Showing posts with label Prince Fatty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prince Fatty. Show all posts

Wednesday, 2 September 2020

After the Rain: A Sun Is Shining Late Summer Sampler

 After the rain:


A Sun is Shining late Summer Sampler



I compiled this selection of tracks I feel represents the ethos of this blog from albums that have been on rotation recently. For those of you who listen I hope you find something that you enjoy and that you will support the artists and purchase their work if you can.


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As this new interface from Google doesn't seem to want to display embedded HTML code for the Mixcloud player. Here is the link https://www.mixcloud.com/woodzee/after-the-rain/


Track List:


1) Matt Coldrick – Uncertain Waves on Soft Shorelines


After Nineteen years Matt utilised the lockdown period to compose the sequel to the Absolute Ambient release ‘Music For A Busy Head’. The concept is simply an album to unwind from the stress we can build in our day-to-day lives in modern times. I selected this track (the longest featured) for the nod towards progressive rock both in the synth sounds, piano and soothing guitar licks, that in my humble opinion achieves the goal he set out to achieve.


2) Erothyme feat. Jessica Borth – Tale of the Misty Veil


Taken from the album ‘Steep Dreams’ and only the second I have brought (or heard) from a number of releases. However, this fusion of glitchy low bass electronics and orchestral strings, is one of two really strong tracks that have pulled my interest back towards his productions.


3) Tor.Ma In Dub – The Dream of Anaho


Taken from the album ‘Among Aliens and Gods’ inspired by his love of Sci-Fi movies, H.P. Lovecraft and the recent birth of his daughter. This track isn’t one of the harder hitting tracks of the release. However, I felt the mood of the piece and its subtle 80’s sci-fi sounds that slowly unfurls and rise throughout the track was apt for this occasion.


4) Entheogenic – Celestial Mechanics


A welcome return with the album ‘Animism’ and for me this is the stand out track. From the moment that Floyd’esque guitar drops in the intro, the piece carries you through a wonderful journey combining guitar and electronic synths perfectly.


5) Kukan-Dub-Lagan – Sufeit of Happiness and Agony


Taken from the album ‘In Search of the Fogbow’ this haunting piece of electronic music rips along slow and heavy tribal’esque drum patterns, whilst the synths build to a wonderful, yet dark crescendo.


6) Terra Nine – Dub Terratory (Kuba Re-mix)



Alongside the Kaya Project this is my favourite from the ‘Eternity Re-mixes’ album, Kuba takes the original (which on it’s own is a good track) and flutters between the sounds of Jamaica and India lifting it to even greater heights.


7) Gaudi meets Prince Fatty – Theremin Dub Mafia


Taken from ‘100 Years of Theremin: The Dub Chapter’ a celebration album where Gaudi plays the theremin (a go to instrument for many classic Sci-Fi movies) alongside some of the giants of dub reggae. This is my personal favourite from the release and really hits the spot.


8) Irfan – Salamander


This is the first of two Bulgarian acts featured here. Taken from the album ‘The Eternal Return’ which isn’t new but I’d been meaning to purchase something of theirs for years and recently found them on bandcamp. Very similar to Dead Can Dance but unlike Lisa Gerrard they don’t invent the words this is the real McCoy.


9) Black Bombay – Rice Field Chant (Shanghai Edit)


Taken from the compilation Shanghai Chill. There is something of a retro feel about this track, where I feel would easily slotted into a Buddah Bar compilation in the past with it’s touches of dub and Chinese vocals.


10) Cosmic Voices of Bulgaria – Retour a la Vie


The second act from Bulgaria and once again this isn’t new. A recent discovery for me that originally featured on Armand Amar’s soundtrack for the 2010 French film ‘AO Le Dernier Neandertal’. 


Sunday, 2 August 2020

Gaudi '100 Years of Theremin (the Dub Chapter)' Review




Artist: Gaudi




Title: 100 Years of Theremin




Label: Dubmission Records




Released: Friday 7th August










For anyone who has seen Gaudi use the Theremin in his live shows, it probably comes as no surprise that he has put together this album of celebration. Invented in 1920 by Russian psychist Leon Theremin the eerie sounds of this electronic instrument became a go-to for classic science-fiction soundtrack production and became the staple for otherworldy sound fx.


Bringing onboard some of the biggest producers of dub reggae in Adrian Sherwood, Mad Professor, The Scientist, Dennis Bovell and Prince Fatty to provide the back drop to his Theremin playing you can rest assured with the quality of the productions. Whilst the otherworldy sounds of the Theremin fuse into the pieces so nicely, it’s a wonder why they aren’t more of a staple in dub production as a whole.


I found it easy to just sit back and relax to the otherworldy sounds of the Theremin float across the reggae backdrops, without the need to know who was providing the sounds at any particular point. That is until I reached ‘Theremin Dub Mafia’ with Prince Fatty at the controls, as he lifts the pace somewhat and really grabbed my attention.


To conclude firstly I ask myself does the marriage of the Theremin and dub reggae work? In my humble opinion undoubtedly so. Secondly how does this album sit within a dub reggae collection? I feel it slots in quite nicely and with the formats stretching over vinyl record, CD and digital it covers all bases.


Reviewed by Woodzee


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