Captain Yossarian vs. Kapelle So&So - Bob Marley In Dub
Introducing the tuba to dub music
FLAPAAaaam!!! the first snare roll leaves no doubt: this is a dub album, reminiscing the pioneers of the genre like King Tubby, Lee „Scratch“ Perry and Scientist and of course, it´s a tribute to the revolutionary music of Bob Marley and the Wailers.
The original record from which these dubs derive - „Bob“ by Kapelle So&So feat. Cpt. Yossarian - was recorded in 2020, the year of Bob Marley´s 75th birthday. Due to the strict lockdown all the tracks were recorded separately - which perfectly qualifies them for a dub rework.
The musicians involved took great care to dig deeply into the original music, absorbing every note of the Wailers´ recordings and translating it to their own instrument. But at this point we leave common paths, because what would be Aston Barrett´s electric bass turns out to be a tuba and his brother Carly´s distinguished bassdrum sound resurges on an old leather suitcase.
We are talking of a traditional bavarian folk band (trumpet, cornet, tuba, accordion, guitar, drums) playing Bob Marley´s sacred music. Simultaneously seriously sticking to the original score and adding color to the music by the masterful use of their rather uncommon instruments. What sounds like an impossible -almost blasphemous- endeavour actually sounds pretty neat and leads to the next big venture:
A dub album paying tribute to the music of Bob Marley and the Wailers.
The dub versions naturally lead on the abstract that was introduced by the uncommon orchestration by muting or emphasizing single instruments and sending them into the sonic orbit. The melody itself is almost completely left out. Nevertheless one never loses one´s orientation since the defining elements of the songs alternate skillfully, vanishing in clouds of reverb, losing themselves in echo feedbacks and then popping up again, guiding us through the song. Despite being focused mainly on bass and drums you will catch yourself singing along Marley´s part more than once thereby proving the profound impact of this divine music on our souls and our common musical knowledge.
Bob Marley in Dub is the abstract of an abstract and still manages to transport the heart and soul inherent of the music. With all due respect to the original, Cpt. Yossarian manages to illuminate nuances of the material yet unheard and takes us on a trip through his conception of this otherwise well known material. Following the tradition of the before mentioned mentors of dub music he uses his mixing desk, a couple of studio effects and whatever odd sounding kids toys to present us with his approach to a musical genre that defined so many styles of music that followed.
Dub music is music for the musical connaisseur. For the one, that is not afraid of space, for the one that doesn´t look for all to easy hooks, for the one that listens closely, for the one that loves music in every aspect.
David Katz (UK Journalist for Mojo and Lee Perry Expert) :
"Interesting concept...Chalawa tried something similar with "Exodus Dub" back in the 70s...this sounds very good, even if not entirely original!"
The first King Size Dub compilation was intended as a conclusion. Back then, in 1994, Nicolai Beverungen worked for EFA as On-U Sound / Crammed Discs label manager and had the fluffy idea to put together a compilation with bands like the Disciples, Zion Train, among other things, that he had cared for at the time for distribution . In the Mid-90s there was a moderate boom in terms of NeoDub and also by the support of the Spex met the sampler the nerve of time and sold well. Thus, from what should be a conclusion, curiously a start, Nicolai says, looking back. The spectrum of artists, one of which is now already published titles, ranging from Seeed, Tackhead feat. Mick Jagger, Grace Jones, Simply Red, Nick Manasseh, Templeroy, The Clash, KLF, Stereo MC's, Apollo 440, about Mad Professor, Lee Perry, Horace Andy, Shabba Ranks, Augustus Pablo, to King Tubby and The Congos.
Unexpected encounters with eg the absolute beginners, Toten Hosen, Mick Jagger, Fanta 4 and Sharam are possible. This suggests the question of where in all the variety, the common denominator is? "The common denominator is reggae. This was always clear to me. The aforementioned people are either pure reggae or they have a taste for reggae, such as Mick Jagger. I find it interesting when people are not pure purists and create with their possibilities a crossover potential. This is the common line for me. And that's why I have to ask, no problem, Mick Jagger next to King Tubby. Since it has fallen, an often verschmähtes word crossover. The trailer hear the pure styles do not like, closed raise the index finger on the lookout for fixed categories and left the field to the more free-thinking minds of time. Good thing, because in the variety of styles, there is a lot to discover and complainers bother because only.
Another term that is often used to characterize his label program by Nicolai again and again is "Future Dub". What's the link in between Mick Jagger, Stereo MC's, Grace Jones, Simply Red, Massive Attack, The Clash, KLF, Die Toten Hosen, Sharam, Seeed and Fanta 4 on the one hand and Shabba Ranks King Tubby, Lee Scratch Perry, Big Youth, Sly & Robbie, Horace Andy, Gregory Isaacs, Augustus Pablo, Glen Brown, I-Roy and The Congos? Exactly. HOWEVER, For Those of you with a quizzical squint in your eyes: All of the above have shown off Their artistic prowess on various releases by label group ECHO BEACH Themselves laying open to the label's motto: "In Dub We Trust."