Dub Reviews
Artist: Weytkin Cover scan:
Title: Bass
Label: Just Play Records
Catalogue Number: ?
Format: MP3
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Result: The bass is all!
Review date: 2008-07-15
Detailed review:
From time to time I come across a record which is not really dub but at least dubby and also generally interesting. Since a certain portion of dub is involved nonetheless, I review such albums. I remember albums from Ashtech, Telepath, Zentropia or Canartic, just to name a few.

Fitting into this group is Weytkin from Amsterdam, a former bass player for rock music. He has discovered (as so many before him) that dub and bass belong together. On "Bass", he combines several music styles with dub. 7 tunes are the result. They are available via iTunes.

The album kicks off right away with a massive bassline, soon to be accompanied by a groovy beat, melting together to "The Big Drought of '57". A second bassline from below the ground (sounds like Trilogy) comes to assist and some screechy guitars care for the rest.

The second tune "Down on the Dubside" pushes it forward with a wicked distorted bassline, a killer steppers beat and interesting live harmonica melodies played by Ruud Reus. What, you don't know Ruud Reus? Hm... My favourite tune on the album.

"P-Dub" mixes the legendary P-Funk style with Dub, several basslines overlay each other, mean e-guitars push you against the wall and leave you no escape. It's a dead end, the P-Dub has surrounded you.

"Uppers and Downers" is one hell of a mean tune with a wall-shaking bass, lots of distortion and just a slight idea of a drum section. I can imagine that song working very well played live on a concert with a big hall effect.

Finally, a clean and thick bassline leads the "Bag of Crisps" version, a relaxed tune with a smile and a funny organ melody as well as a lot of crazy dub effects. The "roundest" tune of 'em all.

"Mudflaps" changes the style again, once more with an unusual beat, maybe some kind of trip hoppy dubstepish you never know what it is. The bass is once again crucial in this one, weird synthie parts disturb the flow a bit in the sense of not letting you being comforted by the deep bass but making you look from left to right as if you're being haunted by an unseen and unknown chaser.

The MP3 album ends with "Toolbox Schmoolbox" which is better than the title indicates. The trippy beats steal the bass the show. Playful melodies and harmonies are also featured. But together, it doesn't seem to make much sense. It's weird. Like a cartoon with pink mice and purple elefants and then comes the next scene and there is something completely different in it and you don't understand, until you realise that it's just a dream. Don't understand what I write? Well, it's just my expression of this song. At the end, it seems that the title is program.

After that, the album is over and it leaves you a bit speechless, mainly due to the last song. There is a simple solution to that though: Play the first track again. It makes perfect sense. And all in all, 6 out of 7 is not a bad quote, right?

I would recommend this album mainly to people who are into bass music. At the end, "Bass" is the title of the album. In a way, it's a modern way of following the footsteps of people like Stanley Clarke who did some crazy bass music some 30 years ago or so, too, just with different possibilities. If this text caused your interest, you might wanna check the above iTunes link or visit Weytkin's own website here.