Juno Recommends Dub September 2020

Review: While ZamZam Sounds is a dub label without reservation or qualification, our roots as music lovers reach deep into punk, metal, folk musics, and other sounds from the well. Thus it's a great pleasure to introduce ZamZam 79, a musical blessing from Al Cisneros of Sleep and Om fame. As bass player and vibe-controller for two of the most seminal bands in the 'stoner metal' and heavy drone zones respectively, Cisneros has toured the globe countless times anchoring multiple projects with his distinctive, melodic bass weight. So singular is his tone and approach that Rickenbacker recently released an Al Cisneros signature bass guitar. His deep love of reggae has manifested most explicitly in a number of releases under his own name, on his own Sinai imprint as well as Drag City, and it was these releases that convinced us we had to reach out.

Review: Melodica maestro Augustus Pablo released a number of influential albums during a golden period in the 1970s, though little quite as ground-breaking and far-sighted as 1976's "King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown". Mixed by King Tubby, it was one of the first great dub albums and is still one of the finest examples of the stripped-back, rhythm-heavy style around. If you don't already own a copy, we'd heartily recommend picking up this reissue. Musically, the tracks sound as warm, weighty and spacious as ever - all heavy Robbie Shakespear/Family Man Barrett bass, idiosyncratic drumming and killer melodica/Clavinet/organ action from Pablo - while the screen-printed artwork is a delight.

Review: Two years since their last big drop, Stand High Patrol are back with a new selection of their modern, cool and deadly take on dub, steppers and dancehall. From the mellow step of "Sailing In Rough Seas" to the sprightly 80s vibes of "Dub O'Clock" Stand High are here to have a good time and make you feel good. There's plenty of breezy, poppy moments like "Along The River" and some more dubwise moments, all shot through with that clean and simple sound the band have cultivated over the past 10 years. Feel good modern reggae from a crew devoted to the sound and the scene.

Review: Galician singer High Paw steps up with a debut record that packs a punch across seven new tunes and one bonus. It's an album that fuses digital reggae sounds with rub-a-dub rhythms and while sounding utterly fresh it also comes riddled with a sense of 80s authenticity. The vocal refrains are catchy and pithy, the verses deliver forceful lyrics and flourishes of rocksteady with notorious singer Payoh SoulRebel. Tenor Mario also debuts in an unusual role as lead vocalist and serves up a message of love between men and women. John Vanilla is the man behind the artwork, making this an even more vital offering.