Dub To Bring Cooldown After Record Breaking Heatwave

Flippin' hot, isn't it?!

My car ended up in the garage on Monday, so I had the additional joy of using the Great Western Railway service for a large chunk of my commute for most of this week. 

Which also meant spending up to two hours stuck in the train station each evening, watching successive homeward bound trains either being delayed, cancelled or, bizarrely, still showing as "on time" even though their arrival time had long passed and there was no sign of them.

Anyway, what got me to a rather more chilled space - mentally if not physically - was a playlist of reggae and dub music, guaranteed to get me to a better place, even if the effing trains couldn't manage it.

Hence the inspiration for today's selection. Top tunes from John Holt, Horseman and Winston Francis (both ably assisted by Prince Fatty), Big Youth, Derrick Morgan, The Heptones and Lee 'Scratch' Perry.

There's also a generous portion of dub, courtesy of The Crystalites and Augustus Pablo, Linton Kwesi Johnson, G.G. Allstars, Horace Andy, King Tubby, Dennis Bovell, Adrian Sherwood and Scientist.

And, if you're interested in this kind of thing, today's post title is a BBC News headline. In dub, naturally.

Not as cool os a shady pool, perhaps and too cool for school, but it's cool enough for this old fool!

1) Which Way You Going Baby (Jamaican Mix): John Holt (1973)

2) Bass & Drum Version: The Crystalites ft. Big Youth & Augustus Pablo (1973)

3) Funny Dub (Version By Linton Kwesi Johnson & Dennis Bovell): Linton Kwesi Johnson (1979)

4) Mosquito Dub (Remix By Alvin Ranglin): G.G. Allstars (1973)

5) Ghetto (Album Version By Horseman & Prince Fatty): Horseman ft. Winston Reedy (2014)

6) Georgie: Big Youth (1995)

7) The Break: Prince Fatty ft. Winston Francis (2019)

8) Shirley Come Back To Me: Derrick Morgan (1975)

9) Don't Try To Dub: Horace Andy (1973)

10) Sneak Invasion Dub: King Tubby (1976)

11) Cool Rasta: The Heptones (1976)

12) In Tha Mix: Dennis Bovell (2012)

13) His Master's Voice: Lee 'Scratch' Perry (2009)

14) Counter Intelligence Dub: Scientist (1974)

1973: Backslider EP: 4

1973: Dock Of The Bay EP: 2

1973: 1000 Volts Of Holt: 1

1975: Feel So Good: 8

1976: Cool Rasta: 11

1979: Sonny's Lettah! EP: 3

1995: Joe Gibbs Presents: D.J. Originators Vol. 1: Head To Head: 6

2002: Dub / More Bass Culture: 10, 14

2009: Dub Setter: 13

2011: Jackpot Presents Horace Andy In Dub: 9

2012: Mek It Run: 12

2014: Dawn Of The Dread: 5

2019: In The Viper's Shadow: 7

Dub To Bring Cooldown (46:24) (GD) (M)

And because we've all made it to the weekend, here's my Lovers Rock selection from March 2022.

Double Entrendre

or, How To Get Away With Two "25 From 25" Albums Lists Whilst Pretending That Wasn't Your Intention All Along.

Looking back on 2025 so far, I think I bought more albums than ever, a mix of physical and digital. The latter was ably supported by a further year's subscription to the excellent Last Night From Glasgow label, which accounts for about a quarter of today’s and tomorrow’s featured artists.

A few were purchased at merch stalls following a headline or support slot gig, others on the recommendation of others, including you lovely people out there in the blogging community.

So, I've got two lists, loosely separated into artists that I'm familiar with and already owned albums by, the second compiling artists who, regardless of whether they'd been around for ages or just started out, were new to me. So, it's a hodge podge of debut albums and artists that I really only delved into properly with their latest long player. I'm posting the first list today, the second on New Year's Eve.

There are a shed load that I just haven't got around to buying yet and I haven't yet succumbed to streaming so I can't sneak them in on the technicality of having heard them. Apologies therefore include Pulp, Syd Minsky Sargeant, Death In Vegas, Mogwai and Water From Your Eyes, all of whom have released albums that I want to get (and said as much in previous posts), but who remain on my shopping list.

An honourable mention also to those that I did buy but who didn't make onto either list because, well, I had to stop at 25, right? A tip of the hat then to Manic Street Preachers, The Supernaturals, Julian Cope, Gareth Sager and Scanner.

I've listed them alphabetically, rather than in order of greatness, but I may reveal my favourite at the end...if I can decide on one by the end of this post!

25 From 25 - Old Favourites

(click on the links to buy these albums...and more!)

1) Let The Horse Run Free / Rodeo Disco: 100 Poems

2) The Collapse Of Everything: Adrian Sherwood

3) Pinball Wanderer: Andy Bell

4) Dead Souls: Armory Show

5) Metalhorse / Mary And The Hyenas OST: Billy Nomates

6) Mumbo In The Jumbo: Davey Woodward

7) Wise Music In Dub: Dennis Bovell

8) Subconsciousology: Dot Allison

9) Lay Low: Eddie Chacon

10) Nation Shall Speak Unto Nation: Edwyn Collins

11) Rats In Paradise: Emily Breeze

12) Begging The Night To Take Hold: Emma Pollock

13) Twilight: Hifi Sean & David McAlmont

14) Songs For Nina And Johanna: James Yorkston & Friends

15) Junk System EP 1&2: Junk System

16) Lotus: Little Simz

17) New Town Ghosts: Mark Rae

18) Lake Deep Memory: Pye Corner Audio

19) Barb And Feather: Red Snapper

20) Strawberries: Robert Forster

21) International: Saint Etienne

22) MAD!: Sparks

23) Faultline: The Cowboy Mouth

24) moisturiser: Wet Leg

25) Home: Xan Tyler & Dusty Stray

I have loved each and every one of these albums but my #1 of 2025 has to be Billy Nomates.

Not just because Metalhorse is a fantastic album, taking her music to another level, but also because she somehow found the time to write, record and release another album. The soundtrack to Mary And The Hyenas may have been relatively overlooked compared to Metalhorse, but it's every bit an equal. Astonishing to think that Tor Maries was also releasing one-off songs in between both of these. 

Finally getting to see Billy Nomates live in concert for the first time in September, with an excellent band and songs that took on a life of their own on stage, was an unforgettable experience and the push over the line to secure my #1 in a year of varied but brilliant albums.

A Brief History Of Dub

... according to Adrian Sherwood, that is.

Having taken The Collapse Of Everything and The Grand Designer EP through the Bandcamp Friday checkout and looking forward to a weekend of Sherwood infused sounds, on a whim I've created a 45-minute Dubhed selection of Adrian's previous work with other artists.

Some old, some new, some familiar, some less. All heavy duty and guaranteed to satisfy your dub palette.

1) Jungle (Album Version By Lee 'Scratch' Perry & Adrian Sherwood): Lee 'Scratch' Perry & Dub Syndicate (1987)

2) Down In It (Singe) (Remix By Adrian Sherwood & Keith LeBlanc): Nine Inch Nails (1989)

3) Death Of A Party (12" Death) (Remix By Adrian Sherwood): Blur (1998)

4) To Let Go (Adrian Sherwood ON-U Sound ReMix): R34L, Mark Pistel, Adrian Sherwood (2022)

5) What Silence Knows (Unreleased Version By Adrian Sherwood & Style Scott): Shara Nelson (1994)

6) Danger Dub (Adrian Sherwood 'Reset In Dub’ Version): Panda Bear & Sonic Boom (2023)

1987: Time Boom x De Devil Dead: 1

1989: Down In It EP: 2

1994: Uptight EP: 5

1998: Bustin' + Dronin': 3

2022: To Let Go EP: 4

2023: Reset In Dub: 6

A Brief History Of Dub (44:59) (GD) (M)

Dub With Me And Then We'll Dub Together

In case you hadn't noticed, Adrian Sherwood's fourth solo album, The Collapse Of Everything, was released into the world on 22nd August.

At risk of predictability, Sunday seems to be frequently my go-to day for sharing dub excutsions on this weaving path through the musical landscape.

Therefore, it would be remiss of me to pass up these converging opportunities to spotlight Sherwood at the controls, with the videos for the first four songs (so far) from the album.

Starting with Dub Inspector (track 2), back for the opening title track, then back on course for The Well Is Poisoned (Dub) and Body Roll. Considering how long Adrian's been at this music lark, his ability to carve out fresh dub soundscapes is undiminished.

Aided and abetted by the usual On-U Sound suspects, including Doug Wimbish and Keith LeBlanc (RIP), with Horseman and Gaudi adding to the magic. 

Heck, even Brian Eno pops up with "guitar, vocals, effects" on The Well Is Poisoned (Dub), and there's some lovely sax and flute by Alex White from The Fat White Family on three of the four featured tracks.

The Collapse Of Everything Is available now on clear or standard black vinyl, as well as shiny disc and digital. 

If you can wait, there's another Bandcamp Friday in a couple of weeks (5th September) if you would like even more of your hard earned wonga to reach Mr. Sherwood.

The album's closing piece, The Grand Designer, was also the title track of 10" vinyl and digital EP release in June, with three other non-album cuts (one featuring the late, great Lee 'Scratch' Perry). Again, worth every penny.

And, if you're feeling splendiferously frivolous, why not splurge on a couple of Adrian's recent remixes for other artists? 

July saw Adrian's dub rendition of No Cigar by Shit Robot aka Marcus Lambkin, working with Joe Goddard and Al Doyle from Hot Chip and issued on the super hip DFA Records label.

The upcoming Bandcamp Friday will also mark the one-year anniversary of Echoes Of The Night, an EP by Pitch Black featuring four - count 'em, four - dubs by Adrian Sherwood, dating from (I think) 2020, all but one previously unreleased.

And I've not even mentioned the entire album of Adrian Sherwood dubs, Obscured By Version, brand new but delving into the archives of Dub Syndicate.

We're spoilt, really.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday Camp Out At The Shops

In other words, it's Bandcamp Friday and I am poised to purchase.

I already had a long list, including

‘Aphex Meets Some Simple Minds Uptown’: sLEdger

Disturbia: Phonolab (Gaudi & Eraldo Bernocchi)

Don't Leave Me This Way (Cover of Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes): Crooked Man

La Musica (2025 Version): Munk & Kapote

Vertigo: Michele Mininni

Wise Music In Dub: Dennis Bovell

...and here are five more new releases that have jumped the queue from Bicep, Bright Eyes (gone ska!), Cardiacs, Adrian Sherwood and Daphni aka Dan Snaith.

Tame Impala's new single isn't available on Bandcamp, but it's so good I had to include it. And, based on the shite weather in this neck of the woods in the past few days, calling the song The End Of Summer perhaps wasn't as premature as I first thought...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everybody's Got To Learn Nine Times

Mute has released the third song from Mark Stewart's posthumous album, The Fateful Symmetry, out on 11th July. 

Not only is it a singular cover of The Korgis' signature song, Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime, but in the hands of Elijah Minnelli and Adrian Sherwood, it's been transformed into "a masterstroke of soundsystem militancy". 

And rest assured, despite the Bébe Durmiendo Cumbia Bootleg label, this is the version that you'll find on the album.

If you haven't already pre-ordered The Fateful Symmetry, you can do it now.

I have quite a few cover versions of the song already, including Beck (from 2004's Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind OST), Glasvegas (the B-side of 2007 single Geraldine) and The Dream Academy (the penultimate song of 1987's 2nd album Remembrance Days). 

However, I didn't realise quite how many more versions there are out there, so here's the three above, plus another four from Yazz, Army Of Lovers, Erasure and, sticking two fingers to her siblings*, Sharon Corr.

And, to end, it has to be the version that started it all in 1980, The Korgis and a video that looks like a complete health and safety nightmare.

All beautiful, in their own way.

1) Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime (Bébe Durmiendo Cumbia Bootleg): Mark Stewart (2025)

2) Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime: Army Of Lovers (2001)

3) Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime (Live @ Primavera Sound, São Paulo, Brazil): Beck (2023)

4) Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime: The Dream Academy (1987)

5) Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime (Live @ The EIS Christmas Concert, Birmingham): Erasure (2002)

6) Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime: Glasvegas (2008)

7) Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime: Sharon Corr (2010)

8) Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime: Yazz (1994)

9) Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime: The Korgis (1980)

* absolutely not true.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Veneer Of Democracy Has Been Stripped Away

Remembering Mark Stewart, 10th August 1960 to 21st April 2023.

I posted a hastily compiled Dubhed selection as a tribute the morning after news broke of Mark's passing. In closing, I promised that  

"There will be a follow up post, 

where I try to articulate just why Mark Stewart 

is such an important figure [...]

I just can't find the words right now."

This is that follow-up post, marking two years since Mark died. I'm still not sure I have the words, but Mark's stepped up and done it for me by releasing a brilliant new single, Memory Of You.

Memory Of You is the opening track of The Fateful Symmetry, out in July and completed before Mark's untimely passing. No compromise, even in death.

I discovered Mark's music in the late 1980s via my interest in Adrian Sherwood and ON-U Sound and the Mute label, the channels leading me to his solo albums with Maffia aka Doug Wimbish, Keith LeBlanc and Skip McDonald. 

At this point, I had no idea of Mark's links to my birthplace Bristol, and was largely ignorant of The Pop Group, their significance and legacy. The past thirty-odd years have been a voyage of discovery and learning, revealing the complexity and contradictions through a career of challenge and non-conformity.

I've had a little more time to compile today's selection, compared to the ad-hoc tribute in 2023. Even so, this remains a surface-scratching exercise; there are so many layers, and Mark's work goes way beyond that with The Pop Group, Maffia and solo. The good news is that much of it is available in digital and physical formats via Mute, Bandcamp or your friendly local record shop.

Mark's music remains as crucial now as it ever has done.

1) Deep Time Dub (Mark Stewart Mix): Nohumaneye vs Mark Stewart (2022)

2) Hysteria (Album Version By Mark Stewart & Adrian Sherwood): Mark Stewart + Maffia (1990)

3) Death Trip To Tulsa ('Mark Stewart’s Exopolitix Demix'): Mark Lanegan Band (2015)

4) Where There's A Will There's A Way (Single Version By The Pop Group & Dave Anderson): The Pop Group (1980)

5) Shame And Pain (Album Version By Mark Stewart & Jim Sclavunos): Mark Stewart & Jeffrey Lee Pierce ft. Thurston Moore (2014)

6) Gustav Says (Album Version By Mark Stewart & Youth): Mark Stewart ft. Keith Levene & Achim Treu (2012)

7) Toxic Waste (Mark Stewart & Uncle Fester On Acid Remix By Mark Stewart & Patrick Dokter): Lampredonto (2022)

8) Babycino (Album Version By Mark Stewart & Youth): Mark Stewart (2012)

9) Forces Of Oppression (Album Version By The Pop Group & Dave Anderson): The Pop Group (1980)

10) 'Ndrangheta Allotmen (Mark Stewart's Spectrum Remix): Meatraffle (2018)

11) Gang War (Album Version By Mark Stewart & Youth): Mark Stewart ft. Lee 'Scratch' Perry & Keith Levene (2012)

12) A4 ####### (Mallarmé Read By Mark): Nun Gun ft. Mark Stewart (2021)

13) (Amnesty Report II) (Album Version By Dennis Bovell): The Pop Group (1979)

14) Method To The Madness (Album Version By Mark Stewart & Youth): Mark Stewart ft. Nik Void (2012)

15) Rob A Bank (Album Version By The Pop Group & Dave Anderson): The Pop Group (1980)

16) The Last Enemy (Mark Stewart Black Mix): Consolidated (2021)

17) Simulacra (Album Version By Mark Stewart & Adrian Sherwood): Mark Stewart (1995)

18) Struggle (Adrian Sherwood / Mark Stewart Mutant Disco Vocal Mix): Radio 4 (2003)

19) Savage Sea (Album Version By The Pop Group & Dennis Bovell): The Pop Group (1979)

1979: Y: 19

1980: For How Much Longer Do We Tolerate Mass Murder?: 9, 15

1980: In The Beginning There Was Rhythm / Where There's A Will.. EP (split 7" w/ The Slits): 4

1980: We Are Time: 13

1990: Metatron: 2

1995: Control Data: 17

2003: Eyes Wide Open / Struggle EP: 18

2012: The Politics Of Envy: 6, 11, 14

2012: Exorcism Of Envy: 8

2014: Axels & Sockets: The Jeffrey Lee Pierce Sessions Project: 5

2015: A Thousand Miles Of Midnight: Phantom Radio Remixes: 3

2018: Revenge Of An 'Ndrangheta Cell, On An Allotment, In Norbury, South London EP: 10

2021: Stealth Empire In Dub: 12

2021: We're Already There (Remixes): 16

2022: King Of The Zombies EP: 1

2022: !Wasted!: 7

The Veneer Of Democracy Has Been Stripped Away (1:14:41) (KF) (Mega)

You can find Out Here On The Perimeter, Nobody Can Hear You Scream, my previous Mark Stewart tribute selection, here

Under Dub Covers

I love reggae and dub and I love cover versions and it's been a while since I've posted either, so I've mashed them up in one (nearly) hour-long selection.

A 15-track compendium, mostly 21st Century, but with a clutch of 1970s classics thrown in for good measure. I couldn't decide between two Nicky Thomas covers so they both went in!

Nicky's in good company: Rhoda Dakar, 15 16 17, Hollie Cook, Brown Sugar, Xan Tyler, Earl 16, Dr. Israel, LSK, Peter Tosh, Suggs, Little Roy, Prince Fatty, Mad Professor and Adrian Sherwood.

Proof of concept, if needed, that every song should have a mandatory reggae version.
 

1) Everyday Is Like Sunday (Cover of Morrissey): Rhoda Dakar (2021)

2) Brain Damage (Cover of Pink Floyd): Easy Star All-Stars ft. Dr. Israel (2003)

3) Lola (Cover of The Kinks): Nicky Thomas (1974)

4) Love Will Tear Us Apart (Single Version) (Cover of Joy Division): Capitol 1212 ft. Earl Sixteen (2020)

5) Space Oddity (Dubmix) (Cover of David Bowie): Adrian Sherwood ft. LSK aka Leigh Kenny (2012) 

6) Here Comes The Sun (Single Version) (Cover of The Beatles): Peter Tosh & The Wailers (1971)

7) Lets Go Crazy (Cover of Prince & The Revolution): Radio Riddler ft. Suggs (2014)

8) Emotion (Album Version By Castro Brown & Dennis Bovell) (Cover of Samantha Sang): 15 16 17 (1978)

9) Lithium (Album Version By Prince Fatty) (Cover of Nirvana): Little Roy (2011)

10) And The Beat Goes On (Dub) (Cover of The Whispers): Prince Fatty & Hollie Cook (2012)

11) Guns Of Brixton (Manasseh Dub 5) (Remix By Nick Raphael) (Cover of The Clash): Dub Spencer & Trance Hill (2020)

12) Lay Lady Lay / In The Midnight Hour (Medley) (Cover of Bob Dylan / Wilson Pickett): Nicky Thomas (1972)

13) Hello Stranger (Cover of Barbara Lewis): Brown Sugar (1977)

14) Be Here To Love Me (Cover of Townes Van Zandt): Xan Tyler & Mad Professor (2021)

15) Master Blaster (Vocal Version) (Cover of Stevie Wonder): Dubby Wonder ft. Eugene Tambourine (2022) 

1971: Here Comes The Sun EP: 6

1972: Tell It Like It Is: 12

1974: Lola EP: 3

1977: Hello Stranger EP: 13

2003: Dub Side Of The Moon: 2

2005: Magic Touch: 8

2011: Battle For Seattle: 9

2012: Prince Fatty Presents Hollie Cook In Dub: 10

2012: Space Oddity EP: 5

2014: Purple Reggae: 7

2020: Guns Of Brixton EP: 11

2020: Love Will Tear Us Apart EP: 4

2021: Clarion Call: 14

2021: Everyday Is Like Sunday EP: 1

2022: Master Blaster EP: 15

Under Dub Covers (58:56) (GD) (M)

Someday Roots, Sunday Culture

Today's selection is by way of compensation to Ernie at 27 Leggies for last Sunday's crushing disappointment of posting a mixtape side titled Roots 'n' Culture that was completely devoid of dub and reggae.

No red herrings here, with plenty of bass-heavy rhythms amongst the genre-hopping bakers' dozen of tunes. At least one tune from each of the last six decades and, as far as I can tell, all appearing here (in these versions at least) for the first time. 

Lee 'Scratch' Perry is hidden in plain sight, collaborating with Bob Marley on the opening song and reappearing as the Upsetter on the penultimate track. 

 

There are a trio of tunes from 1982, quite by accident, featuring UB40, Rico ably accompanied by The Specials and one of the greatest voices of all time, Bim Sherman.

 

As you may have guessed, International Beat was a spin-off from The Beat, their debut album produced by none other than Ranking Roger.

 

The 21st Century is well represented by Richard Norris, Adrian Sherwood and Prince Fatty, plus Wrongtom remixing Staines skankers Hard-Fi.

There are a couple of covers, with Rico and The Special AKA taking on the title track of Japanese jazz musician's Sadao Watanabe's 1979 album Morning Island.  

 

For Me You Are by Prince Fatty, Hollie Cook and Horseman has a rather more complicated history. The song was originally titled Bei Mir Bistu Shein and written by Jacob Jacobs and Sholom Secunda in 1932 for a Yiddish language comedy musical, I Would If I Could, performed by Aaron Lebedeff and Lucy Levin.

Five years later, Sammy Cahn and Saul Chaplin got their hands on the song, wrote English lyrics, Germanised the song title spelling and created a global hit for The Andrews Sisters with Bei Mir Bist Du Schön (Means That You're Grand)

 

The name of Prince Fatty's 2012 remake is an approximation of the original Yiddish to English song title translation, To Me You're Beautiful. 

 

Phew, history lesson over, time to enjoy the music!

1) Keep On Skanking: Bob Marley (1972)

2) Golden Morning Song: Bim Sherman (1982)

3) Better Do Better (Wrongtom Wild Inna 81 Version): Hard-Fi (2006)

4) Rock Steady: International Beat (1989)

5) Foundation Style: Richard Norris (2024)

6) Two Versions Of The Future: Adrian Sherwood (2006)

7) I Won't Close My Eyes (Remix): UB40 (1982)

8) Jah Vengeance / Jah Bible: Yabby You & Trinity (1980)

9) For Me You Are (Single Version) (Cover of Aaron Lebedeff & Lucy Levin / Andrews Sisters): Prince Fatty ft. Hollie Cook & Horseman (2012)

10) Tapper Roots: Tapper Zukie (1979)

11) Easy Dub: Alpha & Omega (1994)

12) Rumplesteelkin: Upsetter (1973)

13) Easter Island (Cover of 'Morning Island' by Sadao Watanabe): Rico ft. The Special AKA (1982)

 

1973: Rhythm Shower: 12

1979: Tapper Roots: 10

1980: Jah Jah Way: 8

1982: Across The Red Sea: 2 

1982: Jungle Music EP: 13

1982: UB44: 7

1989: The Hitting Line: 4

1990: The Best Of Bob Marley 1968-1972: 1 

1994: Safe In The Ark: 11

2006: Becoming A Cliché: 6

2006: Better Do Better EP: 3

2012: Prince Fatty Versus The Drunken Gambler: 9

2024: Oracle Sound Volume Three: 5

Someday Roots, Sunday Culture (47:54) (KF) (Mega)

Sub Dub

African Head Charge playing a gig in a town set in the Cotswolds Hills seems the stuff of fantasy. Yet, it wasn't a fever dream and I was one of a few (hundred) lucky people that got to experience Bonjo Iyabinghi Noah and his merry band live and direct at The Subscription Rooms in Stroud on Saturday 12th October.

The Sub Rooms, as it's more commonly known, has fast become a favourite venue, not just for it's proximity or free parking nearby, but it's a lovely building with a external grandeur that surprises with the almost village hall layout of the performance space. 

Most of all though, there's been a positive, embracing vibe at every gig I've seen there and, if anything, even more so when the headliners came on.

I'll mention the support first, though relatively briefly as I'm going to post more about them next week. I'd never heard of the Ink Project collective formed by Jez Lloyd before now, but my curiosity was well and truly piqued by an energetic set, that got the early arrivals shuffling approvingly.

 

Jez was joined on stage by Coreysan aka Bristol-based singer songwriter Corey Atheleny Wallace, crammed into a space about three square metres left of African Head Charge's set up. Boy, did they make the most of it!

 

Jez was switching between instruments, Corey was dropping to the floor and springing back up and throwing all kinds of shapes. Feeding The Fire, a collaborative single from 2011, was a highlight, although it was an exhilarating ride from start to finish. 

 

Ending with a David Bowie cover may not seem unusual as of itself. However, the choice of song was. I'm Deranged was written with Brian Eno for 1995's album 1. Outside and has rarely been covered. Suffice to say, it was a delight, not least to hear Corey's vocals soar. An epic ending to an uplifting performance.

After a break of roughly the same length as Ink Project's 30-minute set, it was time for the main event. The band came on, one by one and took their positions and...hang on a minute, was that Gaudi bringing up the rear?! It sure was! A surprise and a delight, to say the least.

The band eased into a groove for a few minutes and then Bonjo Iyabinghi Noah came onstage to rapturous applause. A sign of the times - and the passage of time - but this was the third gig this year where one of the lead musicians had required a walking stick to assist. Once positioned behind the twin drums that gave the man born Burnell Ralston Anderson his performing name however, and there was no holding back.

"Good evening..." started Bonjo Iyabinghi Noah, before a pause and a glance to his fellow musicians on his left. "STROUD!" the audience heartily finished for him. What did it matter if he'd forgotten which town he was playing in tonight? He was here! With African Head Charge! And Gaudi!

 

I've been a fan of African Head Charge for a very long time, I've enjoyed their experimental material as much as their more accessible music, 'accessible' by no means meaning 'conventional' or 'safe'. 2023 'comeback' album A Trip To Bolgatanga was a stunning return. So, I was going to be a happy chappy whatever was played. 

Even so, it was something of a surprise that this was a vocal-heavy, uptempo selection, bursting with joy and - dare I say it? - as 'poppy' as African Head Charge were ever going to get. I was dancing (well, my approximation of it anyway - lots of energy, little coordination) from start to finish, pausing only to clap and cheer my appreciation.

"Yaaah maaan!" was the common call-and-response bridge between songs, Bonjo Iyabinghi Noah himself perhaps taken aback by the sheer energy and love emanating from the crowd (by then including Coreysan, getting in the groove a few metres from me).

I can't tell you precisely what was played and sadly there's no Setlist update from the Stroud or Exeter gig the previous evening to fall back on. But I recall a few. 

Bonjo came on stage to Run Come See Me, originally released as a limited edition single in 1993 and eventually more widely released on 2005 album Vision Of A Psychedelic Africa.  

 

Stebeni's Theme, one of the first songs I heard by AHC in the early 1980s and a lifetime favourite, was performed near the end in an uptempo version, fizzing with joyous energy.

There were tracks from A Trip To Bolgatanga, and deeper cuts too. At least, I think so. My head was bursting with thoughts and happy memories so that the song details were being lost even as I made the short walk back to the car. 

Apart from a stern word from the guitar player, asking the front row not to leave their drinks on the stage after a number of tips and spills - hello guys, liquid and electrcity?! - the mood was up, up, up for nearly two hours. Then finally, sadly, it was time to say goodbye and goodnight.

I'm still pinching myself, as it's hard to believe that this actually happened. What a fantastic night.

Even without a record of the setlist from last Saturday, this post would be incomplete without a Dubhed selection. What I've created then is a 12-track playlist of rhythmically uplifting and vocal driven songs, spanning 1981 to 2023. Many of these will have been played on the night, some won't, either way I think it hints at the joy and energy of the show itself. Enjoy!

 

1) Run Come See Me (Single Version) (1993)

2) Drumming Is A Language (2005)

3) Asalatua (2022)

4) My God (1990)

5) One Love, One Heart (Version) (1993)

6) Hymn (Remix) (1994)

7) High Protein Snack (1982)

8) This And That And The Other (2011)

9) Heading To Glory (1993)

10) Dub For The Spirits (1990)

11) Stebeni's Theme (Cover of traditional song) (1981)

12) I'm A Winner (2023)

 

1981: My Life In A Hole In The Ground: 11

1982: Environmental Studies: 7

1990: Songs Of Praise: 4

1993: In Pursuit Of Shashamane Land (limited edition LP + 7"): 1, 9

1994: Touch I EP: 6

2005: Vision Of A Psychedelic Africa: 2

2011: Voodoo Of The Godsent: 8

2020: Churchical Chant Of The Iyabinghi: 5, 10 

2022: Pay It All Back Vol. 8: 3

2023: A Trip To Bolgatanga: 3, 12

Sub Dub (47:06) (KF) (Mega)

As a bonus, I've reactivated links to both sides of my previous AHC selection, Dub Bazaar.

 

 

All photos are mine, with the exception of the last one, which was lifted from Gaudi's Facebook page.