Coming from the minds of internationally renowned reggae, dubstep & drum’n’bass DJ LionDub, and the highly respected NYC based producer Ticklah, Liondub45 is a brand new sub-label of the already well established and highly sought after LionDub International imprint which represents the electronic, reggae influenced worlds of Jungle, Drum’n’Bass, and Dubstep. Liondub45 is intent on releasing a catalog of collectible 7”s focusing on deep, vintage dub and scorching Roots Reggae showcasing the talents of a venerable who’s who of modern Dub producers and original foundation vocalists.
LONDUB45-001
Starting things with this brand new label will be a string of releases from one of Dub music’s brightest stars - NYC based producer, keyboard virtuoso, and vintage Reggae producer Victor Axelrod, aka Ticklah. Victor has been a continual and integral part of the NYC music scene for over a decade - as a performer, Ticklah is a founding member of Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Antibalas, the Easy Star All-Stars, and worked with Mark Ronson on both the Amy Winehouse and Daniel Merriweather albums. As a producer, Ticklah was behind the boards for the Dub Side Of The Moon album (co-production, mixing), remixed Shaun Escoffery’s classic “Days Like This” (alongside DJ Spinna), produced 2001’s legendary Roots Combination album, and released his own critically acclaimed solo Ticklah Vs. Axelrod LP on NYC Reggae label Easy Star. The list goes on and on…Victor is a man in very high demand from some very big players for his untouchable musical aesthetics, his intricate attention to detail, and a true understanding of our musical past.
It’s with that level of quality and a true reverence for the past that Ticklah offers us up this very special 7”. Things kick off with Ticklah’s remix of the red hot Jahdan Blakkamoore, whose debut album Buzzrock Warrior on !k7 subsidiary Gold Dust is currently tearing up the charts. Axelrod flips the “The General” into a deep and heavy dub workout complete with an otherworldly skank and analog squelching bass. To the B-Side, “Elimination Game”, a monster slice of dub with a driving Steppers beat, swirling sound effects, deep percussion delays, bubbling organs, and all the studio wizardry we’ve come to expect.
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LIONDUB45-002
After the runaway success of it's premier release, featuring Jahdan Blakkamoore's vivid anthem "The General", Liondub45 returns with another winning 7" pairing New York City dub master Ticklah with the sweet sounds of the late and great Lincoln "Sugar" Minott. As a singer, producer and sound-system organizer Sugar Minott's career chronicles the transformation of reggae music from lovers rock and rub-a-dub to the rise of ragga dancehall and the computerized riddims of today. Mr. Minott launched his solo career at Coxsone Dodd's Studio One where he spearheaded the popular practice of "versioning" existing riddims. He went on to form his own Black Roots label and Youth Promotion sound system which together fostered the careers of a huge number of Jamaica's greatest reggae dancehall artists in Jamaica, The Uk and NYC. Sugar Minott's enormous creative spirit survives him in these beautiful words laid down over a jubilant dub from Ticklah.
NYC based keyboardist, engineer, and producer Victor Axelrod, aka Ticklah, has been an integral part of the NYC music scene for over a decade. He is a founding member of Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Antibalas and the Easy Star All-Stars with whom he continues to record and perform. In the past several years he has recorded keys for Mark Ronson, appearing on Version as well as the Amy Winehouse album. He has released his own Ticklah VS Axelrod LP on NYC reggae label Easy Star, for whom he also co-produced and engineered several roots compilations including the Pink Floyd cover album Dub Side Of The Moon. A longtime fan of Sugar Minot, Mr. Axelrod was thrilled to have the opportunity to record with such a talented and influential artist. The two together have produced a momentous recording.
Praise His Name is an uplifting message for the masses; to give hope to the downtrodden and remind us of our need for spiritual wealth. No one could say it better than Sugar Minott, whose own works supported generations, and here he has done so with a bittersweet minor melody that fits perfectly over Ticklah's rolling bass, muffled rimshot and lush organ sound. Minott's erie harmonies ring out with crystal clarity in the mix which is wrapped in spring reverb, chugging organ and punctuated by glistening agogo bells while rippling echos punch holes in the dub verison. A classic like this comes along once in a life time and this one is for the ages.
Watch out for more 7”s from Ticklah as well as the likes of Johnny Osbourne, Luciano, Judah Eskender Tafari, Courtney John and other reggae legends. Liondub45 - “Our love & respect for Roots Reggae music will never die.”
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Contact: liondub45 (at) gmail.com
Distributed by Crosstalk International here: LIONDUB 45
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