Search - Dry & Heavy :: King Jammy Meets Dry & Heavy I

FULL CONTACT dub

Allan MacInnis | Vancouver | 04/26/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I can't be altogether sure if this is the same disc as the Japanese issue -- KING JAMMY MEETS DRY AND HEAVY IN THE JAWS OF THE TIGER -- but I'm assuming so. It's terrific. King Jammy takes the tracks from the FULL CONTACT session (and a couple of other Dry and Heavy classics) and dubs them up right, with abundant echo, occasional added vocal stylings by Jammy, and added production values -- the disc sounds EVEN BETTER than FULL CONTACT. Adrian Sherwood apparently made the introductions and got the tapes off to Jamaica. For those of you who don't know Dry and Heavy, they're Japan's contribution to the world of roots reggae, and are pretty damn good at what they do (even Jammy remarked that he was impressed). They're getting big attention here, and have released four CDs (FULL CONTACT was number three, and these remixes number four). I don't have the member's names handy, but the core of the band is also the rhythm section from Audio Active, an even BETTER Japanese band, doing a more space-aged electo dub than a roots thing... Cool stuff, all of it, anyhow. This disc would be a fine place to start. Note: lyrics are in English and have always been on Dry and Heavy releases (despite what another reviewer of theirs has said on this site)."

Dubroom Review

Messian Dread | Drachten, Fryslan Netherlands | 11/09/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Especially after listening to Scientist Dub Culture Into A Paralel Universe, I was wondering where Prince, now King, Jammy is up to these days. Dub is alive and kicking but you hear so little from the old Dub Masters, that's the reason why I was so happy with Scientist's new release. An inquiry led me to the purchase of this brand new CD from King Jammy, and I must say I am very happy to hear that the original Dub Masters still have a good thing going.
Where Scientist mixed Culture at Jim Fox with digital devices galore, Jammy decided to use the older equipment as well and go to the other side of the world, where a Japanese band called Dry and Heavy is making some crucial reggae riddims. The result: 13 tracks heavily mixed in a dubwise style, sometimes sounding a lot like Twilight Circus.....In music technology "dry" means without effects. Dry and Heavy surely isn't dry anymore after being treated with the Jammy treatment, but heavy it remains! The bass and drum section is very solid and versatile: I hear Roots. I hear Rub A Dub. I hear UK 1980's Roots influences. I hear something in between as well. Full instrumentation is used and the sound is authentic. But the vocals are either very good or very bad. Some parts I can not get used to, other parts are really beautiful. The vocals on the track "Mr. Dub", for example, I can not get used to them. It's really out of tune a lot. But on the next track, "Breaking Dub", this is being compensated by beautifull vocals again.Over all, I am very happy with this CD. It's a welcome addition to my collection of DUB music, and it is also good to hear new DUB coming from the original DUB Masters. Also the fact the music was created without the use of too many synthesized sounds makes me happy. Looking for good Dub, BUY IT!"