Rasta Train

Mystery train, sixteen coaches long, freedom train, long black train, there's a train a-coming you don't need a ticket you just get on board, train in vain, the train from Kansas City, take me to the station and put me on the train, driver 8, night train, midnight train to Georgia, trainspotting, modern life is rubbish. Rasta Train by Lee and Jimmy, produced by Lee Perry, deep 70s dub.

Lee Scratch Perry_16_Rasta Train.mp3

Sunday Dub

Augustus Pablo, the world's coolest melodica player, with the title track from the 1977 dub album recorded by Pablo and King Tubby with a top notch cast 0f players- Aston and Carlton Barrett, Robbie Shakespeare, and Earl 'China' Smith. The album re-works Baby I Love You So, the Augustus Pablo song Colourbox covered that was featured here a few days ago. Just right to get Sunday off to an easy start.

King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown.mp3

Easy Dub

One more drop from Weatherall's cup to see the new year in? This is Ysaebud, from the S.O.P. vaults, a one sided 7" single with an etched B-side from some time in the 1990s. Top quality dub, with a echo-laden vocal sample- 'Ever since I was a youth, I've always been searching for the truth'. Easy does it.

Ysaebud.mp3

Some Dub For Sunday

Some dub for Sunday to warm the cockles, especially as it's hovering around zero outside. This is Lee Perry's dub version of Zap Pow's River, which I posted a couple of weeks ago. River is a hazy, semi-psychedelic reggae tune, and this dub version is equally good. In true dub style Bagging Area recommends you play them back to back. If you didn't download River it's still there, alive on the internet all the way from the mid 1970s.

Lee Scratch Perry_06_River Stone.mp3#1#1

Outside In

Christmas comes early in the form of two Andrew Weatherall dub remixes of ex- Beta Band man Steve Mason's single Boys Outside. Not entirely sure I should be posting this seeing as it's only just come out but obviously I'm encouraging you to get over to Domino records and pay for the e.p. with both versions. There's no sign of a vinyl release which is a shame as I'm sure this would sound even better on a turntable. Dub 1 has been available to stream on Soundcloud for a few weeks and is wonderful. I could listen to a Weatherall dub album like this all day. This one has a more synthy bass, and isn't too far removed from some of the Sabresonic era Sabres Of Paradise dubby tracks, things like RSD, Edge 6 or Return Of Carter. Highly recommended. Get it while it's hot. Or before it gets removed.

03 Boys Outside (Andrew Weatherall Dub 2).mp3

Some More Dub For Friday

It seems remiss of me to have posted various bits of dub without anything from Lee 'Scratch' Perry, whose legend goes before him and surely requires no explanation from me. This track, River, is stunning. It's from an album that came out in the 90s called Voodooism, a collection of 1970s rarities from Perry's Black Ark Studio, which he himself burnt down convinced it was haunted. The original artists here are Zap Pow, and River is a dreamy, hazy, almost psychedelic piece of dub reggae, chock full of Perry's trademark phasing. Most of the songs on the compilation are present in original form and their dub version, although the original vinyl version I've got didn't include some of these. There's a dub of this track- River Stone- which is equally good, as are any number of tracks on the record. You can get the whole 20 track set from emusic. I've done it, mainly for the extras, but the whole thing is a laid back but out-there joy. Go on- it could improve your weekend.

Lee Scratch Perry_05_River.mp3

Some Dub For Friday

Let's welcome Friday in with some dub from Mad Professor, otherwise known as Neil Fraser. Responsible for hundreds of albums and remixes, he mixes traditional dub techniques and instruments with synths and electronics, which led him to his most well known work with Massive Attack in the 1990s when he remixed their Protection album as No Protection. In 1982 he began a series of albums called Dub Me Crazy which as far as I know got to volume 12. The first five are all highly rated, and as you'd expect the afficionados argue about their respective merits. I don't have them all and wouldn't claim to know which is best, but most of his stuff is worth a listen. This track is from Dub Me Crazy (the first one), and is as good an example of his electronic dub as any from that album. If you're at work, play it quietly and take a few minutes to contemplate the day ahead. Actually, if you're at work you probably can't download the bugger if your workplace's internet and download policy is anything like mine so you'll probably have to wait til you get home tonight. If you're lucky enough to be at home at this time on a Friday morning however, brew up, turn up, sit back and enjoy.

Mad Professor_04_Dub Power.mp3

Some Dub For Sunday

Some lovely, bass heavy dub for your Sunday from Inner Circle and The Fatman Riddim Section. I'm not exactly sure what their point of view of General Amin is, but I nearly called this post Know What Amin? and managed to resist.

09 General Amin.wma

Jah Division 'Dub Will Tear Us Apart'

Several months ago A North Country Bhoy posted an e.p. by New York based reggae band Jah Division. The band do exactly what it says on the tin- play dub versions of Joy Division songs. The e.p. had four tracks, and this is the best- Dub Will Tear Us Apart, much better than you might think it could be. Thanks to ANCB for this lovely piece of laid back post-punk dubbery.

Dub Will Tear Us Apart.mp3