Customer Reviews

Sound System Dub

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Being a roots reggae fan in the 90's hasn't been easy; with the overwhelming majority of new releases being digitally-insturmented dancehall, bordering on incomprehensible Jamaican-style rap. True roots fans have had to rely on the trickle of re-issues to get their dose of real roots reggae. However, where Jamaica left off in the mid-eighties, Britain's sound-systems have been picking-up. Artists like Jah Shaka, The Disciples and Zion Train have been pumping base-driven, roots-laiden vibes in England's dancehalls. However, although, Reggae has once again found it's roots, digitalized insturments have for the most part remained, leaving the sound "rootsy," but feeling mechanical and soulless--All that is, except for Alpha & Omega, whose Sound System Dub is a prime example of what they do-- and do well. This CD contains heavy remixes of previously-issued material available only on British import, for the listening pleasure of the rest of the world. The driving force of the Alpha & Omega sound is Christine Woodbridge on Bass, played deep and heavy, with etheral, dubbed-out melodica-infused music interspersed with vocalists to create a vibe that is sweetly spiritual, rich in roots, and heavy on the groove. For all you bored roots fans who have been looking for something alive and new-- this one's for you!

Alpha and Omega can be considered among the leading figures of the now generation of Dub creators. King Tubby, unfortunatly he left us, has discovered dub, and passed it on to his protegee, Prince (now King) Jammy. Scientist and Mad Professor made the vibe gone even more mad, and now we have Jah Warrior, Rootsman, The Revolutionairy Dub Warriors, Messian Dread and Alpha And Omega. This duo, consisting of a female bass player and a male drummer do everything themselves. Playing, mixing. Although they have released several albums, this is their first international release with a 15 track selection of their earlier work and some previously unreleased. The nice thing is that all the tracks are re-mixed especially for this compilation. This album is a good representation of the early work of Alpha and Omega. It will give you a chance to dig their sound to the fulness. Because there is a typical Alpha and Omega sound for sure. The sistren lays some down some heavy monotonic and hypnotic basslines, where the brethren puts down some heavy steppers and two drop rhythms. Think over this a melodica and spaced out echo's and you have pretty much the sound of Alpha and Omega.