Various Artists - Dub Xperience - The Dread Operators: An On-U Sound Compilation

Various Artists - Dub Xperience - The Dread Operators: An On-U Sound Compilation
Label: Cherry Red - Cleopatra Records
Record date: 1981-84
Album Style: Dub, Experimental, Lee Library, Roots, UK Stylee

From beginning to end, this album is packed with great dub, roots, and early dancehall recorded between 1981 and 1984. There isn't the over-production and/or over-experimentation that plagues some On-U Sound releases, and neither is there the generic sound that plagues others. This is just good old-fashioned reggae in all its glory. Creation Rebel and Singers & Players dominate Dub Xperience, each contributing 4 strong tunes. Creation Rebel's "Independent Man," a cover of Bob Andy's "Unchained," may be the best song here, with its classic, emotional roots melody and driving bass, while "Chemical Specialist" -- the dub version of Jah Woosh's fun "Woodpecker Sound" (in which he mimics a woodpecker's call) -- and "Eugenic Device" are inventive dubs. Singers & Players meanwhile contributes the solid early dancehall chatting style and simple drum and bass rhythm of "Autobiography" alongside 3 airy roots numbers: "Breaking Down the Pressure," "Make a Joyful Noise," and the Congos-esque "Moses." Easily the best of the 3 albums in the On-U Sound Box set (along with In Dub Daze and A Party of Dubbers and Toasters). ~reggae-reviews.com

Tracklist:
1. Autobiography (Dread Operator) - Singers & Players
2. Quante Jubila - Prince Far I
3. Independent Man (Part 1) - Creation Rebel
4. Independent Man (Part 2) - Creation Rebel
5. Ballroom Control - Playgroup
6. Moses - Singers & Players
7. Woodpecker Sound - Jah Woosh
8. Chemical Specialist - C.Rebel/N.A.Steppers
9. Middle East Power Station - Voice Of Authority
10. Breaking Down The Pressure - Singers & Players
11. Silent Mover - Playgroup
12. Creation Rebel - Creation Rebel
13. Eugenic Device - C.Rebel/N.A.Steppers
14. Make A Joyful Noise - Singers & Players

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Various Artists - In Dub Daze: An On-U Sound Compilation

Various Artists - In Dub Daze: An On-U Sound Compilation
Label Cherry Red - Cleopatra Records
Record date: 1981-84
Album Style: Dub, Experimental, Lee Library, Roots, UK Stylee

Collecting together Adrian Sherwood-produced dubs recorded between 1981 and 1984, In Dub Daze was released in 1996 and then re-packaged in 1999 with A Party of Dubbers and Toasters and Dub Xperience: The Dread Operators as the On-U Sound Box. In Dub Daze is the most experimental, with only about half of the tracks being traditional dub or reggae. Much of this album is influenced by the early '80s New Wave and electro-funk scenes -- "Feeling Wild" and "Technical Miracle" by Voice of Authority being examples of the former and "Stopping and Starting" by Voice of Authority and "Parasitic Machine" by Alan Pellay of the latter. Of the more traditional dub cuts, Creation Rebel's "Rubber Skirt" -- which utilizes the music from John Holt's "Love I Can Feel" -- and "Painstaker," along with Singers & Players' "Alla la Dreadlocks Soldier" -- featuring Prince Far I -- are the best. ~reggae-reviews.com

Tracklist:
1. Epic Sound Battles - Playgroup
2. Stopping & Starting - Voice Of Authority
3. Painstalker - C. Rebel/N. Age Steppers
4. Alla La Dreadlocks Soldier - Singers & Players
5. Crunch - Playgroup
6. Final Frontier - C. Rebel/N. Age Steppers
7. Feeling Wild - Voice Of Authority
8. Deep & Mintyful (?) - Playgroup
9. Love I Can Feel - Creation Rebel
10. Technical Miracle - Voice Of Authority
11. Asian Rebel - Suns Of Arqa
12. Parasitic Machine - Alan Pellay
13. Afghani Dub - The Mothmen
14. Epic One Drop - Playgroup
15. Knock The House Down - Voice Of Authority

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Various - Watch How The People Dancing: Unity Sounds From The London Dancehall

Various - Watch How The People Dancing: Unity Sounds From The London Dancehall
Label: Honest Jon's Records
Record date: 1986-89
Style: Dancehall, Digital Dub, Lee Library, UK Stylee

This excellent set compiles the output of Unity Sounds from the years 1986-89, and is a typically diverse and well selected Honest Jon’s release. Produced in conjunction with the man who started the London based label, Rib’s, Unity Sounds specialised in the mid eighties birth of Dancehall, not the gun toting Hip-Hop influenced Dancehall of modern Jamaica, but sublime digital Reggae that has been hugely influential on artists like Rocker Hi-Fi and Rhythm & Sound, whose Moritz Von Oswald has remastered this material.

Selah Collins “Pick A Sound” begins proceedings with its "version" following (as are most cuts on the album). Check the bass on Kenny Knots “Watch How The People Dancing”, its deep rhythm is stunningly hypnotic, elsewhere “Ready For The Dancehall Tonight” from the fabulously named Peter Bouncer is even better, with a timeless quality and tidy vocal melody.

Other highlights include Mikey Murka’s “Back Your Automatic” and another Kenny Knots slice of brilliance, “Ring My Number”. Add to this excellent music liner notes that take the length of the album to read, making the listening experience also an invaluable history lesson, especially when most of material included is obscure and certainly unavailable anywhere else.

'Watch How The People Dancing' is a truly essential release for any Reggae fan - the music inspirational and surprising, and unlike many Reggae re-issue labels, it is not a rehash of classic material released too many times on too many formats. Honest Jon’s obviously love the music they release and you, the reggae fan, undoubtedly will too. Recommended. ~warprecords.com

Tracklist:
1. Selah Collins - Pick A Sound
2. Selah Collins - Version
3. Mikey Murka - We Try
4. Mikey Murka - Version
5. Errol Bellot - What A Wonderful Feeling
6. Kenny Knots - Watch How The People Dancing
7. Richie Davis - Lean Boot
8. Richie Davis - Version
9. Peter Bouncer - Ready For The Dancehall Tonight
10. Peter Bouncer - Version
11. Richie Davis - You Ha Fe Cool
12. Richie Davis - Version
13. Kenny Knots - Ring My Number
14. Kenny Knots - Version
15. Mikey Murka - Back Your Automatic
16. Mikey Murka - Control The Dancehall
17. Mikey Murka - Version
18. Jack Wilson & Demon Rockers - Chuck It
19. Mikey Murka - Ride The Rhythm
20. Mikey Murka - Version
21. Kenny Knots - Run Come Call Me

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Xterminator All Stars - Dub Down Babylon

Xterminator All Stars - Dub Down Babylon
Label: Xterminator
Record date: 1999
Album style: Dancehall, Digital Dub, Lee Library, UK Stylee
Notes: Fatis Burrell (Xterminator) dubs from Sizzla, Luciano, etc.

1. Roots & Culture
2. Fire It Is Blazing
3. Psalms 25
4. Burn Satan
5. Jah Guide Us
6. Oh Jah
7. Can't Be No One Else
8. She's Like The Roses
9. Why Boast
10. Where Are Your Kings
11. What Is Your Purpose
12. When Man On Earth
13. Jah Lead Our Way
14. Freedom
15. Life Cycle

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