(Destroy All Concepts 7″s), featuring Brooklyn Jungle Soundsystem, Ranking Joe, RSD, Dubmatix
Dub Gabriel’s Destroy All Concepts label returns with a pair of 7″ releases, both featuring legendary reggae figures on the a-side and talented remixers on the reverse. While the digital previews have been floating around the clouds of sound for some months now, the limited edition wax editions will be shipping out shortly.
First up, Dr. Israel’s Brooklyn Jungle Soundsystem project resurfaces after a decade-plus hiatus on “Kulture.” With pointed conscious lyrics, targeting violence and poverty, the good doctor proselytises the need for culture as a means to understand oneself. Heady stuff – realistic yet optimistic – over a slightly-crunching laid-back drum-n-bass groove that lets the synths glide smoothly throughout. For the lazy listener, there’s a succinct summary via the female hook.
On the flip, Dubmatix employs a rolling rub-a-dub approach to his remix. This is less busy in one sense, slowing the vibe down (but not the bpm) while emphasising the bass, with subtle swirling dub elements tastefully added to the mix.
“Freedom Fighter” then, finds Ranking Joe handling the microphone duties on a heavy digital steppers riddim. Name-checking Bob Marley, Marcus Garvey, and Nelson Mandela amongst others, before addressing wars in Syria, Libya, and Egypt, themes of equality and justice dominate the vocals. If Dr. Israel’s tone is compassionate, this is closer to militant.
RSD flattens the bass on his version, wielding his signature dub-nears-breaks style to quality effect. Here, the beat commands rather than the vocal, which in proper dub fashion is reduced to an effect-laden element that emerges periodically. There’s also an additional digital-only free download, from dub(step) remixers Dubsworth & Tapa, that strikes a balance between the original and RSD’s interpretation, as well as between heavy and spacey.
At the crossroads called raggabass, where dub, reggae, dubstep, drum-n-bass, and future sounds can all claim influence, these two releases are capable of pleasing any dancehall in need of some awareness and bass education.
More info:
Destroy All Concepts website & SoundCloud
The Groove Thief
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