CD Review: Dub Colossus' 'Dub Me Tender Vol 1 + 2'

Dub Colossus
Dub Me Tender Vol. 1 + 2
Real World

The heavy dub style of Nick "Dubulah" Page is evident throughout this new release. The reggae-tinged tracks, laid-back jazz, trance, and variegated funk music is nostalgic and contemporary at the same time. The album is divided up into two volumes, but the music is not very different. The amped-up beats, electronic additions, and jazzy undertones makes the new album shine beyond belief. Every song contains the word 'dub' in some form and function. The meditative dub forms are evident, as well as the more dance-friendly forms indicative of DJ performances on the dancefloor. There are Ethiopian-jazz elements with bluesy, funk sounds on some tracks. This is a good romp on the wild side of dub. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Dub Colossus' 'Addis Through The Looking Glass'

Dub Colossus

Addis Through The Looking Glass

Real World

Ethiopian dub 'n' jazz is showcased on Dub Colossus' most recent effort, Addis Through The Looking Glass. The inclusion of Ethiopian singers, Sintayehu 'Mimi' Zenebe, Teremage Woretaw, and Tsedenia Gebremarkos, sets the stage for a brilliant work on several tracks. The opening, title-track starts the mood with a jazzy, funky, and classic instrumental tone with minimal dub and electronica. Fourteen tracks of traditional and contemporary arrangements and instrumentation provide the listener with a high-quality and memorable recording experience. The more traditional "Yeh Shimbraw Tir Tir" is a perfect track for experiencing roots music, while the reggae-dubbed "Satta Massagana" displays the far-reaching and diverse characteristics of Ethiopian jazz. The more orchestral "Feqer Aydelem Wey" is a rousing track oozing with Ethiopian jazz and nostalgia. All in all, Dub Colossus presents a solid release that rivals anything they've done before. ~ Matthew Forss