Marcus I meets aDUBta: Cut A Wire Showcase

After 20 years of preparatory work, the first album from “aDUBta & The Black Oak Roots Allstars: Sounds From The Attic“completed. Here too, numerous illustrious guests such as Earl 16, Var, Ranking Joe, Cedric Myton, YT, Brother Culture, Vin Gordon & Stepper and Umberto Echo contributed their skills.
Just a look at the website of the multi-instrumentalist and producer Andreas “aDUBta” Bauer quickly makes it clear why the debut album is only being released now. There is an impressively long list of collaborations, including names like Headcornerstone and the Graz Roots Organization. In a nutshell: aDUDta from the south of Germany is a jack of all trades and dances at many weddings.

Almost half a year later, in October 2023, the mini-album “Marcus I meets aDUBta: Cut A Wire Showcase“ released on the Strasbourg Hornin’ Sounds label. The album's riddims have already been released in advance of aDUBta & The Black Oak Roots Allstars were recorded. In November 2022, Marc “Marcus I” Ibarz, who was born in Spain in 1984 and has lived in the south of France since 2020, came to the Attic Roots Studio in Utting am Ammersee to discuss the project with aDUBto complete. With the Sing-Jay Marcus I and aDUBta have found two musicians who obviously share a love of roots reggae and the analog sound of the 70s. Marcus I is no longer a blank slate: since 2011 he has participated in numerous productions, over 80 of which have been released on CD and/or vinyl. On this album there are (only) four heavyweight roots reggae tracks in the so-called showcase format, also known as a discomix. The song is immediately followed by the one Dubmix. A beautiful old tradition that has become increasingly important again in recent years.

Three of the four tracks are longer than seven minutes and aDUBTa's experience as a multi-instrumentalist and producer is clearly paying off. The rich sound can definitely be heard compared to other well-known and large studios. Plus, everything sounds so wonderfully round that you never get bored. The use of live instruments is organic and unmistakable. Of course, aDUBta not reinvent the wheel with these showcase tracks, but what's the point if I have a nice, solid one Dub get to hear? The main thing is that these percussive riddims come across as dynamic, authentic and credible - and they totally do. What excites me most about “Cut A Wire Showcase” is the sound, which in places is reminiscent of the typical and legendary Black Ark sound of Lee “Scratch” Perry. If you look at it Dub-Part of the title track “Cut A Wire” starting at 4:20 is perhaps the best way to understand what I mean. On the third song “Perfect Collie” the backing vocals remind me a lot of the Israel Vibrations.

Conclusion: To put the finishing touches on the whole thing, aDUBta the mixes and Dubs completely mixed live & analog on his TASCAM 388 mixing console. The album sounds classic and contemporary at the same time - I like that.