King Alpha, the West London sound system, is best known for its extremely productive collaboration with Fikir Amlak. But the soundmen Ras Peter and Ras Joseph have no problem with it alone, tons of them Dubs to produce. However, one has to admit that the King AlphaDubs are probably not too difficult to create, because they are hard to beat in terms of minimalism. But this is exactly where the fascination of this music lies: It is almost meditative and repetitive. I liked that so much about the Fikir Amlak albums. Those who get involved in these simple beats and the mystically wobbling bass inevitably get into a meditative state. The sound system has obviously already noticed this itself, so that it has released three albums almost at the same time that are dedicated to meditation: Dub Elevation Vol 1, Flight. 2 and Flight. 3 (King Alpha). A total of thirty tracks, each consisting of a version decorated with Indian chants and a fat one Dub. Incidentally, the covers would be an ornament for every esoteric shop.
12 replies to "King Alpha: Dub Elevation Vol. 1–3 "
I'm slowly starting to like "that shit" ... ;-) ....................................... lemmi
A certain meditative state also arises in me. However, this is primarily due to the spherical chants and vocals. I also like the offbeat with the keyboard (basically the reggae sound itself). Sounds a bit like angel bells (according to my definition of angel bells). In addition, there is no quilting over all three album lengths here. There are a lot of riddims with more torque (I don't know how to describe it differently). That alone creates a lot more magic for me. However, I can't really get ecstatic over the bass lines. But you can get really good basslines on assembly linesDub probably not always expect.
Ok, you don't have to listen to all three "discs" one after the other, but as an intro, before you put on Prince Fatty, for example, I can give it to myself.
“A mans place on earth can't be decided by the Police …… Prisinors of the earth come out” …………… lemmi
Greetings
meditation in Dub, the hottest shit in town
I do not know what the Dub-Dealer you trust recommends, I recommend for meditation "Dubvisionist - Yoga In Dub“?
... ..mmmmmmmh,
to be honest, I've already listened to that and that didn't get stuck with me. Do I have to check the disk again? I think I had already switched off internally at the word yoga.
Meditation isn't really my thing anyway. For that I lack concentration or whatever it takes. I'm more into the perfect trance. So quasi "completely detached from the earth" with the spaceship by the DubGalaxy ………… .completely weightless. Doesn't really work, but I often get close. Otherwise “Run Come Rally” by Ras Michael and the Sons Of Negus is my ultimate introduction to sacred meditation.
Greetings ………… .. lemmi
"Meditaion" is the preliminary stage to meditation ;-)
Oh yes, Ras Michael & The Sons Of Negus? - Love Thy Neighbor mixed by Lee Scratch Perry, this is also a fine meditative disc.
What do we have to find out? Everything was there before, only much better ;-)))
How nice we are to transfer the topic back to the next higher level ;-)
I've only known “Love Thy Neighbor” for about 5 years. I was amazed when I found out that Lee Perry even produced Ras Michael. There should even be two different versions of. “Of course” I only have one against and don't know any other. If you know more, I ask for clarification.
I always tend to compare everything with the past. This is probably a completely natural process for people who are old enough to have these comparisons. Young people will later compare everything with today and probably “praise” today's time. The nice thing is that we can experience both. Sometimes it makes me a little sad that the old ones have technology Dub Syndicate discs wasn't as advanced as they are today, or for about 10 years. If, for example, “Stoned Immaculate” had the same fat sound as Art X today, then the experience would be even better.
I think, purely in terms of musicality, it's reggae and Dub can't be topped anymore. The sound, on the other hand, is constantly developing and therefore makes some old records look really old.
We already agreed that an accordion should replace the melodica, so that we both have nothing more to complain about ……… .. ;-)
Cheers ……………. lemmi
Greetings
In the confused and confused final days of Black Ark Studios, Ras Michael & The Sons Of Negus recorded a number of tracks that were later released as "Love Thy Neighbor". “Love Thy Neighbor” is definitely THE last album that was actually recorded at Black Ark! It is also considered a high point in Ras Michael's work and career. A mixture of Nyahbinghi drumming and traditional instruments, with plenty of echo and reverb, make “Love Thy Neighbor” an unforgettable work and a haunting, deeply moving conclusion to the glorious days of Lee Perry's legendary studio. Highly recommended.
According to my research and my knowledge, there is no mention of another version anywhere.
If you read the above and let your thoughts run free, what if Lee Scratch Perry hadn't had a "burn out" - that's how I interpret it today - and hadn't torched the Black Ark? Then my heart gets a little heavy. What jewels does this genius have in just 3! Years and with what technically limited equipment. But maybe that's the attraction that the technology and Scratch's budget no longer gave and he had to work with what was available.
I too form my points of reference, at which I also use the newer ones Dub-Works can moor. But if I still read somewhere, it sounds like ... Then all the alarm bells go off and I say to myself: “good, then I can hear the original right away”. (see Dubble standard)
I was really fortunate enough to witness this entire development of reggae and Dubs to witness, for which I am very grateful.
Lemmi, I see it differently, be glad that the technology is with the old Dub Syndicate and Creation Rebel albums weren't there yet. They sound even rougher and more unpolished, they are still rough diamonds ...
I love these old records by Keith Hudson (The Dark Prince Of Reggae), everything was fresh and unknown, the guys let their imaginations run wild and tried everything that was possible. When I heard “Flesh Of My Skin, Blood Of My Blood” (one of the few concept albums in reggae) for the first time, I could do something with it right away. Remixing such a rough, raw, unpolished album would be a sacrilege.
It's great when Dub/ Reggae further developed but in the right direction please. What I personally find very funny is that when "professionals" search for their favoriteDub-Albums are asked, are called classics again and again and nothing new. Strange…
In this sense ... stay tuned ...
Perry was more of a "burn down" ;-). But his latent madness was probably the reason for the genius of the works. He just didn't care about conventions and just got creative with whatever came to mind. Today is our favorite genre Dub already around 50 years old and is of course determined by a number of conventions. Dub as a style, that is exactly what it is: a convention. Apart from that, we're with the sound of Dub trusted for years. So it will never be as exciting as it was when we first heard the genre and every new LP was a revelation.
As for the remix, of course it's not about remixing classics. But you can - like Lemmi - complain that the old recordings have little dynamism. But it's the same as with monument protection or the restoration of paintings: What changes are allowed and what not? In any case, I think that new mastering can be a blessing.
Jo Ras Vorbei !
I understand your point of view. Compared to you, I'm just a career changer. The so-called classics were brand new for your generation. You probably really heard the first echo on a King Tubby record and celebrated it accordingly. Then this and that and that came along and you grew with the whole thing. But I'll repeat my first Dubexperience was when “Wise and Foolish” was fresh on the market. "Live Up" was played in a club at the time (I'd never heard of Misty In Roots before) and when it went to the Dub passed over, I was “The Worlds Greatest Dub Adict ". In contrast, I found that Dubs from King Tubby, who I only got to know much later, I have to admit that it's pretty poor. And I am writing this even though many “experts” have now most likely turned their stomachs upside down. But that's the way it is. You probably always find the best thing with which you had your first key experience, so to speak. Since that time, I have also grown with me and it is not without good reason that experts call me a “real one DubConnoisseur "…… ;-)
Sometimes (actually very often) I find the remakes by young sound tinkerers really better than the originals, because they just have more oomph and in my head really big circus (I actually mean really big cinema)
organize. What Rob Smith is up to Dub Syndicate is not one of them.
Let's just take the "None A JAH JAH Children" Dubversion. The original Dub Version ripples so there I think, while the cheeky versions of Dub Club bring my music G-spot to a climax. And as if that weren't enough, there are versions of Maffia and Fluxy. I've got it fresh on vinyl, even if it's probably not brand new anymore. A great version with trumpet, where I think "Dizzy" Moore has risen again and then it's super cool DubVersion afterwards.
Ok, I hope you understand me a little too. I always have to have the last word. No! That's nonsense.
I just wanted to have a little chat with you, because I can smell the weekend and I especially love it when I can watch the discs that people talked about during the day at home.
In this sense :
"Love Thy Neighbor" I comeeeeeeeeeeeeeh …………………… lemmi
By the way, I'm dated with the "pounding system" Dub Syndicate entered the genre. Another album from the first hour was “LKJ in Dub“, Although at first I was even annoyed because the album contained the songs known from the vocal albums - only without vocals ;-). Then I had one on the radio (!) Dub Heard of Sly & Robbie that I was dying to get on vinyl so I started Dub-Buy albums from the Rhythm Twins. Only then did I discover King Tubby and Lee Perry. I was very enthusiastic about Scientist and later about Mad Professor. Well, those were the times.
Hehe, when “LKJ in Dub“Really with your first one DubHeard trips, I can only say, the highest respect that you stuck with it. I find LKJ in Dub pretty boring, I have to admit. Nevertheless, it is also something of required reading, where you can find yourself as DubFan must have fought through.
However, if I got caught and were forced under threat of torture, my ultimate favoriteDUBalbum, it would still be impossible for me, but before they really hurt me, I would say “Pounding System” from Dub Syndicate cough into the wet towel.
(Sometimes I also ask myself why I express myself so strangely).
Do you always get such flatulence from cherries? ………………… lemmi
Greetings
In the 70s, Germany was actually still reggae /Dub Diaspora. The first albums one could get were either from Island, Trojan, later Virgin and Greensleeves. Fortunately, I had two friends who ran an alternative record store, so at least I was at the source. That was a real stroke of luck, because specialized shops opened up in early / mid-1980.
My first Dub-LPs were "Ital Dub"And" King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown "by Augustus Pablo, Tubby, Keith Hudson & Perry anyway. Then came Aggrovators, Revolutionaries, “Planet Mars” and “Deeper Roots” Dub“By the Mighty Diamonds, it was all a little more melodic and not so stripped to the bone.
Scientist with “Heavyweight Dub Champion ”- still one of my favorite albums today -,“ Mad Professor - Beyond the Realms of Dub"," Mikey Dread - African Anthem "and" ASWAD - New Chapter In Dub“Were THE discovery of the early 80s.
Of course, I also love the rich, fat, technically mature sound of today, the main thing is that it is interesting and not too monotonous. What I've always found very exciting is the merging of Dub with different musical styles / cultures. No matter if jazz, classical, ethnic, no matter ... I'm very open.
Jim The Boss and especially the new “Aldubb - Planets Of Dub Vol.2 "put a smile on my face, that's" Back Into The Future Dub"!!!
For me there is a very positive development - Back To The Roots - to be seen.
Stay tuned ...