Emmanuel Anebsa, a native Brit with Jamaican ancestors on his father's side, was an unknown quantity to me. According to Spotify, the man has released 2000 (!!!) albums and even more singles since 48 – including collaborations with Junior Kelly, Turbulence, Anthony B and others. However, reggae alone is not enough for the man: He also tries his hand at being a bluesy folk singer-songwriter (meaning: Anebsa accompanies himself on the guitar) and as a rapper, producer and mixer; he doesn't seem to leave out any genre that could be skewed towards indie. And indeed, all of his releases have appeared on his own Wontstop Record label - which may explain the sheer volume of output.
So now is his latest Dub-Album before (there are several): "Dub Ina Sun(Wontstop Records). It leaves the reviewer ambivalent - on the one hand the dull mix and the grotty recorded drums, on the other hand the nicely dominating, stomach-massaging basslines that you rarely or never hear in current productions. The absence of any keyboard instruments is also beneficial; no obtrusively loud skanking on the piano, but many guitars played with and without effects. The result is an earthy, pure, almost rudimentary sound that gives the recordings a certain rehearsal room basement flair.
Great Dub- There are no effects to be heard - a little reverberation here and there, one or the other instrumental track fades in and out. Maybe the release would even pass as an instrumental album; Ultimately, however, the simply knitted, memorable bass lines are convincing with their tonal dominance and the sometimes excellent guitar work. Clear recommendation for guitar junkies!
3 Responses to “Emmanuel Anebsa: Dub Ina Sun”
Basically, almost everyone is DubTune a cheer to "People who trust in Bass." But this album could almost be something for “Bass Junkies” who also value a magical BASSLINE (!). So basically for me ;-) ...... Not every BassLine hits me to the core, but I still have to pay attention again and again, because many BassLines create THE FEELING (!) for me too. "One good thing about BassLine is when it hits you feel no pain" !
Apparently I'm not that far away from being a guitar junkie. Contrary to the perception of many reggae purists, who I would almost describe as reggae minimalists, I found Al Anderson to be a very enriching reinforcement of Bob Marley And The Wailers. Especially on "Babylon By Bus" I think his guitar solos are world class! I wouldn't want to have to do without Dwight Pinkney in the Roots Radics either. Yes, and Ernest Ranglin is, in my opinion, just balm for the soul! I also find the beautiful thing about reggae that guitar solos and guitars are used so skilfully and almost always smoothly. Not like you get etched in heavy metal by three to five overdriven guitars and excessively hyperactive guitar rumble. In addition, they also play pretty unimaginative melodies. I'm assuming that here in the DubBlog no heavy - metal - freaks are on the road, and I can therefore take revenge on this nasty, nasty music a little verbally. Because this music just brings me too much hate and in contrast to Reggae they worship Satan and that's pretty "sick" I would say.
That's enough.
Yes and here at "Dub Ina Sun” but also with the others DubAlbums by Emmanuell Anebsa, I also find the guitar very effective and also relaxing. But now I have to say that I've only had two so far DubChecked out E. Anebsa's albums on the fly rather than meticulously.
Especially here at "Dub Ina Sun" (but the other albums don't sound any different either), the rudimentary sound - how should I put it (?) - didn't bother me too much, but the sound did give me a bit of "heartburn". Although I ask myself what I actually have against it, if the drums sound like they are here in my room. Well, that reminds me of an interdisciplinary story. There are quite a few videos of Sly Dunbar on drums sitting alone in the studio playing the drums. I've often thought, "Dude, that doesn't sound much better than it did in my rehearsal room back then". Mind you, I mean the sound, not the art of Sly Dunbar ;-) So even with the drums, it's of paramount importance how to balance the sound properly with the mixer, to put it bluntly. Perhaps Mr. Anebsa has a little too many hobbies and/or interests at the same time, so that in the end one or the other falls by the wayside.
I'm also a little torn and don't know what I would do if I "Dub Ina Sun” could easily be bought as a disc. At the moment it's very difficult for everyone else to reach me anyway, because I'm still behind the seven mountains with the seven dwarves in the
On .U Sound – Wonderland.
For reggae with heavy guitar I recommend Inner Circle's "New Age Music":
https://youtu.be/gAtJ9xh0hZs
I also like Vince Black's guitar playing.. he was with us a lot Dub Syndicate on tour, the "Acres of Space" tour was with Dwight Pinckney (wasn't that great).
Anebsa's "Dub Ina Sun" is by far his best "Dub"-album, the others sometimes really fall behind.
As for the "Sly Dunbar in the Studio" videos... they sound awful because they were recorded on camera/phone mic. For a better sound you would have to tap into the mixer, preferably after the mix :-) What I took away from the later Dunbar studio recordings, among other things, is that he plays the hi-hat very dirty and not exactly filigree, maybe that's why. I wonder if he's in well-deserved retirement now?
oh yes gtk !
Vince Black! Is or was at Dub Syndicate especially live very important.
He plays "beautifully" psychedelic, just right for DubMusic!!!
I've never experienced “das Syndikat” with Dwight Pinkney, but there was a concert in Hamburg where the keyboard player was out the night before due to illness. Style Scott then has the backup keyboard player in front of everyone DubTune the topic with a hum and he did his best, but it wasn't all that exciting at all.
Well, it's still better than Steel Pulse without David Hinds ;-)
I'd rather not say anything about "New Age Music" by IC ;-)
There are also excellent guitar solos at Burning Spear concerts from time to time. Especially the lead guitarist at the time of "Live In Paris" had fantastic guitar solos "on the pan". And the solo of "Rastsfari Is" on "Peter Tosh Captured Live" is always a reason for me to get into ecstasy.
Yes, the way Sly Dunbar often "treated" the hi-hat, I found it very dirty, almost uncomfortable. That looked downright listless. But well, I or we know him differently.
Of course I don't begrudge him his retirement and I'm also firmly assuming that he doesn't have to have any financial worries, but I don't think he'll get away that "easily". There will ( hopefully ) be many more reggae bands or projects that would like to use him as a drummer. And if it was just for one tune, I think his name would always pay off on every cover.
Cheers …………………. lemmi