Six years on from “Wild”, O.B.F. finally return with their new album, “Signz”. During this time the crew hasn’t been idle. whether putting out 12” after 12”, touring or holding their legendary sound system sessions. The rhythm has been relentless, as the hardest working dub sound system in all France have been at the top of their game. Producing in their studio, organising their own nights, burning up dance floors, setting the internet ablaze: all part of a day’s work for this crew from the French outskirts of Geneva. Looking over the past six years, no one can deny their status as a major player in the worldwide dub scene.
Released in 2014, “Wild” was O.B.F.’s first foray into the album format. It brought together music built for the soundsystem, rugged, high-impact tracks that perfectly fitted the public image of O.B.F. during that era. This new album is a different story, a personal journey that takes in the dancehall, Rico's studio, and everywhere in between.
“Signz” was born two years ago, not with music, but with a concept and a name. The idea was to create an album without paying heed to time, allowing space for creativity and letting chance encounters shape the music. A project that would evolve over its lifetime, without being rushed. Letting the signs reveal themselves over time, and taking advantage of opportunities as they presented themselves, whether on tour, during recording sessions or when travelling. This approach, a relationship with the present moment and the feeling more simply known as the “vibe”, defines the album. But beyond that, it’s been the driving philosophy behind O.B.F. since they started making music.
A quick glance at the LP sleeve reveals a staggering list of collaborations, combinations that are as formidable as they are unprecedented. Jamaican, French, Spanish, English... vocalists and MCs from the four corners of the globe take turns in showing off their unique styles. Some are regular contributors to O.B.F. productions, whilst others are new collaborators, but all have deep, historical links to the crew. It’s here that O.B.F. unveils the full breadth and depth of their influences for the first time on record. Already known for their expertise as rubadub and heavyweight dub producers, here they show their talent working with roots, grime and even pop. It’s a testament to the free creative approach exercised by the crew during the recordings that no matter what style they’re working with, the result is always delivered with flair and finesse. It also speaks to O.B.F.’s desire to rip off, once and for all, the “European dub” label which so many have stuck to them. Here, O.B.F. stands for versatility, openness and daring.
O.B.F.’s identity and style has been built across the globe: from the heights of Alps to the burning sun of Jamaica, between headline performances at Spanish festivals and sets in the barrios of Latin America or the dancehalls of London. Their music is unlike any other. But for the doubters among you, a single listen to “Signz” will provide indisputable proof of that truth.
O.B.F – Intro ft Nazamba
a1. O.B.F – Ina This Ya Time ft Charlie P, Irah & Killa P
a2. O.B.F – Bun The Evil ft Jah Mason
a3. O.B.F – I’m An African ft Tippa Irie
a4. O.B.F – Party Ram ft Sr Wilson
O.B.F – Interlude 1 ft Nazamba
b1. O.B.F – Rebel Daawtaz ft Aza Lineage
b2. O.B.F – Bubble ft Charlie P
b3. O.B.F – Your Love ft Shanti D
b4. O.B.F – Asian Night
O.B.F – Interlude 2 ft Nazamba
b5. O.B.F – Musica ft Belén Natalí & Sr Wilson
c1. O.B.F – Driva (No GPS Mix) ft Biga *Ranx & Sr Wilson
c2. O.B.F – Water ft Pupa Jim
O.B.F – Interlude 3 ft Nazamba
c3. O.B.F – Born Ina Fire ft Joseph Lalibela
c4. O.B.F – Wagwan ft Charlie P & Killa P
d1. O.B.F – UNDER PRESSURE (Barricades Mix) ft Biga*Ranx
The Geneva based combo Cosmic Shuffling strikes again with two superb Ska instrumentals taken from the "Magic Rocket Ship" studio sessions. The album release has been postponed due to the COVID crisis, but it’s our pleasure to give you a glimpse of what’s coming soon. These two cuts will not be on the upcoming album, 7" single exclusive, with beautiful silver ink labels! Pure fireball to make you dance and twist during the summer.
Trule materialized fully-formed in late 2018 with zero hype or fanfare, and quickly became a buy-on-site label for fans of dubwise garage/tech/bass hybrids. It took us a minute to realize that the label’s boss and primary artist Al Wootton was none other than Deadboy, who’d been making post-2 Step memories for his many devotees with a decade’s worth of melancholy club beasts like “U Cheated” (Well Rounded) and “If U Want Me” (Numbers). We knew we had to have some of his new works for ZamZam, so we couldn’t have been happier when he crafted some sound system tunes just for us, the first label besides Trule to host tracks under his under his own name.
“Request” marries a steamrolling bassline to a pummeling 4/4 kick, syncopated percussion, dark skanks, and layer upon layer of haunted reverbs, vocal fragments, and decaying tape delay. While full steppers, the slyly swung drum work never let you forget his roots in deep garage and house. Special Request!!
“Philo” cranks the tempo up to 140 for for a dub techno stepper that is at once storming and dreamlike, the pounding kick and militant snare fills contrasting starkly with floating pads that oscillate and shimmer, floating up from the dreamlands only to be shot through with lasers and left in fragments of reverberation. Late night B side for the stamina crew.
It's time to Pack Up And Run! Glaswegian producer Escape Roots has been steadily plying his trade crafting steady rocking dubwise riddims and remixes for artists such as Daddy Freddy and Parly B as well has holding down a residency at Mungo Hifi's legendary "Walk & Skank" weekly session, supporting a who's who of UK and international reggae all stars. Along with regular appearances at festivals such as Boomtown and Kelburn Garden party over the last few years, he has been building an arsenal of his own productions and killer dubplates. Always built for soundsystem, his production has grown and developed immensely over the last few years and the added dynamic of an amazing selection of vocalists really helps to deliver a deeper message.
Kicking things off comes "One Step At A Time" featuring veteran Jamaican singer Black Warrior, then regular collaborator Tom Spirals steps up alongside sweet vocalist George Palmer for a wicked combination, having first met at International Dub Gathering in France 3 years ago. Unit 137 MC Jago then takes control of the mic, urging us to "Cool Down" with backing vocals from fellow sparring partner Deemas J, followed by Dark Angel aka Mowty Mahlyka who comes in strong with "Turn Ya Lights On" - a cautionary tale warning us to be wise to the corruption and confusion in the world. The 'Doncaster Raggamuffin" Parly B then blesses us with his trademark style and pattern on the heavy "Nah Get A Look In".
Hempolics and The Drop frontman Dandelion is next with the massively popular "Ganja Socks", whilst Irish singjay Cian Finn takes things deep and brooding with his take on the traditional gospel song "Sweep Over My Soul" in a space dub style. Elsewhere rising Jamaican singer Skari and El Fata supply sweet vocals to "Feel Good" (previously heard on Scotch Bonnets "Puffers Delight" compilation) and "This Melody" before Russian soundboy Tenor Youthman leaves his trademark hill and gully rider style on "Dilemma" atop a classic riddim. Rounding things off is another Unit 137 cohort and long time friend Galak Spiritual for "Hold a Meditation", bringing his sweet singing style combined with a roughneck attack in the verses.
Unifying an international line up of vocalists is no mean feat, but Escape Roots handles it with ease on this future classic slice of reggae and dancehall that runs tough not only in the dance, but is contemplative enough for repeated home listens too.
a1. Escape Roots - One Step At A Time ft Black Warrior
a2. Escape Roots - Find A Way ft George Palmer & Tom Spirals
a3. Escape Roots - Cool Down ft Jago
a4. Escape Roots - Turn Ya Lights On ft Dark Angel
a5. Escape Roots - Nah Get A Look In ft Parly B
a6. Escape Roots - Ganja Socks ft Dandelion
b1. Escape Roots - Sweep Over My Soul ft Cian Finn
b2. Escape Roots - Feel Good ft Skari
b3. Escape Roots - This Melody ft El Fata
b4. Escape Roots - Dilemma ft Tenor Youthman
b5. Escape Roots - Hold A Meditation ft Galak Spiritual
Our first release in 2020 is coming from Toni Wobble, who is providing four versions in a heavyweight Dubwise Style.
The Leipzig based dub enforcer is one of the founding members of Plug Dub Soundsystem. He is also running the solar powered Sunplugged Soundsystem, to prove that he can create his music on his speakers with responsible generated electricity. Besides dubbin' it up behind the control tower, his second home is the Knagge Studio were Toni is producing some fine reggae and stepper riddims to dub them in an original dubplate style with a 32 channel analog mixing desk and eight magical Effects on each of them. Toni is also presenting his sounds in a live context and Soundsystem Sessions.
This record showcases four heavy tunes by Toni Wobble who mark his diversity as a musician and producer as well his dub mixing skills that bring his productions into the next dimensions. Fresh riddims that hailing to the roots, superb sample-ism, deep atmospherics plus nuff wobble and bass are waiting to get unleashed on this limited 12” record. Are you ready to explore the wobble on this far out dub excursions? Because these cuts will show you how DUB COME STRONG!
For the ultimate sound experience, all tunes on this record are mastered by LXC of alphacut, so you know this gonna be a blast, we highly recommend to enjoy this record on a heavy Soundsystem.
Support your local Soundsystem Culture!
The Artwork is inspired by Toni's Studio and comes handstamped on every record, which is limited to 300 copys worldwide.
Newdubhall is an experimental dub label from Japan. Welcoming as their third release is a ten inch from Babe Roots hailing from Turin, Italy along with experimental dub duo Undefined and Japanese legendary dub trumpeter Kazufumi Kodama.
Babe Roots welcomes their ally Baba Ras in Steat of Mind, a deep yet minimal dub piece that toned down the BPM to the extreme.
Extent features Stefano Cocon’s trumpet, echoing into the beatless space of ambience.
Blind Prophet returns to Dub-Stuy with the Clash EP, showcasing his versatility and increasing maturity as a producer. Following two previous 12” singles for the label, the Portland producer takes full flight with a 5-track EP exploring various tempos and styles of bass music, old and new. To take us along the journey, he is accompanied by various friends from the global sound system scene including Rider Shafique, Redders, Titus 12, and Tailored Sound from Bristol, Tenor Youthman from Russia, and GREAZUS from Vancouver.
“Dollar Trap” begins the EP with some jazzy digital dub vibes. Tailored Sound accompanies Blind Prophet’s laid-back riddim with his saxophone, playing against the relaxed chatting style of Tenor Youthman who expounds on the dangers of money.
“Clash”, the EP’s title track is Blind Prophet’s dedication to early 90s UK steppas, ominous vibes with lots of space in which the bass and drums can stretch... This is a warning! Closing the A side is a collaboration with the duo GREAZUS that sees the three producers mixing up jungle breakbeats, half time dropouts, and dub heavy bass. The tune is completed by Redders, who mixes up vocal stylings in his own inimitable way.
“Conquer Yuhself” opens up the B side with Blind Prophet’s take on the classic dub techno sound, a slowly unfolding and immersive rhythm track with floating strings and washes of reverb and echo on which Rider Shafique brings some uplifting spoken word about overcoming self-doubt and believing in yourself. Think classic Rhythm & Sound vibes updated for 2020. Closing the EP is “Delay The Storm,” a hip-hop beat with tinges of reggae on which Titus 12 adds dubbed out scratches as well as some harmonica melodies in the finest Augustus Pablo tradition.
The Clash EP is a truly international collaboration celebrating the diversity of sound system culture, paying homage while looking forward ever!
a1. Blind Prophet - Dollar Trap ft. Tenor Youthman & Tailored Sound
a2. Blind Prophet - Clash
a3. Blind Prophet & GREAZUS - Another Soundboy Falling ft. Redders
b1. Blind Prophet - Conquer Yuhself ft. Rider Shafique
Rider Shafique, Ishan Sound, and Kahn need no introductions. As individual artists and fellow members of Bristol’s Young Echo collective, they are responsible for some of the most crucial music to come out of Bristol in the last decade. We couldn’t be prouder to deliver this powerful message music in these extremely dread times.
In a catalog overflowing with lyrical majesty, “When Shall We rise” is one of Rider Shafique’s most direct and moving missives yet - a critical dissection of the racist foundations of dominant culture - whether UK, EU, or US - and the struggle of the racially oppressed within it. The plea to abandon assimilation into Babylon system, in lesser hands could easily be cliched or flat-footed, but with Rider’s pen and voice it is a revelatory spiritual call-to-arms - there are no saviors coming - we are the ones we’ve been waiting for.
The riddim is classic Kahn & Ishan- uncompromising rockstone mid-tempo steppers that is at once orthodox and utterly, inimitably their own- plucked strings, haunted pipes, pounding kick and heaving bassline in propulsive amalgamation. Straight off the desk, “When Shall We Dub” strips the vocal out entirely, focusing on breaking down the incredibly militant riddim, crafting a dark, roiling ocean of reverb, swells of delay breaking the surface in blackest night.
A closely guarded dub for several years, “When Shall We Rise” is now free to circulate and become the anthem that it demands.
Peace, health, & strength to all.
a1. Rider Shaifque & Ishan Sound & Kahn - When Shall We Rise
Following the success of their last collaboration with Isaac Chambers and Dub Princess, their multi-million streaming remix of ‘Kryptology’, they’ve returned the favour and refried their 'Back to my Roots' track, adding their own special dubwise flavours to the easy skanking original.
This Record Store Day Dubmission Records are releasing a limited run 7” vinyl featuring both vocal and dub cuts.
a1. Isaac Chambers & Dub Princess - Back to My Roots (Deep Fried Dub Roots Remix)
a2. Isaac Chambers & Dub Princess - Back to My Roots (Deep Fried Dub Dub Remix)
Horus Records proud to present the deejay cut to Rupie Edwards masterpiece instrumental "Jamaica Serenade" (Also available on Horus Records). This cut was created shortly after Rupie recorded the insrumental at Randys, and released without his knowledge on the Hiori label. Pressed in tiny quantities, finally 40 years later we have it on Rupie's own Success imprint and available again for the masses!
Numa Crew and the ’London City Warlord’ Riko Dan join forces on this dancefloor banger called ‘Babylon’.
When it comes to the influence of Ragga in the MCing styles of Grime, one of the undisputed pioneers is Riko Dan - most famously associated with Roll Deep, one of the most important collectives in the history of Grime.
The original track is an explosive mix of Grime and Dubstep sounds spiced with a Dancehall flavor that gives Riko the perfect platform to spin raw and punching lyrics.
The flip side is a remake of the original ‘Babylon’ in a pure Dub stepper style, heavyweight bassline, hypnotic skanks and mystical atmospheres that fuse the two worlds of Grime and Dub in a unique sound. Certified sound system material.
a1. Numa Crew - Babylon feat. Riko Dan
b1. Numa Crew - Babylon feat. Riko Dan (Steppa Mix)
Kumar, ex-Raging Fyah lead singer, met Fruits Records crew back in 2016, when he invited them to play with I Kong at his Wickie Wackie festival in Bull Bay, Jamaica. From then, the musical friendship never stopped, doing different types of collaboration over the years. His unique voice tone, breathe-taking vocal abilities and songwriting skills make Kumar one of the greatest singers of his generation, as his nomination at the Grammy awards 2016 with Raging Fyah can testify. "Message In Your Radio” brings a different taste to Fruits Record's catalog, noticeably more modern than the previous releases. Kumar's melancholic melodies enhance this powerful riddim played by The 18th Parallel with conscious lyrics: Message in the music is a must, today more than ever. Anthem for radio stations!
a1. Kumar - Message In Your Radio
b1. Gregory Morris & The 18th Parallel - Dub In Your Stereo
Downbeat Melody records is a brand new label operated by Bristol based dj Frankie Downbeat. This label is a side project to the Downbeat Melody Soundsystem owned and operated by Steve Rice.
The first release will be a reissuing of “Bird of Paradise” LP , a downbeat musical journey in Rocksteady by “Count Bobo”. Count Bobo are a 6 piece group from Bristol playing in the style of early ska and rocksteady. Formed in 2012, they are part of the Bloom collective.
Their debut album 'Bird of Paradise' was originally released on limited edition 12 inch vinyl in 2015 by the band themselves and mainly sold at live shows. Downbeat Melody proudly presents this quality repress with fresh updated artwork.
The album was recorded by their producer Drezz at 'The Tape Rooms'. As a fully analogue studio, the band was able to record live and straight to tape in an attempt to emulate the records of their early influences.
The playing style varies from a traditional Roksteady section into areas closer to Ethiopian Jazz at times as heard in tracks like “Melkor”. The album features 11 expertly played instrumental tracks along with one sombe haunting vocal track called “Don’t get left behind”.
![O.B.F – Signz [2x12" Gatefold Sleeve]](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0488/8057/products/dbqklp07_{width}x.jpg?v=1591784270)
![Cosmic Shuffling - Eastern Ska / Western Ska [7" Vinyl]](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0488/8057/products/ftr025a_{width}x.jpg?v=1591620549)
![Al Wootton - Request / Philo [7" Vinyl]](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0488/8057/products/zamzam78_{width}x.jpg?v=1589797335)
![Kai Dub - Survival [7'' Vinyl]](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0488/8057/products/whodem037_{width}x.jpg?v=1589464967)
![Escape Roots - Pack Up And Run [12" Vinyl LP]](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0488/8057/products/nuplp009_{width}x.jpg?v=1588327153)
![Toni Wobble - Dub Come Strong [12" handstamped record / recycled papersleeve]](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0488/8057/products/bcsm004_{width}x.jpg?v=1588065474)
![Babe Roots - State of Mind [10" Vinyl]](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0488/8057/products/ndh-003_{width}x.jpg?v=1587463248)
![J.Robinson WhoDemSound Meets Ital Horns - Jericho's Ancient Horns [7'' Vinyl]](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0488/8057/products/jah008_{width}x.jpg?v=1586253781)
![Rider Shafique & Ishan Sound & Kahn - When Shall We Rise / When Shall We Dub [7" Vinyl]](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0488/8057/products/zamzam77_{width}x.jpg?v=1585132422)
![Isaac Chambers & Dub Princess - Back to My Roots (Deep Fried Dub Remixes) [7" Vinyl]](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0488/8057/products/dubm005_{width}x.jpg?v=1584095936)
![J.Robinson WhoDemSound Meets El Indio - Roadblock! [10'' Vinyl]](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0488/8057/products/whodem036_{width}x.jpg?v=1583496001)
![Kumar - Message In Your Radio [7" Vinyl]](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0488/8057/products/ftr024_{width}x.jpg?v=1581675154)
![Count Bobo - Bird Of Paradise LP [Repress]](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0488/8057/products/dbm12001_{width}x.jpg?v=1580895863)
