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V.A. METEOSOUND (meteo/select cuts) sc 2013 – rel date 30 APRIL 2002
Braiding together what belongs together: between experimental reggae,
dub-influenced laptop sounds, dubby remixes of Berlin fragility and exponents
of the UK neo dub tradition, the Berlin-based label METEOSOUND
(represented by Hamburg label Select Cuts) has joined the winding ways
of a wide variety of dub experimentalists on a compilation.
Combining the best of both worlds with his METEOSOUND nights at celebrated
Berlin venue Maria Am Ostbahnhof, Meteo did not just organise blinding
dancehall and reggae events with international favourites like Adrian
Sherwood and Blood & Fire as well as local activists: at the same
time he kept a close eye on the genre’s more eclectic frontiers,
inviting artists such as Thomas Fehlmann, Alex Paterson, Rechenzentrum,
Pole (on whose latest album "R" D. Meteo played guitar) and
Monolake. Furthermore Meteo nurtures a far-reaching network of all songwriters,
laptop and electronica experts with an affinity to reggae and dub.
METEOSOUND / SELECT CUTS 003 now takes an in-depth look at the broad
spectrum of their activities. Overall, the tracks gathered on METEOSOUND
/ SELECT CUTS 003 are listening music that is nevertheless capable of cooking
up a storm on the dance floor, bursting with surprises in the down- and
midtempo ranges while irreverently trying out everything short of cosy,
huggy dub. The 12” accompanying the CD release again points towards
the club, a sphere regularly frequented and furthered by Meteo.
With the exception of Sugar B’s "Sugar’s Authentic Dub Disco"
all tracks on METEOSOUND / SELECT CUTS 003 are previously unreleased.
tracklisting: V.A. METEOSOUND
1 INTRO BY PAUL PM
2 SUGAR B: SUGAR B´S AUTHENTIC DUB DISCO (EDIT)
3 TIKIMAN: THE SOUND
4 RECHENZENTRUM + TTT: TETRIS
5 BUS: TREASURE ISLAND
6 DNTEL: FEAR OF CORNERS (L.A. BUS MIX)
7 THOMAS FEHLMANN: SEEROSENGIESSEN
8 D METEO: RED ROOF
9 TTT + D METEO: PERU
10 MANASSEH + THE EQUALIZER: KING OF THE LAND
11 A|B vs. MINA: A TO DUB
12 BARBARA MORGENSTERN + THOMAS FEHLMANN: SHAZZI RIDDEM
13 SUBMISSION: M
14 THE ROOTSMAN + JAH MEEK: BEAUTIFUL WORLD
compiled by d meteo, mastered by robert henke
002 SUGAR B: SUGAR´S AUTHENTIC DUB DISCO (EDIT)
After a short intro by Paul PM Viennese genius Sugar B kicks of the
race. And the reason is simple: both experimental and deceptively relaxed
his track manages to span the entire range from dubby present right back
to the roots. According to the old dub reggae rule of maximum impact from
little effect, Sugar B’s track is based on a digitally cut-up and
re-arranged old school brass sample. Playing with echo this sample gains
its very own rhythmic dynamic, conjuring up memories of an old, experimental
dub hero: Lee Perry. In Vienna Sugar B is co-promoter of the Dub Club
at Flex as well as the label Dub Club Records. Furthermore he has put
out releases on G Stone and the Vienna Scientists compilation.
03 TIKIMAN: THE SOUND
With his vocal contribution to the dub house of Berlin Rhythm & Sound
(Burial Mix, Main Street) Tikiman immediately shot up in the estimation
of progressive dub and techno fans. His subtle, almost ethereal voice
proves a perfect fit for the deep tracks of these Berlin-based artists.
Less known but by no means less exciting are Tikiman’s solo activities.
With "The Sound” the well-versed studio boffin lets loose a
steppa riddim not far removed from Jah Shaka, a synthesis of roots, multi-layered
soundscapes and sparingly accentuated sounds of the clicks & cuts
generation. As a singer Tikiman has appeared with, amongst others, Stereotyp
(G Stone), Pre Fade Listening (Different Drummer) and Submission (Meteosound).
On his own label False Tuned he releases broad, deep, truly wonderful
reggae tracks.
04 RECHENZENTRUM + TTT: TETRIS
Change of scene: Where Sugar B and Tikiman discover electronics from a
reggae background, Rechenzentrum have taken the opposite approach. Software
and electronica specialist Tom Thiel has run a bunch of technoid sounding
Rechenzentrum basic files through a similarly abstract and hypnotic dubbification
process, soaked in a concoction from the cauldron of current Berlin-based
electronica. Rechenzentrum are staples on Berlin experimental techno label
Shitkatapult and Kitty Yo, the latter recently published their highly
praised CD "John Peel Sessions”. TTT/Tom Thiel is a member of
Bus, Se Berlin and Sun Electric.
5 BUS: TREASURE ISLAND
Together with Daniel Meteo Tom Thiel makes up Bus. Veering away from the
abstraction displayed by the previous Rechenzentrum/TTT-track, this Bus
output unfolds its unique charm through direct reggae references. When
the hi-hat goes funky and the bass line pours its powerful groove, their
deep and positively swinging laptop dub takes shape. A respectful nod
to the source, the treasure island: Jamaica. In March 2002 Bus release
their first 12” "Westen” on the Berlin-based abstract-tech-dub
label scape which has also included Bus tracks on its compilations Staedtizism
2 and the upcoming No 3.
06 DNTEL: FEAR OF CORNERS (L.A. BUS MIX)
Los Angeles-based programming wizards DNTEL are connected to the international
dub-electronica diaspora via local label Plug-Research. The organic warmth
of the previous track reaches its pinnacle in this Bus remix. Any dangers
of emulating lightweight feelgood dub are thwarted by ricocheting noises
and unforeseeable breaks in the track’s structure. Funky beat progression.
With FIGURINE and other projects DNTEL member Jimmy has released on many
labels.
07 THOMAS FEHLMANN: SEEROSENGIESSEN
Even the title of Thomas Fehlmann’s track "Seerosengiessen"
(watering the water lilies) hints at meditative activities. In fact, he
combines a driving, but unobtrusive rhythm with pleasantly echoing sound
layers. Concentration and melting away: sublime, hypnotic, deep. Thomas
Fehlmann is an excellent good indicator for things to come. Still known
to some as a member of Palais Schaumburg in the early 80s, he regularly
collaborates with The Orb and released his last record on Kompakt. As
a member of the Ocean Club (u.a. Gudrun Gut, Tom Thiel, Daniel Meteo)
he is co-responsible for Ocean Club Radio (Radio 1 ORB, SFB) and a club
in club concept with great, seminal nights (in the Berlin Volksbühne)
as well as their creative definition of lounge (in WMF).
08 D METEO: RED ROOF
With Red Roof the journey returns to an abstracted roots tradition. This
track relies on the weight of its rhythmic base and the lightness with
which a little organ tune and Meteo’s guitar mince all over it. Most
recently, Daniel’s well-accentuated guitar could be heard on the
latest Pole album.
09 TTT + D METEO: PERU
"Peru” rests on a carpet of broadly echoing sound layers. The
tradition continued by "Peru” is one of modern crackling, abstract
dub, often connected with labels like scape or Plug Research. Therefore
there is little reggae to be discovered, rather an updated version of
mixing desk distortion introduced by a certain King Tubby.
10 MANASSEH + THE EQUALIZER: KING OF THE LAND
After these digital distortions, allowing dub the status of mixing desk
science, Manasseh + The Equaliser’s "King of the Land”
is centred around song structure. "King of the Land” manages
to sound minimal without exploiting the typical sounds of electronic minimalism.
An expansive, deep tension is hidden within this track, reminiscent of
the greatest moments of Keith Hudson’s seventies dub classic "Pick
a Dub”. NICK MANASSEH is one of the first active radio reggae selectas
in Britain. As a producer he has worked with Response Rec., Acid Jazz
Rec and Select Cuts. On this track, The Equaliser acts as co-producer.
11 A|B vs. MINA: A TO DUB
The original track by Berlin band Mina, otherwise well known for their
take on instrumental indierock disco, has undergone a major metamorphosis
through AJB, resulting in a leisurely-paced bass and drum riddim. Only
close listening will reveal the many tricky percussion effects .- their
subtle funk makes up the real heart of this track. Mina have various releases
on Berlin-based label Bungalow (Labels, Virgin) who also released the
original remix (a to b) of which an AJB dub version can be heard on V.A.
Meteosound.
12 BARBARA MORGENSTERN + THOMAS FEHLMANN: SHAZZI RIDDEM
This track by Barbara Morgenstern and Thomas Fehlmann, too, reminds us
of the classic early nineties digi dub. Their "Shazzi Riddem”
digs down to the rhythmic core. Freed of all genre-connected sound effects
a simultaneously essential and clearly contoured sound study takes shape.
Barbara Morgenstern releases her very own version of pop, indie and electronic
music on Gudrun Gut’s label Monika Enterprise.
13 SUBMISSION: M
With their traditional line-up Berlin dub reggae formation Submission
released their album "Play" in 2000. M is centred around hip
hop grooves and hints of melodies. Estranged and re-shuffled in this remix
they have created a totally new dramaturgy. SUBMISSION have collaborated
with various singers, especially Tikiman, and have appeared in clubs throughout
Europe as well as remixing Rootsman, Quarks, Meteo and others. They will
soon begin to work with Al Haca (Berlin, Different Drummer).
14 JAH MEEK + THE ROOTSMAN: BEAUTIFUL WORLD
As reggae veterans from the 80s The Rootsman and Jah Meeks have been immersed
in tradition from the beginning. Allowing them the last word on this compilation
is not just a reference to the source of dub music - "Beautiful World”
is much more than just a footnote – in a very immediate way it picks
up the spiritual side of reggae. The Rootsman can look back on an extensive
career. He founded the Third Eye label and runs a dubplate studio in which
he records the top ranks of Jamaican singers as well as producing the
stars of UK dub, e.g. Muslimgauze, El Jethoor, Serious Dropouts, Earl
16, Daddy Freddy, Hammerbass, Disciples, Dayjah, Echo Minott, Anthony
Johnson, He Man, Horace Andy, Freddie McGregor... and Jah Meek. Jamaica-born
Jah lives in Frankfurt and is a resident MC of Riddemwise in O25, a crew
centred around Tricky Cris. Together with Gabriel Le Mar he makes up Banned
X and works as a studio musician.
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