| Get
ready for some of the most explosive
material you can get when it comes to DUB
music. Presenting once again, on of the
Masters of UK DUB. Ever since he started
releasing music from his Ariwa Sound Studio
decades ago, the Mad Professor has been one
of the strongest influences in progressive
DUB.
Every single track of DUBTRONIC crosses
the boundaries of what is called Reggae,
making this album a statement and even
scientifical proof of the fact that DUBWISE
rules the Studio's.
Let's listen to the album track-by-track.
If you like, click on the Album cover to
listen to 30 second samples of each tune and
read along.
The album starts of with a very funny
introduction, carrying a slice of irony and
a humble introduction to the 11 superb DUB
tracks.
After the introduction, the first sounds
of a track called CHECKMATE come through the
speakers. It sounds a bit like a boring
thing, just like the Radio Music. But then the DUB
Mixing starts and the Mad Professor shows
what you can do with a boring tune when
you're a DUB MASTER.
The disc continues with a funky/disco
kind of tune called GREATHOP DUB, with Mad
Professor at the controls making sure that
even those who have an allergy for anything
with the word "Hop" in the title
will enjoy this one to the fullness.
BOOMBOX DUB is next, a first take of a
riddim which some would recognize as
"Trip Hop". In this one it gets
really clear, that the Mad Professor knows
how to apply DUB effects even over the
bassline.
BOOMBOX VERSION II is a further
exploration of the riddim. This one
containing more vocals, and the mixing
approaches the rhythm from a slightly
different angle as the music seems to be
more flowing.
Next track is called SLICE OF THE PIE,
with more funky vibes but this time there's
a heavy steppers drums dominating the
rhythm. Interesting effects on the drum and
heavy tweaking on the bass make this one of
the weirdest dubs on the album.
When the first sounds of DUB-O-TRONIC
comes through the speakers, you don't expect
a Break Beat. But when the drums enter,
along with the vocals, you know it couldn't
have been otherwise. Throughout the whole
mix, you'll hear heavy electronic echoing on
the vocals.
DRUM & BASS IN THE ASYLUM takes the
breakbeat further, making it one of the
strongest tracks on the album. The music is
taken from Michael Prophet's Rootsman, also
produced by Ariwa.
Who is the ACID QUEEN? This remains to be
a mystery, but it's the longest track on
this album. It starts off like an ambient
tune, until suddenly very weird drum effects
take over, bassline drops in, a little
silence, it goes further into some heavy
duty drum and bass for which you'll be
needing a subwoofer to enjoy the
not-so-subtle mixing of the bassline.
Think you had them all? Meet the COOL
DUDE, another deep deep DUB. Starting with
conga play and snippets from electric
guitar, just before a One Drop drums enters
the mix. Solid rhythm, Bassline coming
through some nice filtering. A Cool Dude
indeed.
After meeting the cool dude, he takes you
to the discotheque in a track called DISCO
DUB. Every now and then, the bass drops in
while the drums goes on from the top to the
very last drop. Weird effects and
instruments perfectly illustrate how a DUB
Head feels in the Disco...
Last track is BEDROOM SENSATION, nice
DUBBING over a laid back Ariwa Riddim and
some vocal snippets on top of it. This one
is perfect for chilling out on the massive
explosion of this collection of superb DUB
Material.
All in all, this is the kind of DUB Album
you can play to those who claim that they
don't like Reggae Music. The album was
produced in 1998 and blends Reggae Music
with a selection of contemporary
Dance/Techno styles.
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