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Chouk Bwa and the Ångströmers Merge Haitian Folk and Electronic Music on 'Vodou Alé'

Haitian roots music meets innovative electronics on Chouk Bwa and the Ångströmers' Vodou Alé.

Recent
Music

Carmen Villain's 'Both Lines Will Be Blue' Explores Andean Melodies Through Ambient Dub

Carmen Villain's latest album Both Lines Will Be Blue veers hard from her last two albums, trading her psychedelic roots for spacious ambient dub.

Music

Mark Stewart & The Maffia Celebrate Reissue of Seminal LP Via "Liberty City" (premiere)

Ex-Pop Group man Mark Stewart returns with a reissue of his 1983 debut album with a wealth of bonus cuts and a reminder that the avant-garde never sleeps.

Music

When Reggae Became Lover's Rock: An Interview with Don Letts

Don Letts' latest endeavor, as part of his Turtle Bay Reggae 45 series of podcasts, is to tell the story of a notable but probably less well-known genre that helped to shape the identity of many young black Britons during the '70s: lover's rock.

Music

Joe Strummer's Greatest Hits? '001' Compiles the Should-have-been-smashes with Rarities

Pre and post Clash recordings, rarities and a surprise or two on a long overdue anthology of the enduring artist that is Joe Strummer.

Music

The Orb's 'No Sounds Are Out of Bounds' Is One Bold and Fascinating Album

By opening the door to collaborators, the Orb have created a finely-tuned, artistic slam-dunk on No Sounds Are Out of Bounds.

Music

The Bug - "Bad ft. Flowdan" (Singles Going Steady)

This new collaboration between Kevin "The Bug" Martin and Flowdan mixes a lot of sludgy noise with some spot-on lyrical flow.

Music

Thievery Corporation Fires Up San Francisco for the Musical Resistance

Blending a dazzling array of musical influences and directions for more than two decades now, Thievery Corporation have come to represent one of the 21st century's boldest bands in both genre-blending style and lyrical impact.

Music

Hype Williams: Rainbow Edition

To listen to Rainbow Edition is to constantly be waiting for the next thing.

Music

Gaudi: Magnetic

The producer's interplay between drum and bass forms the album's heart. A resonant, visceral listen.

Music

Jah Wobble: In Dub

This collection of selections and collaborations spanning 30 years confirms Jah Wobble as the foremost interpreter and practitioner of dub on the global scale. He is a consummate musician to boot.

Music

Various Artists: Studio One Dub Fire Special

Studio One Dub Fire Special is as clear an overview of dub’s most basic essence as you could ask for.

Interviews

Wearing the Wrong Clothes: An Interview with Punk-Hippie Alig Fodder

Front man of shape-shifting post-punk act Family Fodder talks about the early days, the songwriting process, and how an unbridled fashion sense may have kept them out of the limelight.

Music

The Bunny Gang: Thrive

Say what you will about being a copycat, the Bunny Gang does a startling Clash impersonation.

Music

Lee "Scratch" Perry & Iguana - Vibes EP

Soaring reggae vocals over a nicely varied bunch of new-school dub riddims from Lee "Scratch" and new associate Iguana.

Music

Nightmares on Wax: N.O.W. Is the Time

Career-spanning retrospective from Nightmares on Wax takes in black music from jazz and blues to funk and hip-hop, and then some more.

Music

Tradesman and Parly B ft. Adam Prescott: Dubplate Fashion

Referencing the golden age of digital reggae production, Leeds-based producer Tradesman delivers an extremely crisp and deep revision of the classic "Rumours" riddim, bringing its now slightly dated sounds completely up-to-date.

Music

Roots Manuva: Banana Skank EP

Nice stocking filler by UK's pre-eminent hip-hop artist.

Music

Easy Star All-Stars: Easy Star's Thrillah

They wanna be start’n somethin’ for sure -- but is it a dub record or a wedding dance?

Music

Cristian Vogel: The Inertials

Forget everything you know about Cristian Vogel ... unless you've never heard of him, in which case, prepare to learn a lot about Cristian Vogel, care of his finest work in 20 years or so.

Music

The Orb Featuring Lee Scratch Perry: The Observer in the Star House

In keeping with the Orb’s tendency toward sci-fi themes, the album is called The Observer in the Star House. But the sci-fi endeavor is more Cocoon than Star Wars – gentle, romantic and consistently delivered rather than epic in scope.

Music

Kottarashky & the Rain Dogs: Demoni

Only you know whether you need any more one-chord dub vamps sitting around the house. These have some cool clarinet solos, at least.

Music

The Spy From Cairo: Arabadub

Middle Eastern dub vibes via New York on this club friendly album.

Music

Bigg Juss: Machines That Make Civilization Fun

After a seven year interlude, Bigg Jus is back, as angry and as erudite as ever. Sputtering polyrhythms on the verge of chaos, Machines That Make Civilization Fun is a claustrophobic, paranoid soundtrack to suit the age of Occupy Wall Street and the Arab Spring.

Music

Porter Ricks: Biokinetics

Type Records reissues this classic of dub techno, originally the premier CD release and crown jewel of the Chain Reaction catalogue.

Music

Rusko: Songs

On his sophomore record Songs, Rusko is solid when he sticks back to basics dubstep, while his commercial dalliances are still hit and miss.

Music

White Rainbow: The Making of Thriller

Both of these tracks have more in common with their namesake than Forkner probably intended -- they're largely spiritless and unmemorable.

Morgan Troper
Music

King Midas Sound: Without You

Here is a remixed, "revoiced" version of the trio's moody, dubby Waiting For You. With Scritti Politti!

John Bergstrom
Music

Dub Trio: IV

Heavy Metal styles and dub sensibilities collide on this crisp instrumental assault.

Music

Steve Mason & Dennis Bovell: Ghosts Outside

Ghosts Outside is a worthwhile addition to Mason’s small discography. This is a record that, despite its flaws, occupies an interesting niche and a fascinating approach to a remix.

Music

Extra Classic: Your Light Like White Lightning, Your Light Like a Laser Beam

Extra Classic pays homage, and shows its own vitality, when they build off of Jamaican music, but the band should find subject material a bit closer to home.

Matthew Fiander
Music

Onmutu Mechanicks: Nocturne

Nocturne is a murky Drexciya album by Onmutu Mechanicks gone dub, minimal, and without the thrashing TR-808.

Music

The Orb feat. David Gilmour: Metallic Spheres

The sound of Pink Floyd's lead guitar sits on top of the Orb's music rather than inside of it. That's good, but not good enough.

Music

Lee "Scratch" Perry and the Golden Age of Roots: 'Super Ape'

From the irresistible call of the opening drums to the indeterminate farewell of the last, fading chant, 'Super Ape' incarnates a sonic world, a microcosm of rhythm, mix, melody, and toasting that, whatever your personal tastes, stands replete and to itself.

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