2024 Music Enjoyer Pt. 9
Extraterrestrial Dub Surveyor
Extraterrestrial interest in extreme bass sonics is nothing new, but these artists are out there trying to give the aliens some sick new dubs for whatever it is they’re doing. From classic melodica-laced synthesizer-driven vibes to brutal sledgehammer slams suitable for industrial meatpacking to shadow-drenched bass ephemera and more, these are some of the spiciest modern takes on the essential dub sound.
Noda & Wolfers - Evil Fades In Echo
Having successfully attracted extraterrestrial attention with their exquisite first outing from 2022, the invincible synthesizer dub superstar tag-team of Taka Noda (of Mystica Tribe) and Danny Wolfers (aka Legowelt, aka a bazillion other aliases) is back for another round of sonically communicating with aliens on behalf of our often painfully lame species. Alongside the characteristic synth wizardry and melodica mind-melds, they’re digging into some wicked darkside acid energies and flexing even tuffer dubs that seem to generate their own antigravity hover-field. Please Note: antigravity hover-field is highly experimental and not covered under most vehicular insurance plans, use responsibly.
The Bug - Machine V
Dubs that hit like sledgehammers in an industrial meat-packing plant run by robots who weren’t *supposed* to become sentient, but oops I guess now they are? Anyways, I’d start running like, a few minutes ago. Or now. Now is also good.
If you’re late to the smashed organics party, The Bug has been doing this for a while now, and the Machine series finally culminated this year with V. There’s also a killer compilation / album that just came out recently if you want just the meatiest bits on one bloody plate.
Ghost Dubs - Damaged
This is an example of cover art providing an accurate impression of what you’re in for as a listener. In this case: BASS BINS. Massive, massive bass bins, crackling with pure dark-energy charged Ghost Dubs. As soon as you hit play, you are transported to a cavernous black box at an undisclosed location, your vision obscured by unknown smoke sources, your bodymeats instantly sustaining massive chestplate damage.
Healing Force Project - Nebula Dub Explorations
Healing Force Project is definitely trying to show the aliens some new tricks with this set of wild-assed hyper-flexible demonstrations of ultra-crisp production finesse, dropping a whole spice rack of other genres into the roiling melting pot of dub aesthetics—techno, jungle, breaks, ambient, all in the mix.
Om Unit & Marta Pang - Acid Dub Redux
I hope they put this out in full digitally at some point, because this set is too good to just be a tape that most fans never get to hear. If you missed Om Units absolutely stellar Acid Dub Studies Volumes I and II , well go remedy that now. Back? Ok, so this is a distillation of those tracks with Om Unit & Marta Pang, captured live like catching spirits on recording at a séance. Diaphanous, shifting shadow-shapes parting the curtains of bass, whispering strange secrets to those yet among the living.
Maffi - Mastermind Computer Style
Old fashioned trunk-rattling digi-dub stylee from the veteran masters of the form at Jahtari, none other than one of my personal favs Disrupt at the controls of this bass-powered spacecraft. Pop “Morkt Igen Riddim” in your hovercraft of choice and watch the local extraterrestrial encounters spike as the aliens all buzz by just to give props.
Richard Norris - Oracle Sound Vol 2
Richard Norris rarely fucks around, and his absolutely true-blue dub-aficionado love-letter to the genre, the “Oracle Sound” series is no exception. The first volume was great, the second even better, and there’s even a third that just hit a while back which continues the win-streak. Classic dub styles executed at a masterclass level.
Khokhmah - I
Ye gods I almost forgot about Khokhmah, the killer old school dub project from none other than electronic maestro Kirk DeGiorgio (aka As One, who also appeared on the Utopian Express Line with their album Requiem). Sounds like it could have emerged from a time-portal direct from King Tubby’s 70s studio, rolling into 2024 in a billowing cloud of smoke.