From the initial studio project of the first Dub Syndicate years, the band has changed fundamentally. Lincoln Valentine "Style" Scott became band leader and co-producer in the late 80s, stepped into the foreground and established Dub Syndicate as a fascinating live act at numerous festivals. Dub Syndicate became Style Scott's most important musical project. This was also the band's heyday. With a series of albums that combined the best of current Jamaican music with the wild studio experiments of British producer Adrian Sherwood, the pair created groundbreaking music that delighted dreads, potheads and ravers alike. Tragically, Dub Syndicate came to an abrupt end when Style Scott, one of Jamaica's most important drummers, was senselessly murdered in his home in Jamaica on October 9, 2014.
After "Ambience In Dub“-Box, which the early Dub Syndicate albums, "Out Here On The Perimeter“ starts right there, and continues the story from the end of the 1980s to 1996. The four albums from the “Strike The Balance”, “Stoned Immaculate”, “Echomania” and “Ital Breakfast” era have just been reissued on vinyl. Adrian Sherwood has also released a special bonus album “Obscured by Version“ (On .U Sound) with brand new versions of rhythms from that time.
“Obscured by Version”, which can be played individually or as part of the Dub Syndicate box set “Out Here on the Perimeter 1989 –1996” is Adrian Sherwood’s 2025 reissue and reinterpretation of material from this glorious period. The release stays true to the group’s original sound, deeply rooted in reggae and Jamaican music tradition, while pushing the boundaries of Dub with unusual echoes, samples and sound effects. Some vocals and rhythms will be familiar to fans of the original albums, yet everything sounds fresh and crisp like a brand new work in the style of the earlier works of Dub Syndicate. The quality is at the same high level. “Plains of Africa (Echo, Echo, Echo)” comes from “Echomania”, “Pleasurezone Transmitter” is based on “Dubbing Psycho Thriller”, a crazy, as always, slightly off-kilter performance by Lee “Scratch” Perry. “Intercommunications” comes from the great 1987 single “Night Train” – one of my absolute favorite tracks from Dub Syndicate. “Command Centre” is relatively easy to derive from “Roots Commandment” and “Alive And Burning Bright” is the original “Glory To God”.
With his new interpretations, Adrian Sherwood succeeds in paying a fitting homage to the long-standing friendship and creative collaboration with Style Scott. “Obscured by Version” sounds as fresh and innovative as all Dub Syndicate classic before.
8 replies to "Dub Syndicate: Obscured By Version”
In addition to the Ras Vorbei already mentioned, here are all the originals of the obscure versions:
Plains Of Africa (Echo Echo Echo) = Echomania
from the album "Echomania"
Alive And Burning = Glory To God
from the album “Stoned Immaculate”
Right Back To You = Rock Back
from the album "Echomania"
Stay Tuned = Well Tuned Now
from the album “Stoned Immaculate”
Pleasurezone Transmitter = Dubbing Psycho Thriller
from the album "Echomania"
Command Center = Roots Commandment
from the album "Echomania"
Corporate Takeover = Corporation
from the album "Ital Breakfast"
No Lightweight Here = No Lightweight Sound
from the album "Ital Breakfast"
Intercommunications = Night Train
from the compilation "Murder Tone"
Hi Anonymous,
Thank you for this essential contribution—a truly diligent piece of work. I assume these facts are of interest to more than just me.
Uuummmmph!
For me today is Monday and then again such a message here in DubBlog. But what should I do? I can't and don't want to start lying now. I have to be honest, I wouldn't have needed to. I find all versions, without exception, better in the original versions I know. Adrian Sherwood hasn't really gone the extra mile for my taste. Some effects seem quite fresh but I miss, for example,
“Pleasure Zone Transmitter” the voice of “Scratch” in the sense of
"Dubbing Dubbing Psycho Thriller, Music Killer” and then his scream, which for me is the Dub seasoned very specifically.
There is a lot more going on in the original version of “No Lightweight Here” from the “Ital Breakfast Album”. I got too used to these versions and learned to love them just as they are. But I didn’t have to learn anything, because it was love at first note. The additional effects don’t really blow me away, I have to admit. Of course, there is a counterexample. I like “Plains Of Africa” better than “Echomania” because the sampled effects, especially the “cranes” from the air and the lions’ roar from the savannah, Dub, but also for my taste, very enriching.
On .U-Sound has also relied heavily on "AI bass" especially on "Echomania". But that doesn't bother me that much when the bias lines are good. But this version here shows where the hammer hangs in the area of bass sound in the age of computers. But there is a real "double oomph" here, which can easily lead to more than just your pants flapping. Provided you have speakers that can convey that ;-)
But it also leads me to my next criticism of this album. In the next DubTune “Alive And Burning Bright” and the bass is suddenly “completely” gone. Its “A very light weight sound” in my opinion.
If I am not mistaken, they could have done a little more work on the final mastering. If only to make the whole album sound more “homogeneous”. “Intercommunications / Night Train” or “Music and Science” is particularly familiar to me from the Time Boom album and is one of the highlights for me, although the whole “Time Boom” album is a high grade highlight for me and is one of the reasons why I am such a big fan of the album. Dub I have become a Syndicate connoisseur. Every version is a highlight for me.
Well, I feel a little bad right now because I feel like I Dub Syndicate would also betray a little. Not quite as bad as the Donald from America should feel, because he is currently in the process of betraying and selling democracy.
It's "nice" that the "Cold War" is finally over. The Americans are working together with the Russians. They're not even ashamed of it...
Well, I will get the album from Dub I'll buy Syndicate anyway. It's a matter of honour!!! And maybe I'll even change my opinion about the album and its necessity for me personally.
Until then or rather until then …………….. lemmi
is this now after 45 years actually the first “real” dub album by dub syndicate? Finally a version of the “instrumentals” ;)
greetings to Helmut :-X (just kidding, I haven't listened to the album)
I also like to do a bit of nonsense every now and then but Dub I don't understand Syndicate as a joke ;-) ..... it's just nonsense.
Actually, you and Helmut are right. So far, the albums from Dub Syndicate, according to “Definition of Dub“ absolutely no DubAlbums. Although I consider “Pounding System” to be a pure DubAlbum. I know every DubTune also a suitable vocal version (if I am not mistaken).
I always like to say, Dub Syndicate is not just “just” Dub,
but On .U-Sound !!! And On .U-Sound goes far beyond Dub out!
There is Dub "merely" something like the germ of a freshly "hatched" plant, which only fully develops and sprouts its flowers as it grows. (Oh, how lovely. I hope you like the sentence as much as I do ;-) ... it wasn't planned that way)
Ras Vorbei But he also wrote quite rightly that the Dub Syndicate was a fascinating live act. And even though Dub Actually – according to “definition” – it “may” only come from tape or vinyl, I can say, or rather I must say, that the Dub Syndicate, especially Live and Direct after flawless Dub and even more so feels like that. Especially if you close your eyes,
the definition of Dub to a pure theory and has nothing to do with practice, let alone with the reality of Dub to do.
So ….. and now I am curious about your retorts or, to stay on topic, your echoes ;-)
Dub I'm crazy! ………………….. lemmi
I am of the opinion that a Dubversion only reveals its full splendor in close proximity to its original! If you'd like to listen to "Obscured By Version," you can do so here:
https://www.nrwision.de/mediathek/jamaican-flavours-dub-syndicate-obscured-by-version-250304/
Please do not pay too much attention to the accompanying text, which is from the NRWision editorial team and is intended for educational purposes…
You can find the playlist here:
https://www.jamaicanflavours.de/jamaican-flavours-28-02-25-playlist/
Thanks for the tip. A really nice mix! I really like it and am currently listening through it for the second time!
Thank you for the flowers, Ras Vorbei!
The bug with the show being too short has been fixed – the obscure version excursions is now available in full length!
Lick it back from the top and play it to the very last drop!