EP Review: Dub Empire - Beyond High (2020)

Dub Empire’s Beyond High is yet another great release from the Original Dub Gathering digital platform - a browsing destination which has become something of a “go to” for me when seeking out fresh dub flavours. It’s a five track EP from a Belgian production duo I otherwise know very little about, but it's the sort of impressive sampler that has convinced me to dig deeper and explore further. Not to be confused with Dub Empire Sound, which from all accounts is an entirely different production outfit, despite possessing a very similar MO.

Beyond High is a bassy excursion into state-of-the-art electro dub, drenched with higher-bpm techno sensibilities and Eastern/world music vibes. The title track is absolutely the jewel here and we get two versions - the original mix which opens proceedings, and the UZUL acid-fried remix which closes out the EP. They're the bookends, but everything sandwiched in the middle is not too shabby either. 

Grab a copy of the album from Original Dub Gathering (here) or stream below.

EP Review: Art-X & The Roots Addict - Polarity (2020)

Issued on the Original Dub Gathering imprint, Polarity is another fine mini album or EP-length release from French melodica maestro Art-X, and another collaboration with the Roots Addict. It follows on from their equally impressive Under Mi Kulcha joint release of a few years back. 

Polarity consists of six tracks, all being instrumental (voiceover samples aside), and all being resplendent in a skanky roots reggae style. Which means copious amounts of melodica, bass, vintage keys, and earthy guitar tones. 

The best tracks are opener 'Origin', plus 'The Smoke of Hell', and the super rootsy closer 'Moonlight', but they’re all decent, and you can pick up a hard-to-resist free download direct from the Original Dub Gathering website (here). 

Or you can stream the entire release below:

More Art-X Love

Brand new, yet more dubby melodica-drenched goodness from prolific blog favourite Art-X (of the Ondubground crew). It comes in the form of a four-track EP called Blue Lotus, made in collaboration with SoulNurse studio producer Gabriel Bouillon. Once again it is a very generous name-your-price download. Grab it, or stream it …

 

Album Review: Adi Shankara - Structures (2016)

Not to be confused with the 8th-century Indian/Hindu philosopher/theologian of the same name (whose own debut album is surely eagerly awaited), or indeed the sitar player of an unfeasibly similar name, *this* Adi Shankara is a Montpellier-based producer of super heavy electro dub sounds. His highly promising debut album, Structures, which veers between ambient bass textures and rather more upbeat driving electronica, was released fortnight ago as a free download on the Original Dub Gathering website. Best consumed in solitude, and recommended as a headphones experience - I fully immersed myself in the album during an extended beach walk last weekend. The best tracks (of eight) include 'Far From What My Eyes Can See' (featuring Kiangana), and 'Rust'. Pick up a download copy of Structures (click here) and lose yourself in it.
... or you can simply stream the entire album via this clip below:

Ondubground ...

On a Good Friday digital reggae tip: the Ondubground crew from Tours, France, return with another free download in the form of Addvice, a seven-track mini-album featuring luminaries like Brother Culture, Shanti D, and Panda Dub. Discovering this half hour of bassy dubby goodness made it an extra good Friday (yawn - Ed) … check it and grab it:

Under Mi Kultcha

I’ve blogged about ace melodica exponent Art-X previously, and once again he’s come up with a gem of a new release – this time in the form of a collaborative EP with Roots Addict, titled Under Mi Kultcha. This brand new mini-album features six melodica-drenched (naturally) roots-flavoured tracks, and it’s available as a free (or donation) download from the ever reliable Original Dub Gathering website (click here) ... don't be shy. If you like this, have a browse at the veritable feast of dubby goodness available on the Art-X Bandcamp page (click here). Here's a taster from Under Mi Kultcha:

Album Review: Thriakis Dub Destroyer - The Galactic Journey (2016)

While web label Original Dub Gathering (aka Ondubground, or ODGProd, depending on where you look) describe the Paris-based Thriakis Dub Destroyer as "one man dub", it's clear the artist himself does his best work when involving others in a collaborative process. At least that's the case so far as his latest release, The Galactic Journey, is concerned.

The Galactic Journey, a follow-up to 2013's Cosmic Dub Monster and 2014's Space Dub Signals, is an 11-track trip into the murky netherworlds of electro and digi-dub, in the spirit of past blog favourites like Panda Dub, Art-X, and to a lesser extent, Radikal Guru.

Highlights include collaborations with fellow space travellers Sensi T (‘Faya Ago Bun Dem’) and Rebel I (‘Ganga Spirit’), but infectious opener ‘Running The Line’ is probably the best thing here. The album is available as a free download (and/or via donation) on the Original Dub Gathering website, via Soundcloud, grab a copy of it below:

Thriakis Dub Destroyer free download (click here)

Spiritual Father

We love a little bit of melodica here at Chez everythingsgonegreen. We're also a wee bit partial to all things dub in digital forms. And as you surely already know, we're no stranger to the concept of "name your price" or "free download" ... so when all of those elements combine in the form of a tribute to Melodica King Augustus Pablo by French producer Art-X over at the Original Dub Gathering website/label, we feel compelled to tell you about it. Even if we are a little late arriving at the party - it was released in early September. It's a great listen. Grab yourself a copy of Spiritual Father here at ODG, or here at the Art-X Bandcamp page.

And here’s a little taste of 'Java' ...

 

 

Original Dub Gathering and Free Stuff ...

Here’s something from the “grab free” aisle … a couple of easily digestible items of scrummy dubby goodness, by way of France and the ODG label.

First up, a short seven-track compilation, ‘Dub vs Wild’ … a collection of electro dub tunes from artists who appeared at a recent label promo gig at Transbordeur in Lyon. It’s just a snapshot of a moment in time, but it works as a nice sampler of what ODG currently has to offer (click here).

Secondly, long-time everythingsgonegreen favourite, Panda Dub – who also features on the above – has released a follow-up album to 2013’s Psychotic Symphony called The Lost Ship.

 

I plan to write a full review of The Lost Ship just as soon as I've spent some time alone with it, but for now let's just say it features way more bass-heavy slabs of ethno-electro-dub than anybody has any right to expect in one sitting. Yet again Panda delivers free to your inbox (click here).