Ashes on my head, sometimes musicians and artists manage to go unnoticed for decades under my reggae and Dub-Radar to sail. One such phenomenon is the award-winning Andru Branch with his seven-piece band Halfway Tree.
The Canadian keyboardist, singer and bandleader Andru Branch (born June 27, 1968) is the mastermind of the reggae band Andru Branch & Halfway Tree, which has existed for over 28 years. He grew up among a lively Rastafarian community in Toronto, where he learned the fine nuances of reggae from some Jamaican musicians who had settled in the Canadian metropolis. In 1995, Andru Branch formed his band Halfway Tree, naming it after the lively music district in Kingston, where he also had the good fortune to play and record with some of Jamaica's most famous musicians. Although the band members have changed over the years, he has always tried to maintain his distinctive band sound, which, according to the interview, is based on Peter Tosh's philosophy: "Reggae is spiritual music with spiritual ingredients for spiritual purposes."
The first album that ultimately caught my attention was the highly anticipated third DubAlbum "Andru Branch & Halfway Tree: Weather The Dub“, which was published in January 2023 and in Dubblog release radar unfortunately had no response. So my review initially remained on hold due to a lack of interest.
Already in 2021, Andru Branch & Halfway Tree released the accompanying song album “Weather The Storm“, which was created during the COVID-19 pandemic and reflects this bleak time both musically and lyrically. Andru Branch & Halfway Tree always manage to let a glimmer of hope shine through - the message of love. The critically acclaimed studio album was completely created by the American sound inventor and sound engineer Dartanyan 'GreenLion' Winston from Ohio Dub-subjected to processing. This collection of straightforward roots reggae with lush brass sections and silky vocal fragments was produced by Guillaume Bougard at TABOU1.
The first track on the album, “We Are Dub“, builds up slowly, rather sluggishly, with the initial sounds being excellently complemented by a rich brass section. The track was already on the second Dub-Band's album "We Are Dub" listen. “We Are Dub“ is a collection of Dubs from the then 25-year career of Andru Branch & Halfway Tree. Featuring three of the best Jamaican reggae bassists of all time: “Family Man” Barrett, Chris Meredith and Studio One legend Brian Atkinson, the original bassist and founding member of the world-famous Studio One band “The Soul Vendors”. This band of all-stars was formed as a result of the dissolution of the Skatalites in August 1965 and was successively called (Roland Alphonso &) The Soul Brothers (1965-67), The Soul Vendors (1967-68) or Sound Dimension.
“Dance hall Dub” is a beautiful version of the ska-kissed song “The Storm,” with each instrument taking a lead role one at a time.
The rich, forward reggae beat of “Dub Times” is accentuated by the use of a djembe and thus gains in exoticism.
In the following piece “Dubtima”, the chords and melodies convey a touch of the Orient.
The dark, almost dramatic piece, “The Dub Is Coming In” is a confrontation with our innermost demons, but also with the consequences of the impending man-made climate change.
All tracks were skillfully deconstructed and reassembled by Dartanyan 'GreenLion' Winston with a ton of energy, studio and mixing desk magic. GreenLion pulls out all the stops again and delivers a wonderfully effervescent sound bath of vocals, echo, reverb and delay. All in all, a real discovery of a very fine, relaxed album with rich brass sections and driving guitar riffs, where everything is in the right place.
8 Responses to “Andru Branch & Halfway Tree: Weather The Dub"
Hey Dubblog and especially Ras Vorbei, you really are the best. Late, but not too late. Many thanks for the review and this great tip!
This is my perfect Dub Universe! A very relaxed mood, great riddims, accomplished instrumentalists and excellent mixes. You can literally hear the experience and enthusiasm of everyone involved in this production.
For me a very good example of how even the best Jamaican bass players can have a mild day.
Actually, I can't believe they actually went along with it. Sorry but it just doesn't get me.
I can very well understand why they stayed under your radar for so long Ras Vorbei. For me they can stay there too.
Now that probably sounds too harsh, because it is DubMusic and I like it too but “like” definitely wouldn’t make it into a top 5 DubChart list fits.
So no offense. I just tried to describe why I'm not really excited.
Cheers ………………. lemmi
Well, first of all I would like to apologize for missing certain details in the review.
So sorry! Ras Vorbei !
When I read the review again, I first checked that the Jamaican bassists were primarily on “We are Dub“were there. The titleDub “We are Dub” appears here again but I don’t “hear” any Jamaican bass player. Which doesn't mean there isn't anyone there.
Rasta never get tired to “burn down babylon” and I’m still not tired, only BiassLines from “Jamiaca”, or their relatives from Africa and England, play really good reggae or Dubto get feeling. In other words and to put it bluntly, “whitefingers can’t discover real good bias lines!”
The statement is so “risky” that I didn’t dare to formulate it in my native language.
It's just a feeling that comes over me again and again and I can't back it up with facts or scientific studies, but as you can see, I'm starting to need some help or maybe "psychological support" because I'm in certain situations Every now and then (hopefully not too much) this topic annoys me.
My ability to always recognize dangers is very limited. Therefore, I now run the risk of being refuted once and for all.
Unfortunately, I was now biased again because I now had the information in my head that the Jamaican bass players played mainly on the “We are Dub Album” helped. And so I really can’t say for sure why the “We are Dub Album” grooved a lot more for me than “Weather The Dub".
Basically, it would help me if I knew exactly that the Jamaican bass players on “Weather The Dub“except and if at all, only with that DubTune “We are Dub“were there. And if so, then only one per person anyway DubTune ;-) …. In other words, there is “Weather The Dub“Is there even a bias line from a Jamaican bassist or are they all bass lines from the “whitefinger man”?
Ok, as you can see, I had the courage to actually post this here, even though I feel very alone with my perception.
This isn't meant to be a criticism, but it is DubBlog slogan “IN BASS WE TRUST” doesn’t really get to the point for me.
I already read in my first reggae book that in reggae and therefore also in... Dub, the drums symbolize the heartbeat and the bass is the soul of reggae. I can fully accept that, although I have to add from my feeling that the bass is the soul in reggae, but the BIASSLINE describes the state of the soul. Or something like that ……….. ;-)
And unfortunately I don't have a soul mate with many of the bass lines from “whitefingers” from Europe or their descendants in the USA.
For all I care, you can call the penny-pinching that I've done here, but I just can't help it. For me the BiassLine is really the state of every reggae and DubDo it. Everything else is just tinsel. Although I have to admit that I really like BlingBling sometimes.
Ok, if I misunderstood everything again and also with “Weather The Dub“When there are Jamaican bass players at the start, I naturally look very old now (like I do every morning). Whatever, I took a chance and I hope the truth won't shock me too much.
There is also the possibility that Jamaican bass players also get tired sometimes if they are not real Rastas.
Or they have lost the magic over time.
DUB against fascism!!! …………………………………….. lemmi
And so I really can’t say for sure why the “We are Dub Album” grooved a lot more for me than “Weather The Dub".
Hi lemmi, here is the answer to your question:
Dubbing Into A Corner:
Bass: Christopher Meredith
Drums: Wilbur “Squidly” Cole
Everywhere I Dub:
Bass: Christopher Meredith
Drums: Wilbur “Squidly” Cole
My Jamaican Dub:
Bass: Brian “Bassie” Atkinson (Soul Vendors)
Dubsteady:
Drums: Joe Isaac (Studio One drummer, Soul Vendors)
Rhythm guitar: Earl “Chinna” Smith
Trombone: Everald Gayle
I'm So Dub:
Bass: Christopher Meredith
Drums: Wilbur “Squidly” Cole
Percussion: Andru Branch, Alvin “Seeco” Patterson
When I Say I Dub You:
Drums: Tony “Raffa Dean” White (born Jamaican)
Rhythm guitar: Derrick “Jah D” Lambert (Culture, D. Brown, G. Isaacs)
Percussion: Andru Branch, Alvin “Seeco” Patterson
Keep Dubbing along:
Bass: Aston “Family Man” Barrett
Drums: Rolando “Phanso” Wilson (Chalice, Gumption)
Trumpet: Bobby Ellis
Trombone: Everald Gayle
The Valiant Dub:
Drums: Tony “Raffa Dean” White
Rhythm guitar: Derrick “Jah D” Lambert
Andrew Branch & Halfway Tree recorded and mixed their debut album "What If I Told You" in 1998 at the Kingston Muzik Studio in Kingston. The album was released in Europe and the United States by Tabou 1 Records with altered artwork and featured guest appearances from Earl "Chinna" Smith and members of Bob Marley's "Wailers": Aston "Family Man" Barrett, Tyrone Downie and Alvin "Seeco" Patterson . There are a few from the album Dubs on “We Are Dub" to find.
Yeah Ras Vorbei !
Thank you so much for this fantastic information. Should the Jamaican bassists ultimately also be on “Weather The Dub“, then that would be confirmation of my second thesis that Jamaicans can also be a little tired sometimes and of course they are allowed to be.
As it stands now, you'll have to put up with my "bassism" every now and then, because there seems to be something that the Jamaicans have kept to themselves. Maybe there is something like a secret bias line formula that cannot be explained rationally and still has its origins in Jamaica or in Africa.
It would be a joy for me if the Jamaican bass players knew how highly I think of them. But I think they can do without that, because basically they must have known for a long time that they are the best, because almost every bass player outside of Jamaica has replayed their bias lines at least once.
I'm not a cardiologist and therefore I can't say whether there are small deviations or even cardiac arrhythmias in the drums. I rarely have anything to complain about the drums. They are almost always in sync with my HeartBeat anyway.
Well, by the way. bass – music seems to me to have shifted the bevel a bit. Nevertheless, I can do it quite well every now and then, in very rare cases DubI was dragged along.
I admit, I'm a little proud, or rather very relieved, that you confirmed my strong suspicions Ras Vorbei.
I would never say that I can hear it but I can apparently feel whether it is a bias line or just a bass line. And my biggest “problem”, which I especially have with most SteppaDubThe thing is that they don't even have a bass line. No bass melody?! No reggae! No Dub !!!
Danger ! This is all just my opinion or my feeling. If there are second and third opinions, I would say:
DubBlog is open 24/7 ……………………………….. lemmi
(And thank you again for your research Ras Vorbei )
“Should the Jamaican bassists ultimately also be on “Weather The Dub“have contributed, so….”
No, lemmi, they don’t – the “Weather The Stom” or “Weather The DubRiddims, bass lines etc. all come from Andru Branch & Halfway Tree.
“Holy Emmanuel I, King Selassie I, Jaaaaaaaah Rastafari”
Yeah man! Give thanks Ras Vorbei !!!
“If I had the key to the world I’ll give it to you man” ………….. lemmi