Dub Reviews
Artist: Various Artists Cover scan:
Title: Lead with the Bass 3
Label: Universal Egg
Catalogue Number: WWLP/CD046
Format: 2xLP, CD, MP3
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Result: How to build a proper bass speaker.
Review date: 2008-07-09
Detailed review:
How long has it been since we heard Lead with the Bass 2? Maybe 12 years or so? And now, there suddenly came the third part out in April and I nearly missed it. Oops. ;)

First I thought that it is truly great and when I saw the cover, I smiled (knowingly). But when I looked closer at the content of the package, I got a sceptical facial expression: Vibronics "Congo Natty"? Dub Terror "No More Stress"? Dubdadda "Revenger Dub"? Moa Anbessa "Forward Dub"? Abassi "Crisis Dub"? And more. That's all old stuff and has been heard on other releases before. Then again I remembered thatit hasn't been different with the previous Lead with the Bass releases, too. Usually, some dubplate versions of existing tunes but nothing (or not much) new.

So, before looking closer at the music itself, I point out that people should look carefully at the tracklist and compare with their record box if they really need this compilation or if they already have these tunes on other records. I don't know, in the 90s, it was somehow more difficult to get the original releases. I mean, who has the "Scud Missile" release from Iration Steppas or similar? I didn't (back then). ;)

Anyway, regarding the music, what you can expect is some extra heavy stepping and basically only stepping. Nice! :) The A-Side starts with "Congo Natty" from the Vibronics "Dub Italizer" LP from 2000. Classic Vibronics style. Kicks butt and comes with an extra heavy bonus dub. Afterwards we have "No More Stress" from Dub Terror with Tena Stelin. I have played and heard this tune so often during the last maybe 2 and a half years, that I cannot stand it anymore.

The B-Side is rough and tough, first two version from Dubdadda's "Revenger Dub" to be found on his "Lo-Fi pon di Hi-Fi" CD from a couple of years ago incl. one dubplate cut and afterwards Abassi's "Gideon Youth" with Fitta Wari on the mic and the dub.

The C-Side brought me a nice surprise with the Japanes University of Roots and Culture Sound System who deliver a wonderful synth brass lead, instrumental stepper called "Universal Dub". For fans of Mighty Massa, this might be the highpoint of the album. For me it is. The dubplate version is extra wicked, I tell you! Wanna hear it on a big soundsystem. Please, anyone play it when you see me on your dance! :) The other tune on the C-Side is Moa Anbessa's "Evil Fi Burn" with King David on vocals. Igave it a storming review some 2 years ago or so. A rootical stepper with beautiful brass and smooth vocals. Unfortunately for me, it is another tune which I just heard way too often in the past. So it doesn't work anymore for me nowadays. A pity.

Finally, the D-Side presents the Ital Horns with "Purification", clearly Dougie Wardrop must have been involved in this. It sounds like old school Bush Chemists. And isn't P. Davey a former member of the Bush Chemists or something? They are all one bunch over there in their hidden London studios. ;) The tune is unknown to me and has extensive brass, especially flutes this time (if these are flutes) and it has a very fast pace. Production sounds a bit flat but then again, I know that it will soundvery different on a sound. And last but not least, it's Zion Train with a "Tribute to Keng Keng". I wasn't sure what or who Keng Keng is, so I googled but only found a Japanese girl on a big motorbike. ;) The riddim reminds of the classic Zion Train tunes, a very fast stepper, close to being technoid with some nice electronic sounds, samples and a very simple, yet haunting, bassline. I like it. Problem again: It's also on the "Live As One" LP from Zion Train. That is doppelt gemoppelt ("tautologous").

All in all, Lead with the Bass 3 offers 8 heavily stepping tunes with extra dub cuts but lacks originality because it re-uses old tunes. Therefore, I consider it to be some kind of overview which is mainly for people who are not buying all the 10s, 7s or 12s which I guess a lot of Zion Train / Universal Egg fans fall under. So for them, this album should be ace, for us dubheads, it might be a bit disappointing. I personally decided to give it only 3 stars because basically there is only one new tune for me on it. Depending on how many of the tunes you know (and possibly even have in your collection), you may add one or two stars. Like, if I wouldn't know all these tunes already, I would have given 5 stars without a doubt.

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