Alpha Steppa, son and nephew of Dub-Duos Alpha & Omega, presents a new album - an "experimental" one, according to their own statement. Let's see if that's true. The Sprout offspring has a fantastic feel for exciting beats, ingenious basslines, dark atmosphere and nice melodies. A touch of mysticism and spirituality hovers over everything. On the face of it, you will assign your music to the “steppers” style, which is also quite appropriate formally. But if you think Steppers is banal, you should write on your new album "Raise the Ark“(Steppas) listen more closely. As with father and aunt, many sound layers are superimposed here and create a complex sound. It is not without reason that the album name alludes to Lee Perry's “Raise the Ark”, because an impenetrable sound jungle was also his trademark. If you listen carefully to this sound fabric, you will recognize polyrhythmic beats with sometimes crazy percussions, but definitely a powerful bass and finely chiselled arrangements. In fact, you can hear rhythm structures that can no longer be clearly assigned to reggae. So much for the “experimental” part of the album. I find the term a bit too cocky, but I have to admit that “Raise the Ark” is for a member of the Dub Dynasty sounds pretty varied. This is not least due to the great vocalists Ben Alpha has gathered here. All of them contribute proper songs that dig into the ear canals and nestle in the skull. To make matters worse, many of the lyrics have much more to offer than spirituality in terms of content. By the way, there are 22 unbelievable tracks to be heard, first the vocal versions, then the Dubs.
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Alpha Steppa: Raise the Ark
9 responses to "Alpha Steppa: Raise the Ark"
Yes, where are you running, where are you running?
Where are the Steppers fans who would celebrate this record full? Or is it too experimental?
So for me this will be kind of Dub probably forever "B-Movie-Dub" be. But what should I do, I can't quite get out of mine either
"DubSkin ”. And so I have to admit that the pupa Jim with "Dear Friend" and "Dear Dub", As well as Block Mameli with" My People "
and “My Dub“But go in quite well. In the interplanetary comparison, however, they still get stuck in the b-movie column. But there is also
one or the other good b-movie. "Omo Dub"And" Living Dub“Are still okay. Especially with “Living Dub"I like the text ;-)
This is not meant ironically, because I like such repetitions and if they consist of the word "JAH", I can fully identify with it.
The call to JAH is becoming more and more important for humanity, at least I think so too. In addition, I also perceive very cool percussions here and also
A few small "improvised melodies" from keyboard or synthesizer make for a bit of cinema in the head.
"Even Clouds Stops To Dub“……… do I like that or does it annoy me? I really fluctuate between being fascinated by these really radical, dirty ones
the deepest layers of the earth "DubRocks ”, which are in liquid form due to the heat and a slight aversion to the sheet-like effect
on or after the snare time. In general, sound and effects (and most basslines) are the reason I use these DubIt's still just a B-movie
would run. And I think I have found the reason for it in the meantime:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCqfKNnkW9U
With this "Aldi mixer" there is not so much that can get around. In addition, Alpha Steppa's "way of working" looks more like a David Getter or some other
Overrated dj, who always "very important" touches the buttons but in the end doesn't change anything in the sound and also creates hardly noticeable effects.
Even an Adrian Sherwood no longer works as agile as he used to at the mixer, but since I have been able to experience him live more often, I have opportunities for comparison and
I can really only nod off tiredly about Alpha Stepper.
But to remind you again, I write again here expressly that all of this is my very own, subjective perception.
Everyone may feel differently from me, but in the end I'm still right ;-)
This Beat Is, This Beat Is, this Beat is ……. technotronic ……………………… .. lemmi
I have to say I love this album !! Usually I hate steppers, but the songs are not those of the typical stupid steppers. What I like most are the singers who just have a really nice style. Pupajim I'm a big fan anyway, but Eva Keys / Awa / Ras Tinny etc are also really awesome. Fever (* looking for the heart smiley *) - The youtube video is also nice, but I think it is dubs and the song without feature - living word pretty boring, because for me the most important thing is missing (except omo dub because there is a reasonable bassline - also works as a dub good) - no idea somehow the songs are too melodious or something .. Usually for me (at roots) it's exactly the other way around, I don't tackle the songs and just listen dub. My feeling tells me that at roots the (new) singers are often not good (I don't want to have now but look for: purple-dlyte-natures-love-lp - alone production) dubs are really nice but I just can't give myself the vocals)
and well it's cool what he gets out of the aldi müschpult - so you don't always need the most expensive branded equipment;) is also a thought with reggae - to get the best out of what you have;)
Jo duborganizer!
I'm always happy when I get to read a different opinion in addition to reviews and my comments.
I wasn't completely averse to “the stuff” and I even bought the record in the end. There are people who like to buy handbags and I like to buy them DubSlices.
But unfortunately the record didn't turn out that well for me at home either. Just stand by the "b-movies" and stay there.
That’s what Alpha Steppa is all about streetDubFirst of all, I like it produced a lot better and if there should ever be a record, it has to go home with me.
How it will hold its own against my previous favorites in the long run will be "the time again". Until then, I will definitely not get bored.
I'm also delighted that you mention "purple-dlyte-natures-love-lp". Is that a reaction to my hint, which I have already given somewhere here, or is it a coincidence?
I understand very well your aversion to singing. But I found the riddims so good that I could block out the singing. And yes, that Dubs are really NICE!
As far as I know, the musicians who took part are also the pillars of very good reggae music. But the vocals only partially go through with me and certainly not as long as the album. Actually, I only put on "Time Has Come".
To the Aldi mixer, hmmmm yes, if I had such a part myself and played around with it a bit, I might even have a little fun. But hey Dub it's not a children's birthday ;-) ... .. DUB IS PROFESSIONAL ART OF NOISE!!! ;-) DUB IS HIGH GRADE MUSIC! So please don't compromise on keyboard bass, drum computers and similar bells and whistles. Compromise is just another word for defeat ;-) and then please have another look at Adrian Sherwood at the mixer and at the big one !!!
If you still have objections ;-) you have to explain them to me very well ;-)
Ok ;-) I hope you take it with a sense of humor. Everything is meant and written twice and three times with blinking eyes and smilies. But we are all DubNerds here and I always think that if someone understands me, then you or all of you here.
Whether the riddim from “Makumba Rock” is now one of your all-time favorites in the DubBox with the "1A movies", I leave it to everyone for themselves, but what Adrian Sherwood celebrates here is the highest for me DubArt that has ever existed and will remain unmatched for all eternity.
May Mad Professor forgive me …………… I could have put him on the highest Tron too, but I have stuck On .U Sound glasses on and I don't take them off either. You can no longer transplant old glasses or something like that ......
Greetings in the name of DUB …………………… .. lemmi
Oh, now I've forgotten the most important thing!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1AGSrWbGpc
I've already recommended somewhere here, but so far I'm pretty much alone with my enthusiasm.
Still, I know that I'm right ;-)
Hey lemmi!
Thank you very much for the answer, no, I don't take anything wrong with you, I always have a loud clapper and say what I think .. :) And with the "dub is professional “you had me;) I agree with you, it aint no joke thing! dub is serious business!
I don't know your purple delyte comment, but I've already felt 90% of the comments here ... how can it be that I overlooked it, must have been under a steppers disc;)
makumba is very nice, it's on the lee perry disc, which is also awesome.
dub syndicate only grabbed the first 3 albums (pounding system / oneway and the melodica disc) and when they were still called creation rebel ... but musically it is of course at the highest level ... should give the "newer" records another chance :)
;-) DubOrganizer!
Of course I can't tell you about you, but for me it is the case that if an album doesn't fascinate me the first time, at least in some form, this fascination doesn't come back later either. I am here
"top" DubI'm a Syndicate fan, you've probably noticed it a long time ago.
a little breakfast "story":
Concert - Dub Spencer And Trance Hill in Münster - Two young men and an older one (me) are standing at the latrine because the beer was so strong. The boys said - without knowing me, that DSATH was a great concert but that DubBosses are probably that DubSyndicate. The broad grin at their realization has not completely disappeared from me to this day. Then I just meant….
“You are correct!” ……………………… .. lemmi
Very cool video. The perfect explanatory film for the question: “What is Dub"?
Yeah man