Roots of Dub Funk 1

Various Artists (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 1, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Tanty
• ASIN: B00005ASKO
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #523,506 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
An instrumental variation of reggae, dub is one of those styles of music that is not likely to inspire casual interest. There are just certain rhythms and basslines that repeatedly insinuate themselves into a majority of the songs; therefore its purveyors have to frequently come up with new angles on tried-and-true themes to keep things catchy. This 12-song compilation features music by current or former members of the Dub Funk Association or artists inspired by them. There are plenty of requisite elements here--fat bass sounds, sampled drums, and plenty of echo and reverb--but there are also some twists. Dub Funk Association's "Natty Dread Kung Fu" playfully interweaves kung-fu movie samples within its jazzy, R&B-flavored mix; Cabal's trippy "Burn the Dub Down" jams on an up-tempo rock groove; City Dread's "Dub of the Sphinx" grooves with '80s pop overtones. One of the standout tracks is Dub Funk's "City of Angels Dub," an eclectic tune combining sampled acoustic bass, horns, and hand percussion with some lively programmed rhythms. Roots of Dub Funk may not be likely to convert the masses to the dub sound, but the compilation offers some fresh cuts interspersed with its more traditional numbers. The disc proves that there's life in that old dub yet. --Bryan Reesman

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Various aspects of the influence of DUB, August 11, 2001

By	Messian Dread "DUBROOM.com" (Drachten, Fryslan Netherlands) - See all my reviews

This album contains 12 tracks from a variety of modern Dub artists as well as artists incorporating the Dub vibe in their own kind of music. A few names from the CD: Alpha And Omega, Dub Funk Association, and a lot of Internet Artists like Dubware, The Interuptor, Dubclash and The Technician. The CD is an interesting set of musical works. It covers a wide spectrum of musical styles, showing the tremendous influence that DUB has on today's electronic music. A survey currently kept on the Dubroom shows, many people seem to have the opinion that the best DUBs are created in the 1970's or the 1980's. Not all tracks on the album are DUB in the strict sense of the word, but there are also enough real DUBs present, as a prove the style is not to be considered dead.

"DUB the way it was. DUB the way it is. DUB the way it could be..." And surely, this is an interesting selection of musical works that are DUB or inspired by this beautiful art. The CD opens up with "East of Bachus Marsh", by The Technician. A cool Dub with nicely placed reverb effects. Next is Alpha and Omega. Do they need an introduction? Their contribution is called Pure and Clean, specially remixed for this album. A very intense dub, completely in A&O style. The Dub Funk Association is next: and Dub Funk it is. A drum & bassline in the style and sound of funk or r&b, combined with a reggae skank and Dub effects. I have heard worse attempts to combine DUB with other music styles. The fourth track, Jah Glory, by Messian Dread, was created for the Dubster Connection from a bassline provided by Vicious Vic. It's a rub a dub track with a conscious message and spaced out effects. Jah Glory has had airplay on BBC's Radio One. Dub Funk Association comes with four titles on the CD. "Natty Dread Kung Fu" is track number 5. It's a highly experimental track and comes with a lot of movie sound effects. The Interuptor is next with Return of Sleng Teng, a hard techno dub style interpretation of what many say is the first digital reggae bassline, the Sleng Teng Riddim. After these two heavy experimental tunes, Roots Of Dub Funk returns to the Controls with Dubclash (Return To The Controls). An extraordinary track called Return To The Controls which has been featured on the Dubroom Reggae Dub Station for a long time. Dub the way it is. Hard Back Youth follows, another track by the Dub Funk Association, blending the Dub vibe with other styles. Dubware is up next with a roots reggae Dub track called Hot Get Hotter. This is also an artist which has been featured on the Dubroom Reggae Dub Station. Cool Basslines and Hot effects. I love the clavinet play on this one. Dubware is follow by "Dub of the Sphinx", an explosive Mutant Dub track by City Dread. 'City Dread' is the new brainchild of Dub Funk Association creator Kelvin R and with collaborative efforts of Stephen Samson, the 'Mantis', Tony Rich and Mateel they hope to create densely rhythmic and percussive tracks that are equally dubby to the Dub Funk Association material but more 'dancefloor/leftfield' it its production. Track number 11 is called "Burn The Dub Down", by a duo called Cabal. This track is another mutant dub, featuring breakbeat style drumming, a very low bass and highly distorted vocal and guitar samples. The CD closes of with "City Of Angels Dub", again by the Dub Funk Association.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars this is some irie dub, April 17, 2004

By	Ben (NYC) - See all my reviews

whatever messian dread says about this album, he is surely downplaying it out of modesty. this is sick!! all the dubs on "roots of dub funk" are crucial, they are mostly very original and funky. messian dread is great and i recommend checking him out at www.dubroom.org, where you can download some of his tracks for free or purchase his albums directly. 5 stars