Gaudi - Sub Signals Volume I

After releasing the massive dub compilation “Dissolving Clouds” in 2005 which still runs in my music system, Interchill Records run by Andrew Ross-Collins hailing from Canada give us their next dubby installment compiled and mixed by the master of dub “Gaudi” who needs no introduction here. I’ve had very high expectations from this compilation, each of which have been fulfilled to the max. The package comes with a warning “WOOFER ADVISORY - EXPLICIT BASS”. I am sure my speakers are in for a low frequency hammering.

Starting the compilation is “Gbehee (A New Path)” by “Greg Hunter” with “Kakatsitsi” who are drummers from Ghana, a mild dub track with excellent drum percussion that keeps evolving slowly but steadily, I call this pure bass therapy. Flowing smoothly into the next track “Replay” by “Hightone” from France, listeners are greeted by insane psychedelic dub in extra large doses; I must have heard this track at least around 50 times by now, a very intelligent dub masterpiece with an fx’ed rasta vocal sample that is going to leave you gasping for more.

Getting our heads deeper into the woofer we have “Ashtech” which is a project by the former bass player of “Almamegretta” a Italian dub band who even contribute the last track on the compilation, once again the primary focus is on the bassline which is layered by highly psychedelic rootsy dub. The bass carries us steadily without noticing into the next track “Prisoner of Dub” by “Sub Oslo” from Texas. My head feels heavy with low frequencies vibrations already. Next track by “Mauxuam” the hard to find globe trotter and the best thing that could happen to dub music numbs my senses with spacy synths that gurgle around ones chakras.

Notching the tempo just a little we have “MF Rainbow” by “Dub Alchemist” which is a project by Gaudi just cannot disappoint anyone with its phat and groovy sound that instantly pulls one into the dub orbit. Next item on the sonic therapy menu is “Zion Train who are dub veterans give us a non hectic straight up shot of a dub cocktail flavoured with Rasta vocal samples and tribal percussion that leaves one with a surreal mental buzz.

“Dubadelic” who are described as “A loose gang of WordSound artist” on discogs present crawling dub groove with a complementing dark atmosphere. Next is a remix to “Noiseshaper - Walls of Silence” by “Gaudi” himself, featuring a voluptuous bassline that justifies the cover warning. As we approach the end of the compilation one is welcomed with nothing but astonishment in the form of live dub by “Creation Rebel” who are very well known in the UK for their contemporary electronic sound. Giving us our final few shots of dub is “Manasseh” who is well know for his fantastic tracks released on earlier Interchill compilations.

Winding up is “Insane Abduction” by “Almamegretta” a dub band based in Italy who have crafted a absolute stunner with excellent drumming with a jazzy twist.

Interchill and Gaudi have cooked us a true dub masterpiece that intricately combines acoustic and earthen musical elements with digital grooves while featuring some of the biggest names from the worldwide dub collective. The production and mastering on “Sub Signals” is simply marvelous, I can’t even imagine how nice and powerful this is going to sound on a large sound system. Beware!!! “Sub Signals” is coming to a speaker near you; any attempts to escape the bass will prove futile!