If you choose DubWhen I read lerone, I inevitably associate “the tenderest temptation since it »Dubolade« gives”. We know that Switzerland has more to offer than safes, banks, francs, mountains, cheese, hash browns, watches and Swiss army knives - to name just a few clichés Dubheads at least since Hazer Baba, Dubment and above all Dub Spencer & Trance Hill. Now another delicate one comes from the Swiss capital Bern Dub-Temptation with the beautiful name “Dublerone”. A project that, according to the information text, gives us “the finest handcrafted Swiss chocolate dub music” presented. With this formulation, the two Bernese multi-instrumentalists Voni Rollins (sax, keys, Dub FX, Mix & Editing) and David Boumi (Drums, Bass, Guitar, Keys, Compositions) have set the bar pretty high. Already the title of the album “Dub For Kailash“ (PhaPha Records) piqued my interest and raised my expectations. This mountain has fascinated me for more than half of my life. The Kailash in the Trans-Himalayas, meaning “precious snow jewel,” is considered the holiest mountain for Tibetans and Hindus. Buddhists and Bön also revere him equally. This is the headwaters of the four largest rivers of the Indian subcontinent. To this day, the mountain has not been climbed out of respect for its religious significance. Although Reinhold Messner was granted the first ascent permit in 1985, he fortunately decided not to carry it out out of consideration.
But back to this wonderful album, which with a total playing time of 27 minutes is unfortunately a bit short for my taste. To be honest, I had never heard of it until a few days ago Dublerone belongs. But already the title track and opener “Dub For Kailash” offers everything that Dub-Heart desires. The sound of a prayer bell and monk chants is followed by a fat, rolling bass, a rich brass section, delicate sounds of a whirring tanpura, which then lead into a really groovy rock guitar solo. In general, the sound effects throughout the album are well thought out and used effectively. The second track on the album, “Oblingada”, conveys a completely different mood. Everything here sounds more like bossa nova and, thanks to the brass section backed by strings, is reminiscent of the soulful, funky acid jazz of the late 80s. Also “Badman & Robadub“ impresses with a powerful bass and drum foundation on which the guest musicians Marco Wäspi on the trumpet and Maro Widmer on the trombone can really let off steam before a few jazzy guitar runs make their way. “Just Bees and Dub and Flowers” is reminiscent of Wes Montgomery with its gentle guitar runs, before a jazzy, oblique saxophone moves into the foreground in waves. I particularly like “Dub For Kailash”, the tracks move more and more into jazzy territory and the Blue Notes gain the upper hand. The usual reggae and Dub-Patterns are preserved.
All in all, an extremely entertaining album from the duo Dublerone presented here with his colleagues. I wouldn't be surprised if David Boumi, Voni Rollins and the other musicians involved were also graduates of the Lucerne University of Music. No matter, what is much more important is that, as usual, we are offered a very fine, high-quality product from Switzerland, which is also available on vinyl as a special treat.