To celebrate 100 years of the Theremin, super producer Gaudi and friends have created an album of Theremin infused dub.
Developed in 1920 by Russian physicist Léon Theremin, the Theremin is an electronic device which works with magnetic fields and consists of one metal antenna controlled without physical contact. Predominantly a fairly niche instrument, it has featured in several styles of music since its creation, from classical works to sci-fi movie soundtracks, pop and rock.
Gaudi was supported in this tribute by five of the world's top dub producers - Mad Professor, Adrian Sherwood, The Scientist, Dennis Bovell and Prince Fatty. All hugely respected individuals who have been representing the best of international dub production for the last 50 years, they have provided the riddims that underpin Gaudi's Theremin playing on this astonishing project.
As a solo artist, Gaudi has recorded over 20 albums, while as a producer he has hundreds of productions under his belt. In his 30 year career he has worked with legends of the reggae and electronic music worlds including Steel Pulse, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Horace Andy, Michael Franti, Deep Forest, Zion Train, Dub FX, Youth, The Orb, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan & Trentemøller.
As a Theremin player for over 25 years, Gaudi has often combined his passion for the instrument and for reggae music, playing it on several of his albums, but until now he has never dedicated an entire release to it. Known and lauded for putting his "dub-take" on many musical genres, '100 Years of Theremin (The Dub Chapter)' is Gaudi's brainchild.
Listening to this blissful out-of-body-experience of an album, where roots reggae meets the enigmatic and ethereal sounds of sci-fi, is a deep and pensive experience. Haunting and mellifluous melodies meet earthy, bassy grooves in an unlikely yet undeniably successful union. Despite the individual styles of the producers involved, the album has a unified quality, the cinematic feel of a soundtrack with the narrative being the distinctive voice of the Theremin.
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)
Gaudi follows up his critically acclaimed album “100 Years of Theremin (The Dub Chapter)” with a cover of Lee Perry's classic 'Bird in Hand' production.
Recorded on the 'Happy Roots' riddim, 'Bird in Hand' was Sam Carty's take on Naushad Ali's Hindi love song, 'Milte Hi Ankhen'. Here it’s re-titled ’Theremin In Hand’, with Gaudi playing the vocal line on the theremin, while Colin Edwin (of Porcupine Tree) plays bass and Horseman drums.
The track was originally going to be on the “100 Years” album, but a conversation with Adrian Sherwood while the duo were working together on Lee Perry’s “Rainford” album led them to the conclusion that it would be better to release it later as a single.
On the flip is a brand new Gaudi original, ’Theremin Memoir', which finds him channeling Serge Gainsbourg and Ennio Morricone in his homage to their 60’s and 70’s films. Colin Edwin again plays bass, with all other instruments are played by Gaudi.
Both tracks represent a continuation of the themes developed on the “100 Years” album, with Gaudi’s theremin riding the riddims in the same way that Augustus Pablo did with his melodica. The instrument’s other worldliness proves to be a perfect fit with reggae’s earthy roots, allowing the melodies to glide and float in harmony. Bandcamp called it a “match made in heaven”, Electronic Sound a “true triumph” and Culture Dub an “unlikely but undeniably successful union”.
'Theremin in Hand/Theremin Memoir' is the perfect accompaniment to '100 Years of Theremin (The Dub Chapter)', furthering Gaudi's tribute to Leon Theremin and his amazing instrument on its centenary.
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