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Tunes from the Missing Channel (On-U Sound, 1997 [orig.
released 1985])
*GUEST
REVIEW*
On-U Sound is more of an artist collective like Anticon than a label as such.
Bands have fluid memberships and all the music is made by collective members and their mates.
Tunes is Dub Syndicates third album and was originally released in 1985.
The production is typically Sherwood. He has made a dub album with lots of droggy sounds and samples.
Its industrial-strength funk meets '80s hip-hop with a Masters in global roots.
Think EL-P with more primitive technology, and you get the idea. Not an easy first listen, but worth some listening investment.
- ragudave
| Track Listing 1. Ravi Shankar Part 1 2. The Show Is Coming 3. Must Be Dreaming 4. Over Board 5. Forever More 6. Geoffrey Boycott 7. Wellie 8. Jolly 9. Out and About |
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| No Bed of Roses (EFA, 2004) *GUEST REVIEW* This album mostly has a dub reggae and roots reggae sound. That's probably not that hard to figure, since the group is called Dub Syndicate. I found the title track to be the best here, and it has a pretty nice bass line. The lead vocals for the title track are also sung by Cedric "Congos" Myton. Other reggae veterans contributed to this album, like Adrian Sherwood, Earl Chinna Smith, Style Scott, Lloyd Obeah Denton, and Gregory Isaacs. Isaacs puts the vocals on "Kingston 14," and the result is OK, I guess. The song "Uplifting" reminds me of something Prince Far I might have done, and the song turns out decent. I think the singer is a guy named Uplifter and it doesn't really sound like singing but like talking or reading a poem, so I am guessing it's dub poetry. I would have to say that the other great track on this album would be "Jamaican Proverb." This album also has a similar sound to some of Black Uhuru's material from the 80's, like "Nothing Comes Easy" and "Private I," and a bit on other songs. I really didn't care much for "Nothing Comes Easy" and "Adam and Eve." Perhaps "Nothing Comes Easy" would have came out better if Michael Rose sang on it. All in all, No Bed of Roses is a decent set from Dub Syndicate. - Julio |
| Track Listing 1. No Bed of Roses 2. Private I 3. Jamiacan Proverb 4. Fire Burning 5. Hard & Tuff 6. Uplifting 7. Nothing Comes Easy 8. Adam & Eve 9. Kingston 14 10. Kingston 14 [Version] 11. Fire Burning [Vversion] 12. Adam & Eve [Mix 2] |
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