Addis To Omega

Written by: Dub Colossus

Addis To Omega is the fourth full album release from Dub Colossus.

 

“With this new CD, titled ADDIS TO OMEGA, the latest incarnation of Dub Colossus
is musically and lyrically distinct from the releases that preceded it.
After 3 albums and 3 eps on Real World,
the band now appears on the ECHOMASTER imprint, via IRL.

DUBADELICA

Dub Reggae has come a long way since the early 1970s
Now its influence is acknowledged heard worldwide, from Jamaica to Japan,
Tuva to South America, North Africa to North London.
Bands as diverse as OKI DUB BAND, YAT KHA, NATACHA ATLAS, TRANSGLOBAL UNDERGROUND, GAUDI, PUBLIC IMAGE, THIS HEAT, DAMON ALBARN and ASIAN DUB FOUNDATION have all been massively influenced by dub.
Members of some of these bands appear on this album…

Where the first 3 albums focused on Dubulah & Ethiopian artists in collaboration
ADDIS TO OMEGA is more of a UK/Jamaican affair,
reflecting the times and events happening locally and globally, the impact they are having on us all…social, political and economic.

Reggae was always had an urban griot side, (as well as humour and madness), as is evident in this set.

It’s a natural progression from 3rd album DUB ME TENDER VOL 1+2
which won the Songlines best cross-cultural collaboration award april 2013.

Musically, this is the spirit of the Specials seen through a Funkadelic lens,
with a sprinkling of psychedelic dub on Forbidden Planet (DUBADELICA)
Or the sound of Joe Gibbs mixing Scritti Politti with Maceo Parker, Prince Jammy & the BBC Radiophonic workshop looking on…
The Gladiators, Congos and The Abyssinians meeting Ethiojazz, Afrobeat and Juju music.
Sharp lyrics on rare dub grooves, The Horns of Negus getting jazzy and wild…

Lyrically, this is a mainly english language set..everyday life and experience in the time of the great global banking crash … the rise of the right and a disconnected political class, joy and dance…the human spirit of resistance.

Vocally these tracks are ragga, dancehall, urban folk, hybrid roots and more…
Joseph Cotton ina dancehall style, PJ Higgins simultaneously tuff gal, righteous and alluring, Mykaell S. Riley velvet sweet and classic, Winston Blissett spoken vocal about his dad, Natacha Atlas delicate and hopeful, Albert Kuvezin throat singing like a 747 taking off.. Dubulah making his vocal debut.

Guest musicians inc The Horns of Negus, the legendary Charles Haywood (This Heat were early dub pioneers to my mind), Samy Bishai on Egyptian violin, Albert Kuvezin (Yat Kha),
Justin Adams on guitar, Dr Das (Asian Dub Foundation) on Bass, Harry Brown on Trombone , Orphy Robinson on Vibes, Tim Whelan (transglobal underground) and Emannuel Adeniran on Bass.”

Nick Page aka Dubulah

Lyrics for most of the songs are available here

1. BOOM KA BOOM (AND THE DUB DICIPLES)
Via Paris and London, a proper mutant dancehall tune…
Vocals by PJ Higgins and cousin Joseph Cotton (both their families from the same town in Jamaica), Horns of Negus, Paul Chivers and Dubulah it backing up
recorded in Paris, London and Spain.

2. FAMILY MAN
PJ Higgins vocal, asking questions of David Cameron
and the Bullingdon Club.
Like the godfather meets massive attack..mandolins and all.

3. CASINO BURNING DOWN
Mykael S Riley lyrics about the casino banking crisis and its effects on all..
PJ adds the global soul .. a dubadelic track.

4. WE ARE THE PLAYTHINGS OF THE RICH AND FAMOUS
Self explanatory really…selling the dream, It could be you!
Mykaell S. Riley vocals, Spanish rhythm section and Harry Brown on Tromobone,
Rico and Vinnie Gordon style..

5. FIGHT BACK
PJ Higgins on vocals ..
A song of resistance meets 60s sci fi fx and fullblooded brass.
Joe Gibbs skanking with Scritti Politti and the Meters + Maceo Parker.
dubbafunkadelic Ben Somers on tenor sax ..it came from another world.

6. ADDIS TO OMEGA
From Africa to Jamaica to UK to the world..
Reggae and Dub gone global, from the start to the end
PJ on vocals.

7. KEEP ON ROCKING
Loving and Living, when the the pressure’s up high
Mykaell S. Riley sings a tune to wind an grind away the blues
Horns of Negus assist..

8. SOFT POWER
Harry Brown and Orphy Robinson play trombone and vibes
over a roots backing..culture as influence and power.

9. MADMEN
Welcome to the drone-age daydream.
Dubulahs vocal debut.

10. MI DAD
Old time music forward again.
A story about the unsung generation, voiced by Winston Blissett, over a ska track.
About his father.

11. TALE OF 2 CITIES
Two cities, one rich, one poor..two realities that co exist, on all continents
Flugelhorn by Neil Waters, Vibes by Orphy Robinson.

12. THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME
the net shows alternative images of the world,
Samy Bishai on Egyptian violin, Natacha Atlas on vocals, Tim Whelan on Piano and Charles Haywood on drums…the hopes and fears of the global resistance to misuse of power.
Dub as real world music

13. HAPPY FACE
A track about trying to keep up appearances in the face of adversity
when work, sleep and worry are wearing your resistance down…
PJ Higgins on voice, Winston Blisset on bass

14. A VOICE HAS POWER
Gobal Dub from Tuva to Trechtown
Albert Kuvezin has a voice that sounds like a 747 taking off..
and is a mighty big dub fan. Justin Adams guests on delicate guitar..
Recorded Tuva, London, Malaga.

15. ORPHEUS UNDERGROUND
Dub goes Afrobeat via Kraftwerk..A transeurope dub express
Ben Somers emotive sax and flute solos..

Addis To Omega

Produced by Dubulah
Except The Shape Of Things To Come, Tale Of 2 Cities & Orpheus Underground – Produced by Dubulah & Toby Mills

Recorded in UK at El Castillo Dubulah, HMVS, Intimate Studios, Samys Soul Shack, The Rader Station and Ben’s Cupboard
France: La Belle Epoque
Spain: BCN Studios, Barcelona, Bermuda Studio, Malaga
Greece: Alexis Ghikas Studio
Tuva: Yat Kha Studios

Engineered by Toby Mills
Also by Tom Greenwood and Paul Madden at Intimate Studios
Extra recording with Paul Chivers and Eva Djuurhus Brandt

c&p Nick Page/Echomaster Recording on exclusive license to IRL
All rights reserved. Unauthorised copying is a violation of applicable laws