Foshan Roots - Sky Warrior Dub

We are starting a new series of releases, exploring and re-discovering Springline Records, one of the most underrated reggae and dub labels. It has been operational from 2003 until 2012, releasing music on vinyl, on audio tapes and later in digital format. With artists coming mainly coming from the UK underground, the style of the label was strongly influenced by the Jamaican roots music of the 70s with a sound very kin to that of Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry’s Black Ark studio.

But the resemblance to Black Ark studio goes far more than just the sound and the music. After 10 years of operation, two vinyl releases and many tapes and digital releases the label stopped its operations. All releases were discontinued in 2013 & all master recordings were lost or destroyed or on purpose deleted/thrown away, with the owner of the label deciding to put an end to that musical adventure. What is left nowadays are some articles and reviews on the internet, reminding the era of a great label, which unfortunately did not get the recognition it deserved.

All this happened at the time when Dubophonic was just starting its own musical adventure in 2013. We don’t know if it was meant to be, if a higher force controls everything and connects everything together, but thanks to Gibsy Rhodes, owner of Springline Records, we got our hands on some crucial tunes found forgotten on a hard disc, which was saved from destruction. Ruff takes, dubplates, alternative cuts, demos and a few unreleased works; a true treasure to our ears!

From our new series entitled The lost archive of Springline Records comes Sky Warrior Dub. It was never released before, until today! Foshan Roots was formed as a studio band by Thomas Dewey and Brad Turner in the summer of 2012 in the UK, working together on various projects (Roots, Reggae, Dub). Being able to establish a great connection and to overstand each other telepathically, the musical workings just started flowing. The name of their band reflects the vibes of their music.

All recordings & mixes were done in their own studio (CAF Studios). Brad & Tom play all the instruments themselves, shared out equally, so to give a different feel each time. Sky Warrior Dub consists of nine dubwise tracks in a deep rootikal style, reflecting the mystical vibes of the band! Welcome to Foshan Roots, the peaceful ZEN-warriors. Enjoy the journey to Jah music!

01 Chuka Dub / 02 IP Man Dub / 03 Double Sword Dub / 04 Martial Dub / 05 Snake Attack Dub / 06 Sifu Dub / 07 Warrior Dub / 08 Shaolin Dub / 09 Dragon Fire Dub

Stefanosis meets Samson Benji - Brass Echo Chamber

This album - Brass Echo Chamber - was originally released in the early 2000's through the now defunct Springline Records label. Sadly, the online release never took off and did not received the popularity it deserved. Like a fading star, it was eventually taken offline and forgotten in the vaults.

The man behind the instruments was Stefanosis from Los Angeles, known as Steve Steppa back then. The concept was quite simple: create an album influenced by the 1970's reggae-dub era with a saxophone as the lead instrument. The man behind the brass was the German born saxophonist Ras Samson aka Samson Benji, who was given the dubplates and added his horns like the “icing” on a “well baked cake”.

The original, low-fi production was recorded using a vintage, analog synth, drum-machine and electric bass and guitars masterfully played by Stefanosis. After saxophone parts were recorded long distance in Europe, Gibsy Rhodes from Corsica, the man behind Springline Records, put the whole package together with some added effects, samples and rough mastering.

Fast forward in year 2020, the original files were discovered years later on a disc. Admiring the whole concept and the irie hooks of Samson's soulful saxophone. Stefanosis took the files and boosted some audio levels, utilizing modern technology. The songs have been re-mastered and allowed to shine brighter this time. Twenty years after the original release, the Brass Echo Chamber lives again, polished and resonating pure, reggae dubplate vibes.

CREDITS > Music: Stefanosis (Drum Loops, Bass, Keyboard, Guitar) / Saxophone: Samson Benji / Sampling: Gibsy Rhodes / Mixing and Mastering: Stefanosis / Producers: Stefanosis, Gibsy Rhodes

01 Brass Down Babiwrong / 02 Lost Satellite / 03 Brass Knuckles / 04 Kingston Brass
05 King Tubby's Brass / 06 Ruffy and Tuffy / 07 Conquering Brass

The Manor - Oh Lord

After his album Walk With Jah back in 2018 and being one of the main artists behind the Creation Rockers and Foshan Roots projects (with the three albums Let's Make Waves, Sky Warrior Dub and Wing Chun Album) and having released a few works on the discontinued Springline Records label, which can be found on compilations and EPs (some are now obsolete, others are still to be found scattered all around the internet), the UK reggae & dub artist/producer Brad Turner aka The Manor returns on Dubophonic Records his a new tune.

The Manor has an authentic cultural vibe about his musical works. 

His new tune is entitled Oh Lord and it is a prayer to the Lord and t is presented in two cuts: Vocal and Dub.:

"Oh lord won’t you hear my prayer today / I’m feeling lost , can’t find my way / I don’t mean to ask , as I know you’re busy / But can you help me lord as I’m feeling real dizzy / Put me on the righteous path show me the way / I will love you forever and a day."

Foshan Roots - The Wing Chun Album

The peaceful ZEN-warriors are back! It is a joy when a project, which has been inactive for over five years, comes back to live. It is even more interesting; when this happens because of the feedback it received by the listeners.

Such is the case of Foshan Roots. Founded back in the summer of 2012 by Brad Turner and Thomas Dewey, the duo made an impact when their first album Sky Attack Dub (written in 2012 to be released on the now obsolete label Springline Records, but never got released until the end of 2017 when it was discovered by Dubophonic, saving the master recordings from destruction) was awarded by Roots Reggae Reviews as one of the best albums of 2017.

Having received countless positive reviews and airplay and feeling the love they received, the duo was motivated enough to enter again the CAF Studios in East London and produce their new awaited album.

The Wing Chun Album consists of 10 new tracks with a dubwize feeling. Staying true to the style they introduced in their previous album, their 2018 sound is rootical and deep, with a strong stepper feeling, great bass lines and the addition of horns, oft accompanying the guitar and the melodica.

Credits: All instruments played by Brad Turner & Tom Dewey. All tracks recorded & mixed at CAF Studios East London and mastered at Med Dred Studios in Cyprus.

 ► Spotify  ► Bandcamp  ► iTunes  ► Beatport  ► Amazon

01 Root Fyah Dub / 02 Thunder Dub / 03 Running Dub / 04 Tsunami Dub / 05 Conscious Dub / 06 Wisdom Dub / 07 Minds Eye Dub / 08 Movement Dub / 09 Mount Zion Dub / 10 Power Dub

Creation Rockers - Let's Make Waves

We continue digging into the lost archives of Springline Records, one of the most underrated reggae and dub labels of the UK, which has been operational from 2003 until 2012. With artists coming mainly coming from the UK underground, the style of the label was strongly influenced by the Jamaican roots music of the 70s with a sound very kin to that of Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry’s Black Ark studio. After 10 years of operation, two vinyl releases and many tapes and digital releases the label stopped its operations in 2013, with the owner of the label Gibsy Rhodes deciding to put an end to that musical adventure. What is left nowadays are some articles/reviews on the internet and some music scattered online, reminding the era of a great label, which unfortunately did not get the recognition it deserved, as well as a usb stick handed over to us by Gisby Rhodes, with some musical treasures from that time: demos, unreleased and rare tracks.

Recorded in the legendary CAF Studios, Let’s Make Waves and Soul Fighter by the band Creation Rockers were originally released in 2012 as an extended play. The band members were Brad Τurner aka The Manor (also member of Foshan Roots) on the guitar & vocals, Alan Blizzard aka Yabass also on guitar & vocals, Drummie Dan on the drums & vocals and Papa D on the keyboards. Ten years later, we shine some light on this obscure release, keeping the original artwork but including for the first time three rare tracks, which were not included in the original release.

Creation Rockers are The Manor (Guitar, Vocal), Yabass (Guitar, Vocal), Drummie Dan (Drums, Vocal) and Papa D (Keyboards).

The Manor - Walk With Jah

Reggae has been oft characterised as a music of feeling over technique. It is a fact that reggae rhythms were rarely rendered or produced with any competence by foreigners until the last two decades or so.  Walk with Jah, the first album on Dubophonic by the UK reggae & dub artist/producer Brad Turner aka The Manor is an example of such competence.

Being one of the main artists behind the Foshan Roots project and having released a few works on the discontinued Springline Records label, which can be found on compilations and EPs (some are now obsolete, others are still to be found scattered all around the internet), this is first complete album of The Manor.

Walk With Jah features eleven pure and heavy roots & dub tracks. The Manor has an authentic cultural vibe about his musical works, which is showcased throughout the album. It is obvious that he is influenced by the works of past masters, mainly Lee Scratch Perry. All tracks were recorded in CAF studios in the UK, which is becoming the boiler room of creativity akin to Black Ark in the 1970’s.

This is an album for the lovers of roots reggae and dub music, the way it used to be; a sincere tribute to the music of the 70s and a nicely crafted window into one man's journey through the music and the culture he loves. We hope you love it too and you enjoy the journey!

Alll tracks of the album were composed, mixed & performed by Brad Turner (The Manor). Give thanks Alan Blizzard (Yabass) for the cover artwork.

► Bandcamp   ► iTunes   ► Juno   ► Amazon   ► Spotify

01 Closer To Jah / 02 Closer Dub / 03 Down Inna Ghetto / 04 Ghetto Dub / 05 No WW3 / 06 WW3 Dub / 07 These Times / 08 These Times Dub / 09 Wicked Ah Come / 10 Wicked Dub / 11 Matic Manor