Ska Blah Blah » dub

Roots Online: Dub Echoes Documentary

JJ Loy — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 21:08:14 +0000

Documentaries about Jamaican music are popping up all over the place. Here’s one that I can’t wait to check out. Dub Echoes promises to form a direct connection from contemporary electronic music all the way back to 70′s Dub Reggae. It’s surely not the first time these connections have been pointed out, but it looks like a pretty solid film none-the-less.

It features DJ Spooky, Theivery Corporation, Bunny Lee, Dub Pistols, King Jammy, Lee Perry, Ticklah, Mad Professor and many more. But don’t take my word for it… check the trailer:

(Please open the article to see the flash file or player.)

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Easy Star’s Lonely Hearts Dub Band – UPDATED

JJ Loy — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:20:52 +0000

Easy Star All-Stars are dangerously close to releasing thier new cover album, Easy Star’s Lonely Hearts Dub Band. Yup, you guess it- like Dub Side of The Moon and Radio Dread- add The Beatles to the list of seminal bands getting the roots and dub treatment on the full album tip.

You can hear three of the new tracks, With a Little Help From My Friends, She’s Leaving Home and Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, by clicking here. And here’s a little press vid they did:

(Please open the article to see the flash file or player.)

UPDATE: The folks at Easy Star just sent me this great link where you can stream this entire new album! Stream Easy Star’s Lonely Hearts Dub Band

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Dub Online: A Big Day For Dub

JJ Loy — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:59:10 +0000

Well if you’re in the mood for Dub then I’ve got the links for ya:

First things first, The Drastics have released another digital 7″ This time, hairstyles are the target of our favorite dub killers- in the new cut, Vibes, Love Music + Jheri Curl feat MC Zulu. You can check it out on their MySpace page. But you should also take a gander at their new blog, which is very pleasing to the eyes- and ears.

Next up, I’ve got a video of Dubmatix remixing John Brown’s Body, which was created by numerous animators from around the world. John Brown’s Body is an Easy Star Records project that is getting the full remix treatment. You can read more here.

(Please open the article to see the flash file or player.)

Finally, a site that applies Dub and Remix techniques to the art of YouTubing. Thru-You.com creates music videos by chopping and splicing existing musical pieces on YouTube. I think of it as “found dub.” You’ll think of it as “neato.”

Click here to see What It Became on Thru-You.com

PS Sorry for any spelling mistakes this time through… my spell checker is wonky.

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Dub Online: Live Dub From Balanced Records

JJ Loy — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:17:50 +0000

Balanced Records has quite a long list of killer dub and electronic podcasts, full of long, live DJ sets and mix tapes. I’m especially into the hour long Dubmatix set. I also can’t wait to check out the episode featuring Subatomic Soundsystem. If you are in the mood for some straight, uninterrupted live dub- the Balanced Podcast is for you.

Check it: Balanced Podcast

Dubmatix Homepage

Subatomic Soundsystem

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Ska Blah Blah: Small Talk Episode 01 – Victor Axelrod

JJ Loy — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:07:25 +0000

Your eyes have not deceived you- It is a new series for Ska Blah Blah. This time around, the interviews are a bit shorter and the artists are a bit newer. I’ve also broadened the focus from mere Ska Revivalism to a more encompassing umbrella of Jamaican Revivalism. This is to better fit with this millennium’s crop of bands and DJ’s.

I’m starting off strong with my interview with Victor Axelrod, but subscribe to the feed and you’ll automatically get interviews with The Impalers, Babylon Party Machine, The Aggrolites, and The Green Room Rockers as they become available.

Multi-instrumentalist, producer and Dub mixologist, Victor Axelrod isn’t quite a household name, even if you live in the hippest of households. He’s worked with Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Antibalas, Easy Star All-Stars, Lily Allen, and even Amy Winehouse- so it isn’t like he’s shying away from the spotlight. However, Axelrod’s love of pseudonyms has at times prevented audiences from connecting the dots of his work. His newest solo record seeks to reconcile this by featuring a virtual soundclash between himself and his better known alias, Ticklah.

I spoke with Victor about making retro music, working with Victor Rice, and of course his newest solo record, Ticklah Vs. Axelrod.

Ticklah Vs. Axelrod is out now on Easy Star Records where you can purchase the cd or digital download LINK

National Geographic’s Podcast Interview with Ticklah LINK

Wishtank’s bit about Ticklah’s Don’t Trip Studio with lot’s of extra info LINK

Rock Paper Scissors bit about Ticklah with a great review and press pack goodies LINK

Be friends with the man himself at MySpace LINK

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New Dub Trio

JJ Loy — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 19:40:20 +0000

The word from Dub Trio is that their new album, Another Sound is Dying, is in stores today! I haven’t yet gotten my hands on a copy, but the last album was such a surprise to me, and their sound is so fresh; I’m sure I’ll go ape shit for it.

Here’s a couple of extended live videos from WoozyFly.com

VIDEOS REMOVED

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Dub Online: Flash Game Makes You the DJ

JJ Loy — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 20:56:14 +0000

I found this site a few years ago, and quickly lost track of it. Only because of serendipitous searching has it found it’s way to my bookmarks list.

It’s Infinite Wheel, a Flash-based series of Games that puts you in the DJ drivers seat. There are 10 games in all, each with multiple riddim tracks and packed with friendly cartoon characters and urban landscapes that, when clicked, fire off signature dub FX. There is no goal to the games except executing your own track without dropping the beat.

It’s a blast! However, I’d like to see this idea expanded upon in just two ways: While the cartoony interface is fun, I’d go crazy for an interface that simply represented the mixing board. You know, a true Dub Simulator. And the main drawback to the Infinite Wheel games is the lack of record-ability. How cool would it be to carve out a flawless Dub track on IW and then export the song to show off to your friends?

Here’s the Link you’ll need, just click the different characters to play their game.

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Dub Online: NPR profiles Reggae Ice Cream Truck

JJ Loy — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 00:27:21 +0000

The spirit of the Sound System is alive and well as evidenced by Aurelito and Shakespeare’s tricked out, 1960′s era ice cream truck. Instead of selling Bomb Pops and poorly designed sherbet on a stick, these LA DJ’s sling cds and spin vinyl for the neighborhood kids.

Get the whole story from this 2004 Day to Day segment. Link

Fans of my favorite blog, Boing Boing, might recognize the name in this story’s byline is that of the host of Boing Boing TV, Xeni Jardin. Not only does she have the hottest voice to regularly grace NPR, but she is easily the foxiest of all the BB.net editors. But we love her for her mind, of course. She brings a unique perspective to tech journalism by focusing on the cultural side of science. Yes, I’m a Ska Geek, but I’m also a Geek Geek.

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Secret Victor Rice DVD

JJ Loy — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 20:36:16 +0000

If you would be so kind as to remember the second episode of Conversations on a Revivalist Movement, you’d recall Victor Rice describing the mechanics of bringing studio Dub into a live venue. He also mentioned that a DVD was being produced to feature his live performance.

This has generated more inquiries than almost any other topic. Kids from all over the world have written me, trying to track down this DVD for themselves. Well, I’ve got good news and bad news. The Good: The DVD is done. The Bad: it’s not for sale, Victor uses it for promotion not profit. More Good: I have a copy, and it’s rad.

I understand Mr. Rice’s decision to not give the live show an official release; the camera is static for half of the show, and Victor’s face is obscured by shadows, almost completely. This is not the type of DVD to make a big splash at Tower Records- there’s no interviews or guest appearences, no clever editing or new release tie-ins. This is what it is: Victor Rice at the sound board, running reel-to-reels of his production work and Dubifying every beat.

And who wants marketability anyways. This is the mysterious Guru of Jamaican Revivalism giving us a glimpse of his process. Lee Perry and Mad Professor would do everything they could to keep their signature Dub techniques a secret, but Rice allows us behind the mixer to see how Dub gets done. And it is absolutely amazing.

I predict that this DVD will become what so many Ska and Reggae videos have already, a hard to find cult masterpiece. All of the ingredients are there.

(Please open the article to see the flash file or player.)

PS Do not ask me for a copy, it’s not mine to give.

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Cut the Chit Chat – 03 – Hard Edged Dub

JJ Loy — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 15:59:00 +0000

Maybe I’ve had the wrong impression for a long time, but I had always seen Dub Reggae as chill-out music- something to be passively and herbally enjoyed. Dub is a Weapon was the first band, that I encountered, to change the vibe from relaxing to energetic, with squealing guitars and double-time rhythms. And now, groups like Dub Trio are fulfilling this aggressive dub destiny by mixing creepy Dub FX into Bad Brains style Hard Core.

This episode brings you this sound, plus other non-traditional Dub approaches from bands like the Beastie Boys, Gotan Project, and the Drastics.

Babylon Motorhome – Big Band Vid Link
The Drastics – Al Q’runka Live Vid Link
Beastie Boys – Suco De Tangerina Vid Link
Dub Trio – Illegal Dub Vid Link
Slackerland All-Stars – Dub #1 Live
Dub is a Weapon – Unlabeled Live Track Live Vid Link
Crazy Baldhead – Controls
Gorillaz feat. Terry Hall – M1A1 Terry Hall Vid Link
Gotan Project – El Capitalismo Foraneo Vid Link
Pepper Pots – We Must Believe (Remix) Live Vid Link

Other Link of Interest:
-Archive.org has a ton of live Dub sets form many of these groups. Plus it’s free! Link (search for Dub)

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02 – Victor Rice – Conversations on a Revivalist Movement

JJ Loy — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 08:33:00 +0000

This edition features the words and music of Victor Rice. Recorded in Sept. of ’06, from his home in Sao Paulo, Rice talks about his early career in the NYC Ska scene, and the work he did for Moon Records and Version City. In the 90′s, Rice was a prolific producer and bassist for such bands as The Scofflaws, Mephiskapheles, New York Ska Jazz Ensemble, and many more. We also discuss some of his lesser known projects, his current work as a Dub engineer in Brazil, and the future of Samba Rocksteady.

Other Links of interest:
- Rice’s Resume
- A place to get Age of Insects
- Get music from Victor
- A place to get many of the records Rice has produced

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