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So there’s pretty close links between Ninja Tunes/Big Dada and the Soul Jazz Records label so it seems only fair, after biggin’ up Wiley’s 100% Publishing, to step back to the last Album of the Week; especially as I’m still getting over seeing David Rodigan last week (so pretty excited about the forthcoming compilation on BBE he’s putting together and it’s just been announced he’s going on Radio 2: don’t worry, he’s not sitting in for Wogan, see links below) but in the meantime, here’s some heavyweight pre and post dubstep riddims,.

As we all know, ‘Under Me Sensi’ caused somewhat of a stir down in JA way when it come out and (as ‘Dad’ Rodigan points out in his set) it spawned at least 200 versions (King Tubby’s ‘Fat Thing’ included, as on CD2) so you wouldn’t have thought ‘Digital Dancehall’ needs any defending?

Well there’s some sort of alien race attacking an island King Tubby is crowned ruler, Prince Jazzbo and King Jammy do the leaders dirty work with the help of the terrible twins Steely and Clevie and others, they attempt to save the planet; in other words, the 2CD set comes with a small ‘comic’ by Paolo Parisi which takes the classic Greensleeves covers that bit further out (also see Scientist Launches Dubstep Into Outer Space) for more on this type of thing).

And whilst your Rodigan golden period faithful may look down their ganga filled noses at the 80s Dancehall and today’s dubstep generation if you love Jamacian dub, you love bass heavy irie sounds. This collection is worth the Brooklyn Dub Mix of ‘Flatlands’ by Federation Sound alone; “Rodigan”. But thankfully CD1, compiled by Kevin Martin (aka The Bug of London Zoo on Big Dada fame) has some other corkers on it. Dave Kelly goes Celtic-Turkish on ‘The Return’ and there’s more multi-cultural content with Lenky’s ‘Diwali’ and Team Shadetek on a ‘Yoga Riddim’ that gives the set that worldwide sound.

And to emphasis the point, our favourite digital bass head from Austria gets in on the act, that’s Stereotyp Meets Al’Haca with ‘Modern Times’ that’s a full on earfull (that’s from Phase Two but I’d have gone classic Phase One ‘Blaze And Cook’ track myself) and throat throbbing bass bin alien attack. Other favourites to watch out for are Tippa Irie, Diplo, Harmonic 313 (bazooka boy supreme) and The Bug (going a tad Bollywood) himself.

CD2 is Stuart Baker’s chance to shine (after Freedom Rhythm & Sound and Bossa Nova) and he starts off with a bass wobbler that would get Mr. Scruff’s jazz trousers in a twist; that’s Fat Eyes’ ‘Clothes Pin Rhythm’.

The old skool are not left out totally as King Tubby, King Jammy, Sly Dunbar (he of Sly & Robbie) feature but I do love how non-genre specific it all is.- the only thing you can safely say is that drum and bass are heavily featured throughout. Other killer kuts are ‘King Of Kings Dubs’ by David Jahson (did you see what he did there?), South Rakkas Crew on a digital samba riddim, the Indo ‘Sign’ riddim, the dub out costume drama of ‘What You Gonna Do’ whilst Firehouse Crew and Computer Paul define the digital.

Whilst Stuart’s selection might be a little less digital than The Bug’s , wait for ‘Them Can’t Hold Yuh Gal’ version - stunning with a capital ‘S’ and ‘Babatunde’ is a perfect mix of digital roots.

Dancehall in the clubs I find an odd mix but in this type of dub set, you get the best of the old and new. Other plus points, it’s not mixed and for a CD set to sound this good, full credit to Duncan Cowell and Pete Reilly on the mastering front as it’s a full 3D audio attack.

As dubstep gets more and more diverse, this is a introduction (if need be) into the roots of the digital bass arena and whilst King Tubby will always be king, there are some disciples that keep his legacy going strong: a crucial investment, play it loud and kill the neighbours.

All I need to do now is find my stash of Prince Jammy 7s for a dubside mixtape; and what over for some of the Sounds Of The Universe staff DJing at the Big Chill House tomorrow night if you’re in the Kings Cross area (see details below).

Reviewed: V/A - Invasion Of The Mysteron Killer Sounds in 3-D -Compiled by Kevin Martin (The Bug) and Stuart Baker (Soul Jazz Records) Cat. No. SJRCD236 Release date: 13th June 2011
Tracklisting:
1. Steely & Clevie — Street Sweeper (3:08)
2. Redrose — Now Thing (3:20)
3. Roots Manuva — Doogoo Dub (3:23)
4. Dave Kelly — The Return (4:17)
5. Harvel ‘Gadaffi’ Hart — Summer Bounce (2:36)
6. Max Glaser — Flatlands Dub (3:09)
7. Steven ‘Lenky’ Marsden — Diwali (3:03)
8. Matt Shadetek — Yoga Rhythm (3:03)
9. Stereotyp Meets Al’Haca — Alleycat (3:52)
10. Da Grynch and Tippa Irie — Agony (3:10)
11. Fresh Ear Productions — Hummer (3:22)
12. Diplo — Diplo Rhythm (3:23)
13. Mark Pritchard — Bazooka Riddim (4:01)
14. Marlon Williams — Pitbull (3:16)
15. Redlight — MDMA (3:20)
16. The Bug — Aktion (4:43)
CD2
1. Fat Eyes — Clothes Pin (3:06)
2. Steven Ventura — Throw Your Hands Up (3:08)
3. Sly Dunbar and Christopher Birch — Corners Boy (3:04)
4. David Jahson — King of Kings (3:14)
5. Fat Eyes — Steel Plate (3:55)
6. South Rakkas Crew — Red Alert (3:02)
7. Parara and McCoy — Them Can’t Hold Yuh Girl (Version) (2:20)
8. King Tubby — Fat Thing (Version) (2:47)
9. World Beat — Gold Mine (3:47)
10. Andre ‘Suku’ Gray — Sign RHYTHM (3:36)
11. Henfield and Shadowman — Babatunde (2:36)
12. Firehouse Crew — No False Hair (3:38)
13. Computer Paul — World Talk (2:32)
14. Fat Eyes — Overdose (3:04)
15. Prince Jazzbo — Great Dub (2:47)
16. Kickin’ Productions — What You Gonna Do (3:45)
17. Pliers — I’m Your Man Dub (3:18)
18. Wiz Kidz Team — In My Heart Version (3:13)
19. Jammys Jam2 James — Peenie Peenie (3:30)

Links:
Souljazzrecords.co.uk
SOUNDS OF THE UNIVERSE, 7 Broadwick Street, Soho, London W1F 0DA Tel: 020 7734 3430 e-mail: mailorder@soundsoftheuniverse.com
Invasion Of The Mysteron Killer Sounds is digital dancehall at its best www.metro.co.uk
www.rodigan.com
The Big Chill presents The More I Get, The More I Want Saturday 25th June - 9pm - 4am Big Chill House, FREE
Room 1: Dr. Bob Jones (Legend), Aitch B (Soul II Soul), Cherrystones (Disco Set), Tristian BPm (Boiler Room) & Neal, Abi, Nicole & Jim (Sounds Of The Universe)
Room 2: Sensei FM All-stars, Jazz T, J’da Kut, Ironfingaz
www.bigchill.net/house
Greensleeves - the first 100 covers. New Stüssy book celebrates cover art of UK label Greensleeves http://creativereview.co.ukgreensleeves.net
www.mixcloud.com/gerryhectic