Dub Music is making a big push to re-introduce itself to a new generation of listeners more than 50 years after the origin of dub and created by the king of Dub, King Tubby.
One of the best dub collaborations Mafia & Fluxy and The Pharmacist pay tribute to one of the great innovators of reggae music who has left a lasting legacy to electronic music, Osbourne Ruddock, better known as King Tubby.
Related post: Is Dub the New EDM
The legendary UK producers Mafia & Fluxy are definitely on top of this dub revival. As well as producing, they still tour and play live gigs and have seen a growth in the popularity of Dub Music.
So they teamed up with The Pharmacist in 2016, introducing the Pharmacist with a dub album of the same name. This was followed by 'Dub Prescription' and then 'ABA Ariginal Meets The Pharmacist Inna Dub Session' and a follow up with ABA Ariginal 'Sound System Dubwize'.
This Dub revival has seen Mafia & Fluxy in great demand for their dubplates. With their huge catalogue of music and as musicians and producers, they are able to create the latest hot riddims at a drop of a hat.
They also have 'Mafia & Fluxy Sound' which plays their latest dubplates at festivals and clubs across Europe and further afield.
However, their latest dub album is a collaboration with the Pharmacist that remembers the legendary King Tubby.
Just by looking at the production line up:
Tony ‘Ruff Cutt’ Philips (guitar)
Ernie Wilks (guitar)
Prince Stanley Andrews (guitar)
Errol ‘Skanka’ Collings (guitar)
Greg Assing (keyboards)
Megumi Mesaku (alto saxophone)
Henry ‘Buttons’ Tenyue (trombone)
you know the riddims are going to be top-notch. Add a touch of Gussie P, Calvin ‘So So’ Francis, and Carlton ‘Dilly’ McLeod into the engineering recipe and then you know the track is ready for the Pharmacist to add the final mix.
With the foundation of Dub built around drum and bass, having the finest riddim section laying these down gives these tracks a heavy foundation and they have that recognisable Mafia & Fluxy sound and vibe.
The album consists of ten classic reggae riddims. If you can't remember the original titles you may get a clue from the track name like 'Tubbys Have the Handle' (original: I Hold the Handle). So as well as listening to some fine dub music you can play guess the original song.
The early King Tubby creations were created with the limited sound effects that were available at the time. So although the Pharmacist now has a wealth of modern effects at his disposal, he remains true to the King Tubby vibe. Using echo with phase, decaying echo, lots of reverb. But this is not done in any haphazard way, it accurately pays tribute to the sound of King Tubby.
For real aficionados of dub through the decades you won't be disappointed by this album. A true tribute to the king of Dub who has contributed so much to the development of electronic music, King Tubby.
The album is available on all major digital platforms. Click the Links below.
For Mafia & Fluxy dubplate requests click here