The Dub Pistols were at Distinct’ive Records at the same time as General Midi (to name just one) and then a couple years ago, they up sticks to move to Rob da Bank’s Sunday Best label (he of BBC Radio 1, Camp Bestival, Bestival and Rob da Bank’s A-Z of Festivals: My life of music, mud and mayhem in 26 letters) and they released the brilliant Speakers And Tweeters which included killer versions of The Stanglers’ ‘Peaches’ and Blondie’s ‘Rapture’, The Special’s ‘Gangsters’ and featured ex-Special and legend Terry Hall and Rodney P.

The whole album was brilliant and with a mix of break, dub, house, retro, revival and rehab, news of a new single from a forthcoming album is good news indeed. Not only that, it features the Canadian born, ex-Royal Scots Guard and co-founder of Freak Power (with Norman ‘Fatboy Slim’ Cook), Ashley Slater. You may recall that the last time we saw him on FLY it was for his ‘bone work on ‘Seven Samurai’ (off Paul Murphy’s classic album, The Trip but this man is multi-talented and has even done voiceover work for children’s TV.

He’s got a really deep vocal and don’t be put off by the ‘Da, Da, Da’ intro as it grows into a deep space beats groover. The original ‘Back To Daylight’ comes with a multitude of remixes on the download option, including a huge one by the king of acid and ace DJ Justin Robertson (who’s had a few hits himself back in the day) but there’s some more to get down to on the dance floor with a dubby-house-bangin’ Access Denied mix, the really bangin’ rave-up Redlight mix, a ‘Roller Skates’ disco version (really 70s synthed-out man!) and possibly the best of the lot, a longer version of the original.

But those with a love of reggae, get ready for this! Cool Ruler Gregory Isaacs (last scene on Rodigan’s Real Authentic Reggae Vol.2) teams up with Rodney P on a track called ‘Six Months’ that’s pure old skool reggae bounce that ideal for the summer. Stunning!

The album, Rum & Coke is out on Sunday Best on 15th June so put a note in your diary and another one for Ashley Slater’s Freak Power at the Jazz Café in Camden Town on the 27th June (see details below).

Reviewed: Dub Pistols feat. Ashley Slater - Back To Daylight (Sunday Best Recordings) Cat. No: SBEST73DXP Release date: 18th May 2009
Tracklisting:
1 Back To Daylight (Radio Mix) (3:34)
2 Back To Daylight (Justin Robertson Remix) (6:21)
3 Back To Daylight (Redlight Remix) (5:03)
4 Back To Daylight (Access Denied Remix) (6:31)
5 Back To Daylight (Sunday Best Roller Skates Remix) (4:06)
6 Back To Daylight (Dub Pistols Extended Mix) (5:53)

Links:
www.thedubpistols.com
www.myspace.com/thedubpistols
www.myspace.com/gregoryisaacsmon
www.myspace.com/robdabank
www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/robdabank
Rob da Bank - A-Z of Festivals: My life of music, mud and mayhem in 26 letters (Published by Boxtree) p192 £9.99. See the fantasitc video ad HERE.
www.myspace.com/sundaybestrecordings
Freakpower featuring Ashley supported by Sonia Dersion aka Cori De Crystal and Yookay “Freak Power were co-founded with Norman Cook, they reached the top in 1995 after their record, ‘Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out’ was used in a Levi Jeans advert. After successful 2008 festival and Jazz Cafe appearances, Ashley brings Freakpower back to London for a special Fank Funk It’s Friday event” www.jazzcafe.co.uk
Doors 8pm tickets £15 on the door or £10 in advance here at Skiddle
www.myspace.com/freakpoweruk
www.myspace.com/soniadersion
www.myspace.com/yookay
www.bestival.net
www.campbestival.net
Camp Bestival - feat PJ Harvey’s exclusive solo show this year, Mercury Rev, Bon Iver, Roy Ayres, Chic, Dan le sac vs. Scroobius Pip, Roots Manuva, Candi Station, Frank Turner , VV Brown, Cuban Brothers, Horace Andy & Dub Asante, Goldie Lookin’ Chain