Messian Dread - Maranatha (dub & discomix)

Introducing Messian Dread, a versatile personality from the Netherlands: Producer, singer, player of instruments, writer, reviewer, selector, and editor/webmaster of DUBROOM.org, perhaps the longest running platform/netlabel, that promotes Dub Reggae and Consciousness" since 1997, where many artists have contributed to throughout the decades.

Somewhere in 1979-1980 Messian Dread discovered Reggae and especially the Dub variety. He was around 15 at that time and everything was quite different. The music and the sound was new, back then. You had the Mad Professor dubbing everyone crazy, the Scientist was introduced in the now legendary Greensleeves series. It was also the time of the extended versions aka Discomixes.

Early 1987, Messian Dread started a band and also began to experiment with dub, his great musical love. In 1997, ten years after he started to make music, Messian Dread started to publish his music world-wide through the Internet. Nowadays this seems a very normal and typical way to promote music, but back in those days with no Facebook or Soundcloud, it was not. In fact, it was frowned upon. Messian Dread can therefore be considered a pioneer in what has become normal now: independent artists producing their Dub & Reggae music online, from their heart to the heart of the listener.

His music has been played worldwide, throughout the decades. Next to his own Dubroom Label, the first chapter in the "Roots of Dub Funk" series had a quite successful track called "Jah Glory", an album called "Showcase" was released through Star Recordings and the "Dub Buds" (Phoenix Records) compilation had a track called "Transgenics Dub. Until today one of the hardest Steppa compilations ever released. or at least an online cult classic.

The music of Messian Dread is Roots Reggae. Even though he produces his music in a digital way, you'll hear his own roots are in the 1980's. Roots Reggae in the orthodox way, with conscious lyrics that often leave no question mark but definitely food for thought … and dub! It is very hard to find a vocal tune from Messian Dread and no Dub version that comes with it. In fact, one could say that Messian Dread is keeping the tradition of the 'Discomixes' where you'll get a vocal track and Dub version in one long mix alive. His obsession with long mixes comes from the 1980's you remember them too, the 12" versions, and he has always loved the extended versions in Reggae and also in the electronic music.

Maranatha was originally released in 2007 as a free download and we are proud to present you a (F)re(e)-issue of the track as an introduction to Messian Dread’s works and as an appetizer for the releases to follow. Tune starts with Dub and militant vibe and ends with the vocals. The track was definitely inspired by the so called riots which are really uprisings that were going on in 2006. Even more today.

Roots Reggae sounds best when it is mixed in the good way. The best way to mix Roots Reggae is in Dubwise style. Messian Dread's music is pure conscious Roots Reggae, mixed with the purpose of feeling the vibe always in a deeper and deeper way the more you listen. Music to listen to. To experience. 

CREDITS: Composed, written and produced by Messian Dread, Vocals by Messian Dread, Cover artwork by Messian Dread

Messian Dread - Tunes For Thoughts

Last year we introduced to you through the re-release of the 2007 track Maranatha, Messian Dread, that versatile personality from the Netherlands: Producer, singer, player of instruments, writer, reviewer, selector, and editor/webmaster of Dubroom, one of the longest running platforms/netlabels promoting Dub Reggae and Consciousness since 1997.

To real understand the background behind Messian Dread's musical vibes, we recommend reading the Congeregation Of Selassie-I / An Interview With Messian Dread.

Tunes For Thoughts is a compilation of tracks from Messian Dread’s archives, produced by him between 2006 and 2008. It is the first time that they are all put together in a compilation, since they were originally released in the past as separate digital EPs with many alternative versions of each track. We have compiled for you the discomixes, which is the trademark of Messian Dread.

In Reggae, when you like a tune, you listen to it a few minutes and after the vocal version you play the dub. But the discomix tradition is something that is not really seen or heard these last years. A discomix version is there to make you feel the experience, to feel and meditate. You'll listen to a full track in a discomix style and when you look back to Reggae tradition, you know what this is about.

 

The term discomix is not very familiar. It comes from the 70's and 80's. We talk about a tune with lyrics, followed by a dub version. All in one long mix. A concept hardly followed anywhere nowadays, because of sentiments or whatever. Messian Dread has been pushing it to the limits and we as a label, we recognize him as a pioneer respecting this format and we forward it to you. This is stuff not only to listen but to be part of the experience as well.

 

Enjoy the vibes. They were produced for your enjoyment and edification throughout the decades. Most of all, produced for you in freedom. Free to hear the messages and free to think!

Messian Dread - Dangerous Discomixes

The concept of a DJ chanting over a riddim and singers jumping in and out is not new, not original, not uncommon. Where many styles and genres have incorporated the concept, no one can take away the fact that this all started in Jamaica during the 1970's and even before that. No one can deny that Roots Reggae music, mixed in Dub style, is a perfect foundation for a DJ to chant over and exactly that is what you can find in the new showcase album of Messian Dread.

When the B-sides of Jamaican singles gradually changed from a mere instrumental version to a complete dub work-out by ones like King Tubby's, all of this paved the way for the maxi-singles or twelve-inch vinyl records: the extended mix containing both vocal and dub version in one long stop mix, often called discomixes.

Dangerous Discomixes honors this tradition with nine traditional discomixes, all created by Messian Dread in his Dubroom studio between the years 2014-2015. Some material was pre-recorded in studio's like ARIWA, the vocals were legally obtained and licensed, but everything was completely re-arranged and fit into original Dubroom riddims. It includes nine traditional Roots Reggae discomixes, digging deeper into the vast ocean of the vibes of Messian Dread. All tracks are original Dubroom productions. The vocals (Kojak, Horseman, Seamus, Clifton, Dillinger, U-Roy, Prince Jazzbo, Dillinger, Trinity) are legally obtained and licensed, the music and vocal arrangement created and mixed by Messian Dread with real horns, real this-and-that and of course real, authentic dub mixing.

Nine extended tracks, with the first half carrying the original Reggae riddim with full length lyrical content, followed by its dub version. Experience how dub is actually transforming a Reggae track into a spaced-out piece of ear candy. 

Dubroom reviews Dubophonic

Yes I. What a pleasant surprise it was indeed, to receive this great review by one of the biggest reggae and dub portals on the web. Dubroom.org has expressed with the best words on our nelabel family. Massive respect to Messian Dread and his crew for the amazing work they do for so many years, always giving their best to the (conscious) reggae and dub community worldwide.

"With the Dubkey Netabel based on Malta, Dubophonic is the next step in a Mediterranean Roots Reggae and Dub take-over. Based in Cyprus and founded no earlier than June 2013, ... one thing is for certain: Dubophonic take their net label serious and so it should be. It's not just the amount of releases in a certain quality, it is the work on their website, liner notes and massive press feedback. Centered around Dub Thomas, but not limited to him. A look at the artist names reveal a variety of styles and genres, from heavyweight Dubwise to a more lighter variant, Dubophonic strives to cater to all lovers of (conscious) Reggae and Dub." Read more

 

But the review does not stop here, it continues by showcasing two of our releases. The first one is a release from last year, "Love fi Life" by Ibel Campbell, Med Dred and Dub Caravan.

"Three vocals, four dubs: Love Fi Life is a joyous collaboration between Jamaican vocalist Ibel and Med Dred based on another island, namely that of Cyprus. The Mediterranean vibes are there, undeniably. The Jamaican vibe, too. There's even a UK Dub vibe coming in the form of a Dub by Dub Caravan. Get this one for some Ireness!" Read More

And just today one more review was posted on their site. This time a more recent one from this year released by Dubsynaticx, "Studio Dubs Part I".

"Whenever you see "Part One" in the title of an album, it's always intriguing: when it turns out to contain niceness, you know there's more of that niceness coming your way. Right? Presenting Part One of Studio Dubs, presenting Dubsynaticx, presenting some Dub Niceness. Yes I! ... Yes, the Dubroom should apologize to this Dub producer for not having discovered him before. Is his music that crucial, you might ask, and the answer is YES. It's definitely an addition to the variety in Eurodub and Roots land. We can get it thanks to the Idren at the Cyprus-based Dubophonic Net Label, responsible for this excellent April 2014 release." Read more