Jim the Boss and his Hi Fi Rockers studio band have released “Dubs from the Grave“ (Hudson Soul) has put together an album full of spooky effects that is perfect for the season. Just in time for Halloween, after a five-year creative break, there is a new mini-album for fans of the Celtic holiday and reggae/Dubgenre, dealing with themes such as duppies, ghosts, vampires, zombies and other undead creatures. This album is the ideal soundtrack for any Halloween party. But that's not all: belief in ghosts, which is deeply rooted in African culture, has always been omnipresent in Jamaica. You really only have to think a little and you'll come up with lots of songs that deal with this theme: The Wailers - Duppy Conqueror (1970); The Upsetters - Haunted House (1970); Devon Iron - Ketch Vampire (1976) or Peter Tosh - Vampires (1987). Among the albums, "Scientist Rids The World Of The Evil Curse Of The Vampires" (1981) is particularly noteworthy, with titles such as "Your Teeth In My Neck", "Plague of Zombies" and "Night Of The Living Dead".
Just in time, the Dub-Maker Jim the Boss and his HiFi Rockers are back to bring us a new album of reggaeDub-titles. The 7 tracks are peppered with spooky sound effects, monster laughter and voice effects from 'Dr. Frankenboss' - Jim's alter ego for this album. The original versions of the tracks were recorded in recent years and are brought to life in this remix. "Big Man Dead" was already released in 2014 on Miserable Man's "American Sessions" EP and "The Dark Art" is a new edition of the "Dark Art" riddim that was already heard on the "Hudson Soul" album. The two tracks "Halloween Town" and "Queen of the Dead" - a Dubversion of Jah Adams' "My Love For You" – were released as radio-only promos throughout 2017.
“American Horror Story” is a danceable, spacey and dubbig track where you can't avoid moving your hooves.
“Queen of the Dead” is just as physical, with spooky laughter and sound effects. A driving riddim that rides on a nice fat bassline.
I think “Halloween Town” is particularly worth mentioning, performed in a rather funny (African?) accent. We hear a powerful and haunting version of the Lee “Scratch” Perry & The Stingers riddim: “Give Me Power”.
“Big Man Dead” reminds me in lyrics and flow of Linton Kwesi Johnson and his Dennis Bovell Dub Band
“The Dark Art” begins with the exemplary laughter of an evil witch and culminates in a beautiful piece of music, peppered with precise saxophone passages by Dave Hillyard and bouncing keyboards.
“Throw me Brain” is a remake of the Studio One classic “Throw me Corn” and the intro is by Lee “Scratch” Perry.
All in all, I like this small but fine (Dub-)Collection really fun and this more traditional Dub-Reggae offers much more than just seasonal Halloween tracks. I, for one, can and will certainly listen to the album all year round.
7 Responses to “Jim The Boss Presents Dubs From The Grave"
"Finally Monday!"
And soon it will really get going again ;-) However, I will say right away, not as big as yours Ras Vorbei I'm not that enthusiastic after all.
But when I heard the intro this morning and then the "American Horror Story" to start the new (nice and short) work week, I was completely blown away. "Horror Story" also has a cinematic intro and when the riddim starts rolling, it's reggae time at its finest. Absolute cinema for me! Just like "Throw me brains", this is also an old Studio One riddim for me, if I'm not mistaken.
If I were the owner or operator of a ghost train, I would DubTune is on full blast for the entire ride. Personally, I would have to be strapped into the seat, as otherwise I would be standing and dancing, violating all safety regulations. Not only are the effects and the lively sirens that announce the steep curves, where a new ghost is waiting to scare the passengers at any time, great fun for me, but the crisp rhythm guitar also gives me a real kick that not only moves my hooves, but also gives me a good kick in the butt. Not that I like getting a kick in the butt, but if that kick comes from a rhythm guitar, for example, then I'm more than happy to take it.
“Throw me brains” is almost something like a world first for me! I can’t remember a Dub starts with a very smart riddim in the intro and then continues grooving with an even better riddim after the “rewind”.
I don't know if I'll be able to remember it forever, but I think it's really worth knowing that one of the most charming riddims of all time is called "Throw me Corn Riddim". But that doesn't change the fact that the riddim always grooves really well for me, even without a name, and automatically gives me a good feeling.
This would highlight my two personal highlights on the album in quite some detail.
For me, I have to make some concessions or deduct a few points from “Helloween Town”. I don’t think there was any need for a vocal version as there are only seven tunes on the album.
Or maybe I should write "I" didn't need a vocal version. I still like it, but it's not on my list of favorites. "Queen Of The Dead" is driving me a little crazy right now, because I feel like I've heard the riddim a thousand times, but I can't think of a single tune for it. "Heard it a thousand times, nothing happened a thousand times" just wouldn't fit here, because I really like this riddim too. The intro makes me want to watch an old Jack Arnold classic like "Formicula" or "Tarantula" again. I don't know if this association is obvious to everyone, but it just made me think of it. "Big Man Dead" is for DubHeads is probably a bit "overproduced". Snippets of singing would have created more euphoria, I think. But the tune is also very fine, fun and the singing is definitely not unpleasant. The rhythm guitar is plucked nicely and crisply. There is also a great effect on it, but it is used far too rarely for my liking. And I would have liked the riddim guitar to be louder and a bit more dominant. Although I am still primarily describing my spontaneous impressions here. The tune gets better and better with each rotation.
“LKJ in Dub“, but strangely enough I hear it more in “The Dark Art”, I must admit. And if I am even more honest, I must write that “LKJ in Dub“ is not necessarily a compliment to “The Dark Art”. As far as I remember, LKJ was in Dub something like the initial spark for René in terms of Dub and I must admit that it is very much for René and his “DubAddiction” that he stuck with it after this album and with its very minimalistic execution. I also cannot forget that René only really understood with “Pounding System” what Dub is. And I can understand that 100% ;-)
Yes René, I can hardly remember when it is my birthday but your “infection” with Dub, I will never forget ;-)
Ok, now I have for a short DubAlbum but wrote a pretty long comment. But it was fun again!
Until ………………… lemmi
Queen of the Dead is Queen of the Minstrels from Cornel Campbell & The Eternals.
I recorded the organ theme from Throw me brains with my Hammond M3 and my Leslie 122. Recorded with two Shure SM57 on top and a Shure beta 52a on bottom.
Cheers
This is a great review. Although I'm wondering if the writer ever heard Jah Adam before? Calling his accent a funny African accent is odd. That's just Jah Adam's voice. He always sounds the same on his songs.
Hi Carl, glad you like the review. I didn't say that Jah Adam has a funny accent, I said that “Halloween Town” is performed in a funny accent. And of course I know a few tracks of him, but apparently less than you. On those tracks, the Singjay sounds different to my ears. Please tell me, how many albums have been released by Jah Adam so far?
I apologize for misunderstanding what you meant. As far as albums, none as far as I know. He only appears on Jim's releases.
Thanks for your reply, Carl. That's all right. Things like that can happen.