I often hear new Dubalbums for the first time while I am working. I sit in front of the computer preferably in the evening, I am in a pleasant flow - because I am finally undisturbed - I write, read, plan, am focused on the task. And I admit that some Dubalbum almost unnoticed. Yes, yes, I enjoy the warm atmosphere of the music, let myself be carried away by the slow beats, but I don't really listen. "12 Tribes" (Good Over Evil) by Good Over Evil was something completely different. As soon as the bassline of the first tracks sounded, I couldn't help but listen up. Since then, it has been one of my current favorite albums. I am always amazed that in the stylistically rather narrow framework of contemporary reggaeDubs (that is, beyond experiments, retro sound and crossover gimmicks) can still manage to produce music that is so clearly different from the average. Music that is better than the rest for some mysterious reason. “12 Tribes” is one of these albums. The effects are used masterfully, the sound is powerful and clear. Each track develops its own atmosphere without losing the thread. It is an album that Dub celebrated in its purest form, but with a precision and intensity that is not often achieved. Everything seems to be right here: sound, basslines, composition, arrangement and mix. Powerful but not brutal, magical but not dark, minimalist but not boring, melodic but not kitschy. The two Spaniards Jah Ivan and Dani Roots are behind Good Over Evil. With their 2023 album "Life Arkitect", the two have already proven that they have a fine sense for profound, atmospheric Dub Her later project “Roots of One” and the associated Dubversion “Roots of Dub“ showed that there are two producers at work here who are not just stringing together patterns, but Dub as an artistic expression. They have probably received the most attention recently for their Dubversion of Aka Beka's album "Living Testament" - but while that project was based on other people's material, "12 Tribes" is a pure Good Over Evil effort. And it is, without question, their best yet.
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Good Over Evil: 12 Tribes
3 Responses to “Good Over Evil: 12 Tribes”
Well, for some mysterious and inexplicable reason, this album has completely fallen off my radar. Thanks to your review, I'm giving it another chance, but I can barely manage to listen to the first three tracks in one go.
The sounds (should they be brass instruments? With Benjamin... horrible...) and the electronic drum sounds are a total bummer for me. That's probably the oft-cited matter of taste.
I can follow intellectually to some extent and think I understand what you mean in your review, but it doesn't sink in for me at all. I simply don't feel this music. That's it in a nutshell, voilà!
No, this album remains one of many that leaves no trace on me and is very quickly forgotten.
Well, I can understand you both very well. I have to Dub listen up !!! Regardless of whether AI-Dub or LKJ in Dub or Dub of the very finest
a la Mr. Woodwicker (Taste is trump). When music is playing, everything else is irrelevant. I can hate music if it hits me the wrong way or is not to my taste at all.
This is almost 100% the case with punk and heavy metal. Intellectually, I also like punk and heavy metal because it is honest and handmade music. But what does music have to do with intelligence?! NOTHING!!! Music is purely and simply feeling. I always laugh myself silly when I say I think the music is crap and someone else says, yes, but the lyrics are good. And when music riffs me like reggae and Dub, then I am ready to love and embrace the whole world.
But I can also understand very well if these Dubs just trickle by or even get a bit annoying. It is true that the "AI drums" are not really exciting and what is supposed to replace brass instruments in a cheap way does not really excite me either. For me, it is a bit like it might be for a
A film buff will find enough exciting or worth seeing moments in a B-movie and Dub Connoisseurs may also like one or the other AIDub or completely “chemical-sounding” sounds from non-existent instruments. I also like B-movies, or B-Dubs but it's not difficult for me to hear or see them just once.
“Good Over Evil” is for me more of a B-Dub, but I can definitely feel it.
However, I cannot understand at all how Dub or music in general, just to listen to it casually. But I'm very grateful that René let the cat out of the bag. I often wonder how you manage to do it all. On the one hand, you always want to hear the so-called "old stuff", which basically "costs" me all my free time, and on the other hand, there's a constant desire for new bass waves, not least out of fear of missing the perfect wave. That's how I feel anyway.
I keep noticing significant deficiencies in myself. One of them is that I can't listen to music when I have to work. Or let's say when I have to concentrate while I work. The music is always dominant and I can't concentrate on anything else. AND I DON'T WANT TO EITHER!!!
Right now, there is no music playing because I'm concentrating on my writing. You may be thinking, "Oh dear, Lemmi has to concentrate even on his simple thoughts," but as I wrote, I have certain shortcomings in that regard.
Whatever, I can only do it this way, or rather I only want it this way. Obviously you don’t take every Dub closely under the microscope, if some Dubalbum goes almost unnoticed.
(By the way: I also like c-movies and sometimes d-movies, where the d here again stands for Germany)
When music is recorded with real instruments, analog, and even the effects and other sound gimmicks have some kind of biological basis, then for me the mind and the feelings come together and form an unshakable unity... or something like that.
Uh, what were we talking about again? ……………… lemmi
So I agree with Phillips' opinion. I can't understand the description in the review. It sounds so artificial and forced. After the third tune it was over. It's not even enough to listen to casually, although I agree with Lemmi. Casually is not, all or nothing. And then I want a certain Dubessence (yes, e.g. ala Woodwicker or dub shepherds). And I'm missing that completely here.