Keith Hudson - Pick A Dub

Although i love Reggae very very much, i am not so fond of Dub Records. Most add nothing much to the Originals and opposed to Reggae as a Message delivering social artform often has nothig much to say.
But this very album impresses me deeply with it's slow skanking riddims and the larger than life bass, that seems to be crawling over the ground all the time with wall shaking intensity. Very spartanic drumming and guitar licks, only Augustus Pablo's Harmoica gives the songs their melodic qualities. There are indeed quite a few nice melodic songs on Pick a Dub, even a Cover of House Of The Rising Sun.
You hear the line 'I'm Alright' - - that's nearly all that's left from Ruddy Thomas Vocal Hit.Tracks 11 + 12 with additional horn section seem to be added to the original 1974 Jamaican recording, they have horns added. There are no horns listed on the album credits. Track 12 ( Depth Charge ) is another song here that has a few vocals left and uses them to great effect. With horns way back in the mix this has an upful positive vibe which ends this deep set on a High Note.
Less Is More : The concentration on only the core of a Riddim Section - Soul Syndicate : The Barret Brothers (Aston + Carlton) on Bass + Drums are just different from the other jamaican drum + bass Duos. They often vary their patterns and interact differently all the while, unlike the metronomic regularity + precision of Sly + Robbie or The Roots Raddics. Earl 'Chinna' Smith is spot on with his oGuitar and Augustus Pablo's Melodica is usually the Lead Instrument on most songs . They all were in their prime and Reggae was just about to be established way back in 1974.
No Wonder Blood & Fire re-released this as one of their first Dub Records. The quality of the music and their packaging proved that their was a bigger market for this type of Reggae and helped Blood & Fire become a household name in re-releasing Roots Reggae and lots of Dub.