Word Sound & Power Mixes for NiceUp by Adrians Wall

Three-part mixtape series from Adrians Wall – Word Sound Power. Showcasing Roots Reggae, Dubplate Specials and Heavyweight Steppers.

Originating from High Wycombe in the UK, Adrians Wall started building his Sound System around the end of 2007, after hearing Channel One at Notting Hill Carnival, before packing it up and shipping it over to Melbourne in late 2011.

Now a stalwart of the Melbourne sound system scene, Adrian can be found running his own events, guest selecting at other dances, and occasionally stringing up the sound in a park in order to spread the vibes.

Unashamedly promoting Rastafari and always trying to make sound system as accessible as possible, preferably free, Adrians Wall’s events can be summarised by the fine print you find on all their flyers – All Tribes Welcome.

When approached to do a mix for NiceUp, Adrian responded with a three-part Mixtape, ‘Word Sound & Power’. Rather than trying to fit a multitude of different styles into one short mix, he decided to do three parts to allow him to focus more specifically on the styles showcased across these mixtapes – Roots Reggae, Dubplate Specials and Heavyweight Steppers.

Part 1: Word

For this selection I decided to focus on foundation roots music that paved the way for the variety of styles we play on the sound system today, and kept it to tunes I feel are lyrically strong, with a few dub pieces here and there. These are some of my favourite roots tunes that always sound full and heavy on the sound.

1 – Prince Alla – Intro
2 – Prince Alla – New Name (Dubplate)
3 – Burning Spear – The Invasion (Island 12″ LP)
4 – Jah Stich – Give Jah the Glory (Aggrovator 7″)
5 – Heptones – Love Without Feeling (Moodisc 7″)
6 – Coutney Vibes – I And I Nuh Fear Dem (Original Music 7″)
7 – Trinity – Vampire (Iroko 7″)
8 – Prince Alla – Lot’s Wife (Freedom Sounds 7″)
9 – Dennis Brown – Bubbling Fountain (Ranking Joe 12″)
10 – Ranking Joe – Love Jah (Ranking Joe 12″)
11 – Ray Symbolic – Love Jah Dub Special (Ranking Joe 12″)
12 – Enos Mcleod – Jericho (Roots Recycler 12″)
13 – Alla – Babylon A Fight Rastaman (Twinkle 7″)
14 – Twinkle Brothers – Blood Sample (Twinkle 12″ LP)
15 – Corporation of Love – Give Thanks And Praise (Love 7″)
16 – Hugh Mundell – Great Tribulation (Message 7″)
17 – Michael Prophet – You Are A No Good (Jah Guidance 7″)
18 – Clive Matthews – Live Not For Vanity (Fox Fire 7″)
19 – The Nortones – Righteous Hand (Iroko 7″)
20 – Sylford Walker – Jah Golden Pen (Joe Gibbs 7″)
21 – Lone Ark Riddim Force – Righteous Dub (Iroko 7″)
22 – Bunny Wailer – Rise & Shine (Solomonic 12″)
23 – Winston Jones – Roman Soldiers (Iroko 12″)
24 – Roman Stuart – Rice And Peas (Hungry Town 12″)
25 – Mighty Diamonds – Gates Of Zion (Greensleeves 12″)
26 – Junior Ross + Palma Brothers – Man From Zion (Stars 12″)
27 – Steve Baswell – Cool Rasta Man Cool (Archive Recordings 7″)
28 – Delroy Melody – Ease Up The Pressure (Jamwax 7″)
29 – Dady Culture – Slave Master (Virgo 12″)
30 – Brian & Tony Gold – Free At Last (2B 7″)

Part 2: Sound

For Part 2, I thought I would focus on the sort of music you normally only hear coming out of the Sound System from the slabs of acetate we call dubplate. Starting with a live recording from when we hosted YT on his first Australasian tour and finishing with a more recent session recording, this set is packed full of dubplate specials you would normally only hear by coming to one of our sessions.

1 – YT – Intro
2 – YT – Sound System Culture (Live on Adrians Wall 2/3/14)
3 – YT – Sound System (Dubplate)
4 – Daddy Freddy, Solo Banton, Deadly Hunta, Mr Williaz & YT – Pirates (Dubplate)
5 – Frankie Paul – Promised Land (Dubplate)
6 – Errol Dunkley – Little Way (Dubaplate)
7 – Frankie Paul – Worries in the Dub (Dubplate)
8 – YT & King Ru – Forward to Combination (Dubplate)
9 – Jah Screechy – Walk & Skank (Dubplate)
10 – Macka B – Never Played (Dubplate)
11 – Brother Culture – ING (Dubplate)
12 – TopCat – Herbalist (Dubplate)
13 – Solo Banton – Chalice A Go Blaze (Dubplate)
14 – TopCat – Push Up Ya Lighter (Dubplate)
15 – VC – By His Deeds (Dubplate)
16 – Echo Ranks – Dreadlocks (Dubplate)
17 – Sandeeno – Dust Another Sound (Dubplate)
18 – Parly B – In A Competition (Dubplate)
19 – Macka B – Warrior Style (Dubplate)
20 – Sandeeno – Teardown Babylon (Dubplate)
21 – YT – Stay Calm (Dubplate)
22 – TopCat – Champion DJ (Dubplate)
23 – Prince Alla – Works You Do (Dubplate)
24 – Deadly Hunta – Soundboy Over Deh (Dubplate)
25 – Macka B – Who You (Dubplate)
26 – Dubateers – Twilight Skank Part 5 (Dubplate – Live on Adrians Wall 6/12/14)

Part 3: Power

Part 3 delves into the heavier side of dub, with some deep basslines and a dread message. This selection is all about those tunes that really drive a sound system to its limit, whilst maintaining a serious lyrical message and a solid musical meditation. Covering a wide date range from the early 90s right up to some latest releases of 2015, with a couple of exclusives for good measure, I hope you enjoy the selections and turn up your subs so it drops heavy.

1 – Solo Banton – Intro
2 – Solo Banton – Rastafari Teachings (Dubplate)
3 – Macka B – Word Sound & Power (Dubplate)
4 – Mr Williamz – Mandela (OBF 7”)
5 – Unitone – Peace Pipes (Reality Shock 10”)
6 – Bongo Isaac meets Kris Naphrali – Declaration of Dub (WSPC 7”)
7 – Alpha & Omega feat Doctor Israel – Revolution in the City (Zam Zam 7”)
8 – Iration Steppas – Surrender Dub Mix (Iration Steppa 12”)
9 – Sister Rasheda – Hail H.I.M. Dub Mix (Sis Rasheda Lionness Music 12”)
10 – Far East meets Sista Habesha & Ras Moa– For H.I.M. Glory (Jah Soul Jah 12”)
11 – Jamma Dim – Rasta Horns (Youth & Truth Music 12”)
12 – Danny Red – Rasta we Rasta (Youth & Truth Music 12”)
13 – Donovan Kingjay – Be Thankfull Dub (Conscious Sounds 7”)
14 – Wellette Seyon – Blessed Ethiopia (Imperial Roots 7”)
15 – Kyle Sicarius – Jah is my Light (Roots Tripe 12” LP)
16 – Splitz Horns – Righteous Dub (Dubplate)
17 – Fitta Warrior – Hammer Dem Down (Jah Soul Jah 12”)
18 – Prince Livijah – Police State (Jah Soul Jah 12”)
19 – Idren Reality – Crucial & Mighty Dub (Conscious Sounds 12”)
20 – Benidub – Reconquering Lion (Echotronix 10”)
21 – Echo Ranks – Stepper Style (Kanka 12”)
22 – Dub Machinist – Earthquake part 2 (Musical Riot 12”)
23 – Don Fe – Walled City (Steppas 12”)
24 – Sekkleman – 18 Dromilly Ave Dub (Moonshine Recordings 12”)
25 – Six & Syte feat Macka B – Be Yourself Re-Dub (Dubplate)