It says a lot about the interconnectedness of the global dubwise underground that it took downtime with Bristolian Neek in Portland to spur the link between ZamZam and Feel Free Hi Fi out of the Minneapolis Twin Cities. Once he put us on to them we were hooked- not only by their brilliant music but by their rigorously DIY approach and aesthetic. Heavily inspired by the more esoteric angles of early digi-era JA dancehall and UK dub (Shaka, Disciples, Mixman and Gussie P being some touchstones) the duo create a sound both reverential and unique, steeped in the traditions but striking out hard left into idiosyncratic territory all their own. Releasing all of their works up to this point on their own fantastic Digital Sting label, we’re excited to showcase them on ZamZam. In “Voyageur” an ominous mid-range figure, heaving synth bass and complex intertwining melodies drive the tune into heavily cinematic territory, thick atmospherics and strange synthetic animal calls like a lost John Carpenter soundtrack-in-dub. The duo says, “Voyageur in its title speaks a bit to the mythic, mysterious, but also very real wild places of the North Country where we live… and how it all rubs up against the contemporary urban environment.” “Underground”s opening stabs, bassline and drums could have time-travelled from Unity Sounds or Jammys, but bring an eerie darkness in their deployment that is unmistakably now. Feel Free Hi Fi explain, “Underground in its title is a tribute to the spirit of underground music, of the DIY non commercial ethos… So the tunes together kind of speak to time and change, and the struggle of what’s going on now. Trying to preserve the environment and and also the wild places of basement and warehouse gigs, and the outsider mentality of underground music that also seems like it’s fading away but hopefully isn’t lost.”

The last grade of the elementary Riddim Dub School. If you like it hot you go for Mwendoskasi and so Prince Istari did for the first side on the 6th Grade. Brass driven hot stepper dub on this one with a killer bass line as allways. Flipside ‚I Dub Further‘ dives in deeper territory of percussion solos and fans of organ licks and brass sections have their treat on this heavy dub rocker.

Jungle Basrd On Reggae

Hamburg Production.

Hamburg Production

Hamburg Production

Heavy Hamburg Production. Soon Come Studio (Pensi Irie Hifi - Push Harder). Ameise Presswerk. Crucial Vocals By Annananda. Rootikal Melodica Dub Version By Haghbin & Fisherman

The excellent and brilliantly consistent Shades of Black brings together many Black musical genres and messages on this new 7" for the Africa Mae Do Leao label out of Brazil. It is dub with a global twist - the dig-dub low ends paired with mystic synth leads, organic percussion and echoing hits. Vocals speak with conscious messages about being the enemy, fighting back and plenty more. If you prefer it more direct then check out the dub on the flip which has more rich melodies that ring out above the tight rhythms.

Shades of Black is producer Paul Fox. He is based in the UK and makes roots, reggae and dub with a global feel. It has been that way since he debuted in 1992 and in the ensuing hears has worked with the likes of Nick Manasseh, Robert Tribulation, Michael Rose, Alpha and Omega and many more. Here he is dropping one of a couple of new tunes on the Africa Mae Do Leao label out of Brazil. 'Promised Land' (Binghi Mix) is super slow dub with Indian melodic references. 'Promised Dub' (Stepper Mix) is heavier and darker and more for the club.

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