Dub Reviews
Artist: Aldubb Cover scan:
Title: Dubfiles.02
Label: One Drop Music
Catalogue Number: ODEP001
Format: 12", MP3
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Result: Fresh Dub from Berlin
Review date: 2008-06-13
Detailed review:
Let's start with an anecdote:

I'm in Finland for the summer and before I went here, I packed my new bought 8,99 € MP3 player :-D full with 1 GB of MP3s of all sorts. And on my way, at the airport, in the plane, on the way to the train station, in the train... I listened to music all the time. The player has a "random" function. Unfortunately, since it's a really cheap player, that function is not too good. For some reasons, certain songs have the possibility to be played far more often than others. It can even be that the same song is played twice in a row. Weird.

Anyway, why I'm telling you this is important for this review. Because there was one particular song which was played over and over again. First I didn't notice it, then I realised how wicked this song was and I found myself surprised and confused: What the heck is that? I don't know this song! How can it be that I have an unknown song on my SD Card on which I put all the songs myself. Not only that, I carefully chose all the songs which to take with me.

Then, in Finland, I was riding my bike to the football training and that song came again. It's quite hypnotical since it has a bassline which is based on just one, maybe two different notes. But so fat that it haunted me. So I decided that I finally have to find out what tune this is. Back at home I turned on the laptop and browsed through my music folder. And guess what: There was no such tune in there! I was even more confused now. Then I got the very clever idea to plug the MP3 player directly to the laptop and check the SD Card. And there it was:

Aldubb "Soundwarriors Dub"


Of course! I should have known that. I copied all new releases that I got before I went to Finland to MP3s and put them onto my MP3 player - at least some of them. I was so relieved to finally know which song drove me so crazy. It's the A1 tune of the 12" I'm reviewing right now. It's also one of the best tunes I've heard in a while. Apart from it's massive bassline, it features smooth drums and icecold keyboard skanks with a bit of a jazzy melody touch which adds another very nice flavour to that tune. Simply perfect.

There are three more dubs on this record but it's not so easy to just continue writing about them because by now, I have repeated "Soundwarriors Dub" for the third time in a row, haha. But okay, A2 is called "Mother Earth" and it is a veeeery slow and veeeery deep and meditative dub riddim, I think I understand the message of the song just by letting the music float around and into me. It also has some extremely nice melodical parts which remind me of one of my favourite mid 90s German rap tunes. Do I remember the name? There is still a poster in my old children's room at my parents... come on now... the name... ah: Konstruktive Kritik's (I suppose you can figure out the English meaning of that) "Zeig mir den Weg". Damn, why don't I have this tune on my MP3 player now. I need to check if I find an MP3 of it online. I suppose it's legal to have the MP3 if you have the original vinyl record, right? ;-)

*Later that day* No, there seems to be nothing available, too bad. So I guess it's better to continue with the next tune and force the previous out of my head. B1 "Big Time" is a rootical one drop with some nice dubbing and cool skanks but nothing really outstanding in here.

And finally, B2 "On a Mission". A rootical stepping mission that is with a... hm, what kind of instrument is that, as a lead instrument. It is not a melodica, isn't it? (To who am I talking here anyway?!) But something similar. A harmonica maybe? I don't know. Anyway, I could have lived without that instrument because I like it drum and bass style, just riddimwise. And this riddim is dope without the need of melodies.

So, all in all Aldubb delivers four very differing dubs in a roots year 2056 style. Very nice and absolutely recommended. The vinyl quality is also excellent. I tested it on the high end stereo of my father before I left and it sounded crisp and clear. Nice.

You might want to get your copy here. (new window opens)