echo's, more filters, more this and more that. When you own Rootsman, you must also have this one.

And just like "Rootsman", this album has a conscious theme. Many people complain that Dub can not have a message, which is nonsense if you just realize how much a title can say, a few words here and there can have more impact than a lyrical stream. Afrocentricic Dub has all this, too.

So much to say about this album, even before I even mentioned the magnificent Dubbing performed by Mad Professor. There is not a single part on this album in which there is not something going on. Sometimes subtle, sometimes provokingly loud. Enough to keep you playing this album again and again and again.

Mad Professor - A Carribean Taste Of Technology

Mad Professor - A Carribean Taste Of Technology
DUBROOM ALBUM REVIEW



Get a Caribbean taste of technology: lay back and enjoy a Dubwise experience extravaganza. Mad Professor, one of the biggest pioneers in Dubwise mixes at his best in this 1985 DUB album. The riddims are crucial and the selection well balanced. The mixes are psychedelic, to use an understatement. Decades after it's original release, this album still serves as an example for many contemporary producers. Layers of effects on effects, digital niceness and analogue equipment. Every drum and bass line will make you rock and groove, and what comes on top of that, well, just let it flow inside your soul for maximum effect. It is an undisputed fact, that DUB originated in Jamaica. Jamaica is an island in the Caribbean, labelled as "undeveloped" or "third world". When you enjoy the heavy heavy DUB tunes on this album, more then two decades after their creation, you may realize how incredibly offensive such a label is for countries deliberately kept poor. Poor in money, but definitely not poor in creativity as well as messages of righteousness.

Michael Prophet - Rootsman

Michael Prophet - Rootsman
DUBROOM ALBUM REVIEW


This one you just can't refuse. Michael Prophet's ROOTSMAN will be more than satisfactory for various people and for different reasons. For the DUBheads, because of the magnificent mixing by Mad Professor. For the lovers of Full Lyrical works, because this is the best album from one of Reggae's top vocalists. For the Conscious people, because all tracks are based on a conscious subjects. Presenting one of ARIWA Studio's finest releases, definitely the personal favourite for at least the coming 6 months. ROOTSMAN contains ten vocal tracks, and two dubs. Michael Prophet rides all ten riddims as only a conscious man can ride an upfull Reggae Riddim. Straight from the heart. And when a conscious heart expresses himself, this gives the vibe some people always will wonder how to get... Here it is, Michael Prophet giving you truths and rights on an All-Killer-No-Filler release.

Most of the tracks are steppers, there's a few one drops as well, ending with a tune called "My Lord", which sounds like the "the next love song" at first glance. Only this is a love song to the Most High JAH. Kind of Special Livication. There's two DUBs on the album as well, but Mad Professor also mixed dubs from this album on his own DUB releases as well.

Mad Professor also did a superb job on this release. It is difficult to make a dubby mix and still have the complete lyrics in it too, but this album shows Professor can do it. In his own style, righteous and wild, well versatile as I would say... Really, this one you just can't refuse!

ViaJAH Morgan - Reggae Poetry For The Soul

ViaJAH Morgan - Reggae Poetry For The Soul
DUBROOM ALBUM REVIEW


Let me give you a couple of reasons why you really must buy this album. ONE: When you want to have an album of which the title covers the content, you got to check this one. This truly is "Reggae Poetry For The Soul".

TWO: ViaJAH Morgan is a very talented poet and he can ride virtually every style of riddim. The music therefor is well versatile, every style is covered. One time it's the style that Linton Kwesie Johnson made popular, the other time the music is much more Jamaican. One time it's rub a dub, the other time it's bubbling/dancehall. But every track is unique in it's style.

THREE: There isn't one track on this collection of intelectual utterances that deals with vanity. Every track is conscious and tells it like it is. Psalms to worship the Most High. Teachings to explain Black Culture to a wide audience. Prophecy to babylon system. Calls for justice. And calls for emancipation of mental slavery.

FOUR: The album is available on CDBABY, which is an online CD Store for online and independant artists. This too is a reason to buy the album: you will directly support the artist. And he deserves your support. You'll get 17 tracks on this album: it's packed with High Quality music and lyrics.

When you want to listen to the music before you buy, that's possible too. Almost all tracks can be previewed for 2 minutes in mp3 format.

DO IT!

Zema - Black Sheep

Zema - Black Sheep
DUBROOM ALBUM REVIEW



When she trod her first steps on the musical field, she was only seven years old. Now in 2003 she is labelled as "one of today's top female modern Roots Reggae vocalists" and can look to a great response to the release of her 4th album. A response, which she describes to DUBROOM.com as "overwhelming", while she prepares herself for a visit to the other side of the planet for some concerts to promote Black Sheep. There's obviously a hunger for some Righteous Roots Rock Reggae and Zema (pronounced Zay-Ma) is definitely among the providers! The album was recorded in Kingston, Jamaica and contains the musical works of an impressive list artists. If you ever saw the superb Reggae movie "Rockers", you'll remember the drummer that was playing the head role. Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace drummed the rhythms on Black Sheep as well. Yabby You helped out technically. And what to say about Dean Frazer, the legendary saxophone player that featured on many classic Reggae Albums? Not to mention Skully on percussion, or Zacky (Twinkle Brothers) on keyboards. With Zema's Black Sheep you are listening to a group of Reggae Music Originators, without a doubt.

The music sounds fresh and tight and the (way too few!) Dubs contain some spaced out echo's. This is Roots Reggae, played and recorded with modern equipment. But definitely without compromise! And also without compromise are the lyrics. The words reveal the path Zema is walking on. A conscious path of walking in life with Jah, the Most High. This path can be lonely and persecution is almost galore, but it's the richest way too because (s)he that is able to praise Him in Truth and Spirit, Roots and Reggae, is free. The Black Sheep is free!

In these current times, we need more heartical and uplifting music. This album shows that it can be done. And when you know Zema's 2nd and 3rd albums, you want to have this one as well. The music has moved towards a deeper roots and the production makes sure you'll hear something new everytime you hear it. The only reason why the album hasn't a full three stars is because there are only three Dubs on the album.

Gregory Isaacs - Dub A Di Number One

Gregory Isaacs - Dub A Di Number One
DUBROOM ALBUM REVIEW



An album with a title like this one, containing heavy duty riddims and mixes from such as Ernest Hoo-Kim and Errol T is a must for every lover of Dubwise Style as I would say. But does the title cover the contents? I think so! That is why this album gets the highest possible rating of three full stars.

During his long time carriere, Gregory has put out some massive Roots and DUB tunes. Although Gregory Isaacs is mostly known for his smooth Lovers' Rock tunes, there is another side of the Cool Ruler and that side is prominently featured on this album. This side makes him interesting for the hard core Dub heads who you can't get into enjoying Lovers' Rock.

For those who are familiar with Gregory Isaac's great Dub album "Slum Dub": Dub A De Number One definitely contains the same atmosphere. The same thing you'll also find on the Blood and Fire Inner Circle release Heavyweight Dub. The music rocks hard and the echo's go straight to your head. Everything in in the "orthodox" Roots tradition.

But Dub Da Number One goes further than the two albums mentioned above. It contains a set of dubs "From the Archives" so to speak, mostly stuff which was previously unreleased (and I wonder why), but you'll also find dubs from a recent release, "I found Love". This album was produced together with the famous Reggae guitarist Ernest Ranglin. Now, the great thing with this all is, that you don't have to expect some digital cross-over music, or ragga when you know that there's recent music on the disc too.

Riddim after riddim, some pretty well known, mix after mix, the album remains interesting. Every now and then I just got to get up from my chair, stop writing and start skanking. Time to disturb the neighborhood and remind them, that Dub is The Number One. Fortunately, they agree!

Freddie Mc Gregor - Big Ship

Freddie Mc Gregor - Big Ship
DUBROOM ALBUM REVIEW



This album has inspired the name for Freddie Mc Gregor's "Big Ship Studio's", in which he keeps working his work. His work is to sing music, Reggae Music. And he does so ever since he was seven years old. And that was in 1963, so imagine his experience and the things he witnessed. This surely is another Channel One Classic!

That's why Big Ship has the typical rub-a-dub sound of the 1980's. A sound that is still loved by many, including your's truly. A sound that has a heavy drum and bass foundation, playing a pumping rhythm, some effects here and there, the list goes on and on. Big Ship also has a mix between let's say heavyweight and lightweight lyrics. Freddie shows he's perfectly at home in both area's.

His voice rides the riddims on the album like a big ship on the ocean, the Black Star Liner.

A lot of Dub Freaks with a special ear for the Scientist, will also appricilove this album, as they will recognize that the tracks on Big Ship are the "originals", the vocal tracks of the Dubs that they love so much. I know I did when I heard this specially recommended selection of great tunes in a strict Rub A Dub tradition as it could only come from Channel One and similar Jamaican Studio's in that particular time, the late 1970's/early 1980's.

Enjoy "Rootsman Skanking", "Let me Be The One" and get some consciousness to ya in the form of tracks like "Holy Mount Zion" and "Big Ship". A versatile document of Rub a Dub Stylee!

Willie Williams - One Love

Willie Williams - One Love
DUBROOM ALBUM REVIEW



There are many names in Reggae that are not as known as they should be. Take Willie Williams, for example. He is the one who created great tracks like Messenger Man and the great Ammagideon Time, a Conscious Reggae Classic containing the following words:

"Lots of people won't get no supper tonight, Lots of people going to stand up for their right. Just remember, To praise Jahovah, And He will guide us in this Iration Cause the battle is getting hotter, in this Iration, it's ammagideon...."

Ring a bell? The track has even been played by the well-known british Punk-Rock band "The Clash", according to the official Willie Williams Website. As with many Jamaican Reggae artists, the brother started his runnings in the famous Studio One. This studio gave birth to many riddims, used unto this very day! A if not The perfect foundation for a Reggae Carriere as I would say.

If there is one word to describe Willie's music, it must be the word consciousness. And to proof this statement, one only has to check out this Smugg Records release containing a lot of rare and even previously unreleased tracks by this Reggae Prophet. Sixteen tracks of pure consciousness! And the music rocks too, well versatile I would say as the major styles of Reggae are present on the album. Tight Rub a Dub, skanking Roots music, Dub Effects and Full Instrumentation: it's all there. It even has a few "digi-tunes", to make the dancehall fan move and groove to this One Love album as well.