STEPPIN' ROOTS WITH DON GOLIATH

STEPPIN' ROOTS WITH DON GOLIATH
DUBROOM ARTIST REVIEW AND INTERVIEW

WWW, June 2014 - Do not call it Dub Step, don't even call it "Dub Steppish", and especially not when the term sounds like a cuss to you. Call it Roots Step, for that is the name of the unique sound captured in no less than twenty-four chapters of the "Rootsstep To The World" series released by Don Goliath from his Berlin-based studio. With the help of elders like U Roy, Trinity and many others, his "Rootsstep Division Recordings" label is ready to bring the Roots Vibration to a brand new generation. Are we? Time for an in-depth listen and talk with the don himself.

Dubstep. Just saying the word can get you into a long discussion or even debate. Every one has an opinion, every two disagree about everything two can possibly disagree over. And, as with all Dub/Reggae derivates, it can be kind of really difficult to discover any Roots. Dubstep. Not really something to check and not really something to disagree over, either. It's just not relevant. 

Or is it?

Apparently it is. We have Mad Professor's Ariwa Sound releasing "Roots of Dubstep", an obvious description of (DUB) Reggae. An obvious statement as well from someone who actually stood at the roots of UK DUB. 

And now we have "Rootsstep" music straight from Berlin, in a rather large quantity and consistent quality. Many well-known vocalists have contributed, some are so well-known that their contribution is obviously voluntarily. We're talking names like U Roy, Jazzbo, Kojak, Lone Ranger, Trinity, Dillinger. They have all stood before the microphone and voiced especially for Don Goliath and his Rootsstep riddims. Voicing like they have done for decades, without any compromise in word or sound or power.

So, what is Rootsstep? What drove these Founding Fathers of Reggae to contribute to Don Goliath's sound? Mind you, these are people that you do not tell what to do. When they do something for you, it is the result of their decision to do so. They really can be considered as Elders for they are.

The best way to start is to listen for yourself. However, it it is very difficult to find reviews or articles about the Don and his Rootsstep Sound. Just only recently, the ORIGINAL DUB GATHERING Net Label picked up some of Don Goliath's work and a German blog wrote a review in German but that's about it. So, chances are that your discovery of this unique sound starts by CLICKING HERE (ZIP FILE) for an MP3 mix featuring Kojak and Trinity straight from Don Goliath's WEBSITE or (if your browser lets you) check out the tune below:

 

Yes, this is the sound of Rootsstep. It's a sound that has all the musicological elements of Roots Reggae while the overall vibe has nothing out-dated or "historical" if you will. This could very well be described as 21st Century Roots, Cyber Roots, or simply Conscious Contemporary Reggae. This is more than merely a style by a sound, this is a sound by itself. So why not call it Rootsstep? 

Listening to the conscious message of Rastafari, skillfully delivered by voices too familiar to not take serious, the music instantly drops you into today's vibes dominated by modern digital recording and mixing technologies. In itself, once again it is shown how Rastafari and Consciousness in general transcends times and places as it contains a universal message from the Creator Himself. Who feels it, definitely knows it.

Unlike the Biblical giant, this one Goliath comes with an uplifting message. A message of righteousness and with songs of praises to the Almighty. Just like all conscious Reggae, that is. However, it is the sound that is intriguing. This is a sound that will appeal to an audience that may not necessarily be drawn to your Steppers Reggae or (DUB) Reggae in general. This is a sound that seamlessly fits into today's spectrum of electronic styles while in the same time distinguishing itself from the slackness and plain vanity or emptiness "present" in too much productions these days (including Reggae!).

Don Goliath started releasing his new sound through a series of albums called "Rootsstep To The World". At this time, in June 2014, chapter 24 is released. You don't have to make the math to see that something is going on here and the fact that so little is written about it all makes you wonder. It makes you wonder so much that you want to find out more about Don Goliath and his Roots Steppin' sounds. 

Time to go to the Don and ask him some thing. This: What Is Rootsstep and how did you come up with this unique sound? 

CLICK HERE TO READ THE WHOLE INTERVIEW AND GET LOADS MORE MUSIC AS WELL

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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