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Whilst the Cobblestone Jazz album 23 Seconds was a mix of live techno and jazz with the cool cover, Deadbeat is a mix of dub, tech house and reggae vibes with a cool cover.

Deadbeat (aka Scott Monteith) has been producing ambient dub soundscapes since 1998. This former of Montréal resident has moved to Berlin and with signing to Vancouver’s Wagon Repair label, he has upped his profile and Roots And Wire is the exceltent result.

His usual techno/dub/dancehall/house style has been enhanced with a twist of dubstep and two tracks feature the vocals of Paul St. Hilaire (formerly known as Tikiman and past collaborator with one of Europe’s finest, Stereotyp). St. Hilaire features on the opener ‘Rise Again’ and the last track, ‘Babylon Correction’. This is proper roots reggae of 70s dubby style with a heavy bass and echo.

‘Deep Structure’ also uses roots production techniques (aided by Guillaume Coutu Dumont with some additional percussion) applied to a tech house groove; this is what techno dub is and it’s about time somebody nailed it - Deadbeat is the expert. In fact, the outstanding ‘Sun People (Dub Divisionaire)’ goes one better and is gets in some quasi-Afro percussion.

‘Grounation (Berghain Drum Jack)’ draws on more Rasta drumming heritage on the one hand and minimal tech house on the other. The title of this album sums up the ethos of the album perfectly; even if the title track itself is more modern day dubstep than roots.

If you’re into dub in your house and reggae on you’re minimal, this is the album for you; it’s going to be as big as 23 Seconds at least. Dub and beyond for a modern world. Deadbeat, you’ve made my day.

Reviewed: Deadbeat - Roots And Wire (Wagon Repair) Cat, No. WAG046 October 2008
Tracklisting:
1 Rise Again feat.Paul St. Hilaire (5:10)
2 Roots And Wire (5:52)
3 Grounation (Berghain Drum Jack) (6:26)
4 Xberg Ghosts (5:58)
5 Deep Structure (8:19)
6 Night Stepping (5:10)
7 Sun People (Dub Divisionaire) (6:43)
8 Babylon Correction feat. Paul St. Hilaire (6:23)

Links
www.techno.ca/deadbeat
www.wagonrepair.ca
www.myspace.com/wagonrepair
Cobblestone Jazz (Mathew Jonson, Danuel Tate & Tyger Dhula) www.myspace.com/cobblestonejazzmathewjonson
www.false-tuned.de