Search - Prince Fari & the Arabs :: Dub to Africa

* 1979 DUB BASS GEM *

Jasper | New England | 08/17/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"An extra heavy release from Pressure Sounds. Prince Far I is here in the capacity of arranger, producer, percussionist, and m.c. Though he introduces each track, Far I does not vocalize on the tracks otherwise. What we have is a 1979 dub album with some of the heaviest, most mesmerizing dub bass you'll ever encounter. Bassist Errol 'Flaba' Holt is the star here, and the tight rhythms and sparse accompaniment leave the field nice and clear for his deep, muscular, and mind-warping bass lines. Flaba locks into steady, hypnotic, repetitive bass motifs that he tweaks ever so slightly so as to keep them engaging without ever breaking the trance. Flaba's bass is relentless and insistent, like a river carving through rock. The only complaint I have is that the album doesn't feature much sound sculpting or trippy effects. This is very tough dub...dub that you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley. My preference for trippier, more ornate dubs makes me prefer Frontline's "Dubwise" release, which features the classic Far I/Prince Jammy set "Cry Tuff 2," which has a lot more colorful things happening. That said, this dub *is* something to hear, and there are some killer, killer tracks here.



Lincoln Valentine 'Style' Scott - drums

Errol 'Flaba' Holt - bass

Melchezenick & Sowell - guitar

Noel 'Sowell' Bailey - violin (one track, very irie)

'Style' Scott & Prince Far I - percussion

(The last two tracks are extras from another session, and include some keys and melodica.)



The musicians above would go on to form the core of the Roots Radics in the early '80s. The sound quality of this reissue is good, and although there are some tiny surface crackles, that deep, low, rounded bass, and the rest of the mix, is pretty rich and clear. There are also some fine sleeve notes and a couple of photos inside. Length is about 40 minutes."