Artist:
International Observer
Title:
Touched
Label:
Dubmission Records
Released:
August 2014
This
release is a re-mix compilation of other artists by International
Observer as opposed to his solo productions. A fair few of them I
already had but as always for those fans of International Observer
(or indeed dub reggae in general) who haven't, you may well be
interested in what this release has to offer.
The
album starts with Tom's Doordashan mix of Bic Runga's 'Drive' and I'm
not familiar with the original. However, what I can ascertain is this
version is a well polished production that combines a mellow female
vocal, the kind you'd expect to accompany a trip-hop piece, while the
music floats between melodic chill and a deep raga dub.
The
next track sticks with the Indian vibe with a re-mix of Bombay Dub
Orchestra's 'Monsoon Malabar'. The strings are stretched both
beautifully and perfectly alongside vocal echoes and bamboo flutes. I
like this piece a lot ... perfect hammock music.
The
next three tracks take the emphasis away from the East and straight
back to Jamacia with a retro 70's feel. Pitch Black's '1000 Mile
Drift' for example is a smoky chilled out dub. While Warp Technique's
'Nowhere Dub' gets given a re-rub which is reminiscent in style of
some of the early dub pioneers and the Black Seeds 'Come To Me' has a
slow ska feel dotted with old skool dub fx.
Minimal
Compacts 'Autumn Leaves' is another track where I'm not familiar with
the original. This Oak Tree dub contains stereo-typical dubbed
out reggae keys that chug along quite nicely with the odd vocal
injection and a little horn. While the International Observer meets
Horace re-work of Pitch Blacks classic electro-dub 'Lost In
Translation' has always been a great alternative, stripping it back to
a lush melodic acoustic.
Stellar's
'Slack Bastard' once again throws any comparison to the original into
the wind as far as I'm concerned. As with Bic Runga I'd hazard a guess from the female vocal that's it's a trip-hop original, either way it's a lovely slow bouncy dub
with some male vocal stabs injected here and there. While the Monkey
Forest dub of Banco De Gaia's 'Oreia' transports you to the Far East
in a spiritual dub fashion you'd expect but with a definite International Observer stamp.
Once
more with the last two tracks I have no knowledge of the originals.
The Daddy Dub of Tapes 'Lowry Dub' combines a retro feel with off-key
pitch bends, a fair few fx and a squelchy plod throughout. Then we
finish with an alternative of where we started with the Interstellar
Underpass mix of Bic Rungas 'Drive' which this time is served up in a
spacey instrumental drum & bass stylee.
To
summarise this release has been a combination of new delights and
wonderful refreshers for me and I'd highly recommend a listen.
Especially to lovers of dub reggae who aren't familiar with these
releases at all.
Reviewed
by Woodzee
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