Dub Influence Mix [Post-Punk/Industrial/Experimental 1978-85]
Dub/Reggae influenced Post-Punk, Industrial, Experimental, etc. from the late 70s and early/mid 80s. A huge influence of the era, especially in England (see Public Image Ltd., The Slits, The Pop Group etc.). There’s also some representation here from Japan, Germany, Belgium, and New Zealand. Some of my all-time favorite tracks bear this influence, from Cabaret Voltaire’s “Seconds Too Late” to Holger Czukay, Jah Wobble, Jaki Liebezeit’s “How Much Are They?”, amongst a handful of others here.
I tried to maintain a nice upwards arc in the tempo/funkiness, but also made sure to have some interesting ups and downs, with an ear to similarities in sounds, for segues and sound compatibility. The beginning of the mix just happens to feature some of the earliest dated tracks I chose. The On-U Sound suite here wasn’t intentional actually, but just happened to work out that way when sequencing the tracks. Funny how that happened, but makes complete sense. There are also some songs towards the end with only a vague dub influence (see Fad Gadget, TG), but are some of my favorites and worked nicely. The Upsetters track is more funk than dub so… That takes us to the end, with a suite of particularly unique, authentic dub/reggae/dancehall(!) tracks that showcase a nice range of styles.
Noteworthy… I finalized the track selection for the mix just a couple days before the death of Holger Czukay. The legend himself appears on a whopping four tracks here; the three bearing his name, and Moebius & Plank’s “Missi Cacadou”. So, in a way, this is also a farewell ode to the immensely inspiring Mr. Czukay. Surely his deeply psychedelic interpretation of the dub sound was influential in itself. Rest in peace.
The cover image is of Prince Jammy at King Tubby’s mixing console.
Enjoy.
Moebius & Plank - News [1979] Cabaret Voltaire - Do the Mussolini (Headkick) [1978] Robert Rental - Paralysis [1978] Cabaret Voltaire - Seconds Too Late [1980] R.N.A. Organism - Yes, Every Africa Must Be Free Eternally [1980] Moebius & Plank - Missi Cacadou [1979] Holger Czukay - Fragrance [1981] The Flying Lizards - Window [1979] Muslimgauze - Death of Saint Jarnaii Singh Bindranwale [1985] Joy Division - Autosuggestion [1979] Front 242 - Deceit (Behind Your Face) [1984] Stoffwechsel - Fly, Fliege, Fly [198?] Annie Anxiety - Third Gear Kills [1983] Holger Czukay, Jah Wobble, Jaki Liebezeit - Twilight World [1981] Zerox Dreamflesh - Squids Can Fly [1982] The Dreams - Sick Palm Dub [2011] Modern Art - Tropic of Cancer [1982] The Mothmen - Afghani Dub [1981] Sir Horatio [A Certain Ratio] - Abracadubra [1981] African Head Charge - Off the Beaten Track [1985] Creation Rebel & New Age Steppers - Earthwire Line [1981] New Age Steppers - Observe Life [1981] Lifetones - Travelling [1983] Steel an’ Skin - Afro Punk Reggae (Dub) [1979] Lizard - Sa Ka Na [1980] The Flying Lizards - Steam Away [1981] Family Fodder - Organ Grinder [1980] Throbbing Gristle - Distant Dreams (Part Two) [1980] Holger Czukay, Jah Wobble, Jaki Liebezeit - How Much Are They? [1981] Fad Gadget - State of the Nation [1980] The Upsetters - Red Hot [1970] King Tubby, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, The Upsetters - V/S Panta Rock [1973] Dub Specialist - Pepper Roots [1975] The Congos - Congoman [1977] Anthony Red Rose / King Tubby - Tempo [1985]