Strike The Balance

Dub Syndicate - Strike The Balance

Ripped from a vinyl album released on On-U Sound Records (ON-U LP47) in 1989 to high resolution 24-bit flac audio. The fourth Dub Syndicate album proper also heralded their shift to a more commercial and accessible sound. The trademark effects remain in place but much of the unique experimentation had gone. It is unclear as to whether who was responsible for this mellowing but it does seem to follow the path taken by others in the Sherwood sphere of influence. Having said all that the mighty Hey Ho will shake down any home to its foundations if played at a hefty amplitude.

The gentle pace of Mafia deceives  yet Sherwood creates the most remarkable snare effect heard on vinyl since Unknown Pleasures. Boom Um Baff heralds a return to the dubby creativity found on early releases yet adds a fun pop hook. And... what on earth is going on with the tongue in cheek  I'm The Man For You Baby? The walrus of love returns from the grave to haunt us forever. Happy listening. 

A1 Cuss Cuss
A2 Hey Ho
A3 Shout It Out
A4 Je T'Aime
A5 Chapter & Verse
B1 Mafia
B2 Hawaii
B3 J.A. Minor
B4 Boof Um Baff
B5 I'm The Man For You Baby

Misplaced Master

Dub Syndicate - One Way System

Originally released as a cassette tape on ROIR (A 121) in 1983. Ripped here from a 1991 compact disc reissue on Danceteria Records. Some of the earliest, finest and most experimental dub sounds from Style Scott and Adrian Sherwood's On-U Sound house band. Splendid.

1 Socca
2 Overloader
3 Drilling Equipment
4 Drainpipe Rats
5 Schemers
6 Ascendant Part 4
7 Synchroniser
8 Independence
9 Substyle
10 Displaced Master
11 Ascendent Part 6

Haunted Ground

Bim Sherman, Roots Radics, Dub Syndicate and The Voluntary - Haunting Ground

I first heard Haunting Ground on Peel in 1986, and it is a song which has stuck with me ever since. The accompanying album (imho Sherman's best) was partly produced by Adrian Sherwood and featured a whole plethora of On-U Sound'ers alongside Dennis Bovell in one of his alter egos, The Voluntary. My copy is a 1986 original scratchy vinyl, and although there was a brief reissue on Century Records a few years later, it wasn't until 1999 when the tracks would reappear on Sherman's Crucial Cuts release. I ripped this to high resolution, so can offer a selection from 24bit or 16bit audio. Additionally I recompiled the album from the 1999 remasters used on Crucial Cuts which do sound much cleaner, Enjoy!

Ripped from a vinyl album released on RDL Records (RDL 600) in 1986 to high resolution 24-bit flac audio.

A1 Haunting Ground
A2 Life
A3 War Mongers
A4 Gold And Silver
B1 For The Future
B2 Thanks And Praises
B3 Moving
B4 Got To Get On
B5 Hang On

Blowing Bubbles

Various Artists - Pay It All Back Volume 2

My current focus on the On-U stuff should have completed by now as it was intended only to be a December exercise. I have spent much of my free time over the past five days searching for potential flaws in my system set-up, which seemed to cause overly loud rips and distortion at higher frequencies. After changing cartridges on my deck, re-balancing the tone arm, cleaning or changing all the connectors and then re-installing various software items, I can find nothing which is attributing to the issue. I have a couple of Bim Sherman rips on the back burner which sound very toppy in places. This morning I took time to rip The Mothmen album (coming here soon) and it sounds spot on, well as spot on as a 33 year old very worn slither of vinyl could do. I can only assume that there were pressing issues with some of the mid-eighties On-U vinyl releases which are more noticeable when scrutinised during modern digital processes.

I have been dabbling in 24-bit 96kHz rips again whilst I was looking for issues with my hardware, and can say that I am more than happy with the way PIAB2 came out. So to celebrate the end of 2014 (I personally am glad to see the back of this year), here's my rip in a choice of standard lossless 16bit/44.1kHz or high definition 24bit/96kHz. 

The later PIAB releases were very much hit and miss, but this album is superb without any addition of filler (even though I am no fan of West Ham United - from the enclosed magazine, Mr Sherwood clearly is). The African Head Charge track is an uplifting joy to be hold, and as their first entry into the world of soca it's a dedication to the sport of cricket, which has to be a wonderful thing in my book. The Forehead Brothers are Tackhead ...and Circular Motion is a damn fine piece of Tackhead. The four dub reggae tracks by Lee Scratch Perry, Bim Sherman, Prince Far I and Dub Syndicate are superb, especially Prince Far I watering his smokey garden. Happy New Year!

Ripped from a crackly vinyl album released on On-U Sound Records ON-U LP 42) in 1988 to high resolution flac audio.

A1 Lee Scratch Perry & Dub Syndicate - Train To Doomsville
A2 Barmy Army - Billy Bonds M.B.E.
A3 Forehead Bros - Circular Motion
A4 African Head Charge - What A Wonderful Day
B1 Dub Syndicate Featuring Doctor Pablo - No Alternative (But To Fight)
B2 Bim Sherman / Singers & Players - Run Them Away
B3 Prince Far I / Singers & Players - Water The Garden
B4 African Head Charge  - Throw It Away
B5 Eskimo Fox - Digital (Theme From On The Wire)

Showtime

Dub Syndicate - Tunes From The Missing Channel

The third of the three classic Dub Syndicate albums in my On-U collection. Any record which features a track named Geoffrey Boycott is a must have in my opinion. More superb dubby grooves laden with the plentiful hooks we come to expect from this On-U Sound collective. For years I was intrigued my the unique way Sherwood adds effects to all the instruments on the mixing desk, even the hi-hats and cymbals get touched up and distorted. The wonderful Jolly is a tribute to classic roots, Ravi Shankar (Pt.1) is filled out with a squelchy synth bassline and topped off in sitar. The Show Is Coming comes pounding out of the stereo driven by a powerful rock riff. Must Be Dreaming will be well known to all as it featured on the Pay It All Back compilation.

Ripped from a vinyl album released in 1984 on On-U Sound Records (ON-U LP38) to high quality lossless flac audio.

A1 Ravi Shankar (PT.1)
A2 The Show Is Coming
A3 Must Be Dreaming
A4 Over Board
A5 Forever More
B1 Geoffrey Boycott
B2 Wellie
B3 Jolly
B4 Out And About

Hit The North

Doctor Pablo And The Dub Syndicate - North Of The River Thames

Another On-U Sound classic screaming out for a reissue is this 1984 Dub Syndicate blend of covers and originals featuring Doctor Pablo's melodica. Laced with dubby familiarity, these eight tracks are the perfect remedy to the seasonal excesses, who needs a re-run of old Doctor Who's when we can have a spaced out rework of the show's theme. Their cover of The Shadow's Man Of Mystery is a joy to behold. There's a brief Tribute to Bob Marley, then a clever cover of Bobby Scott's A Taste Of Honey works opens side two. Their brief adaptation to We Like It It Hot closes out a fine collection of tunes.

Ripped from a vinyl album released on On-U Sound Records (ON-U LP30) to high quality lossless flac audio.

A1 Man Of Mystery
A2 Dr Who?
A3 Pressurized
A4 Tribute
B1 A Taste Of Honey
B2 North Of The River Thames
B3 Red Sea
B4 We Like It Hot

Jam On It

Playgroup - Epic Sound Battles Chapter Two

As promised here is the second Playgroup album in superb lossless quality. Like the first, this was originally planned as an On-U Sound release but then licensed out to Cherry Red. The line-up reduces in size from the first: Ras Levi (Dub Syndicate), Style Scott (Creation Rebel), Bruce Smith (The Pop Group), Steve Beresford (too many to mention), Bonjo I (African Head Charge), and Lol Coxhill all contribute - we all can guess who produces and blends the whole thing together.

The mix of styles and influences here is impressive - from dub to funky soca to urban jazz, this record packs them all in. It's the sound of a multi-cultural eighties London finding it's feet after being suffocated by a thatcherite smog - the wonderful Going Overdrawn sums everything up into one track, I don't recall ever hearing a track mixing Russian violin, steel drums and slap bass. Nobody makes records like this anymore. Enjoy!

Originally planned to be an On-U Sound release (ON-U LP26) but shelved. Ripped here from a 1983 vinyl album released on Cherry Red Records (BRED 52).

A1 Ballroom Control

A2 Going Overdrawn

A3 Going For A Song

A4 Haphazard

B1 Squeek Squawk

B2 Shoot Out

B3 Lost In L.A.

B4 Burned Again

B5 Night Shift

Space Invaders

Dub Syndicate - The Pounding System (Ambience In Dub)

Here's the 1982 debut long player from Crucial Tony, Deadly Headley, Eskimo, Bubblers, Eek-A-Roo and Izard, performing together as the iconic Dub Syndicate. Nine heavily dubbed instrumentals recorded with Adrian Sherwood at the desk, run seamlessly across each side - this record needs to listened to as a whole. Bonjo I from blog favourites African Head Charge adds percussion to the delightful African Head Charge - Don't Care About Space Invader Machines (Pts. 1 & 2). Smart.

Ripped from a well worn, crackly vinyl album released on On-U Sound Records (ON-U LP18) in 1982 to high quality lossless flac audio.

A1 Pounding Systems
A2 Hi-Fi Gets A Pounding (Pts. 1 & 2)
A3 African Head Charge - Don't Care About Space Invader Machines (Pts. 1 & 2)
A4 Fringe On Top Dub
B1 Humourless Journalist Works To Rules
B2 10K At 0Vu - 60 Hz - Mind Boggles!
B3 Crucial Tony Tries To Rescue The Space Invaders (With Only 10p)
B4 Hi-Fi Gets A Pounding (Pt. 3)
B5 Return To Stage One