( ( (( ((dub)) )) ) )
meditative music

I don't think I can explain my obsession with dub. I have always loved roots reggae, but was only exposed to dub a few years ago. Now I can't get enough of it.

Dub is originally a subgenre of reggae, and it has become the root of many other music genres, including dancehall, rap, hip-hop, trip hop, ambient, techno, jungle, drum and bass, downtempo, and house music.

According to Wikipedia, "Dub is characterized as a 'version' of an existing song, typically emphasizing the drums and bass.... The instrumental tracks are typically drenched in sound processing effects such as echo, reverb, part vocal and extra percussion, with most of the lead instruments and vocals dropping in and out of the mix. The music sometimes features processed sound effects and other noises, such as animal sounds, babies crying, and producers shouting instructions at the musicians. It can be further augmented by live DJs."

My earliest exposure to the genre was classic dub, works by folks like King Tubby, Prince Jammy, Scientist, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Sly & Robbie, and Yabby You. I've also gotten into some more current dub, including works my Messian Dread, Burning Babylon, Bush Chemists, African Head Charge, and Dub Syndicate. And I'm still broadening my knowledge.

If you'd like to listen to some examples of dub for free, there are several different ways to do it.

1. You could go to Last.fm, for example, and play a custom radio stream of artists like King Tubby, Prince Jammy, Scientist, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Sly & Robbie, and Yabby You. For more recent and electronic dub, use the names Burning Babylon, Bush Chemists, African Head Charge, and Dub Syndicate. Use both lists for a mix of classic & current.
2. You could go to Live365 and look for streaming dub radio stations like "Creation Steppin' DUB" (excellent) and "DUB Explosion."
3. You can stop by the Dubroom and see what Messian Dread and his crew have cooking. They've got lots of free downloads.
4. Or you could wander over to Versionist's Recommended Dub for some free downloads by recent independent artists.

When it comes to purchasing dub, buyers should be somewhat cautious. Unless you know what you're getting, it can be very hit or miss. Check the Rough Guide to Reggae out of your local library and read the dub section for some good pointers.

I heartily recommend, without reservation, any classic dub on the Blood & Fire label. This is quality work. Heavyweight Dub/Killer Dub, Dub Gone Crazy, and Dub Gone 2 Crazy are good Blood & Fire starter albums.

Zion's Gate Records in Seattle has a large and diverse dub selection, and you can purchase CDs through their website.

play with dub elements @ the infinite wheel
dub in reggae history @ BBC
dub.com