Heavy Heavy Monster Dub

Album Review

In the early days of roots reggae, it would have been difficult to imagine that someday the best bands playing in that style would be made up of Aryans. And yet, sure enough, in the early 2000s the center of gravity for dub and modern roots seems to have shifted decisively to Germany, where the Echo Beach label is located. Not that Germany has a corner on the market, mind you — the mighty Dubblestandart hails from Vienna, former home base of Mozart and Haydn, both of whom had enough of a sense of humor (and of rhythm) that they're almost certainly looking down benevolently from music heaven, smiling and skanking as Dubblestandart rock that graceful, ancient city with echo-drenched guitars and elephantine grooves. On their latest they team up with an impressively long list of first-call collaborators including Sly & Robbie (on "Heavy Heavy Monster Dub" and "Preemptive Dub"), Mikey Dread ("Dub Is the Roots"), Keith LeBlanc (the brilliant "Terrorists and Inhalers"), and Sounds from the Ground ("10 Tons of Dope," "Evil Empire"). Carl Douglas comes out from retirement to help out with a massively funked-up remake of his disco classic "Kung Fu Fighting," and veteran DJ Dillinger makes an appearace as well, as do several lesser-known names. But as always, the star of the show is the Dubblestandart sound itself: a rocking vibration that combines elements of European, British, and Jamaican rhythms to create something true to the reggae tradition but fresh and new at the same time. Very highly recommended.