THE REVOLUTIONARIES-CRUESHAL DUB.

dereksmusicblog ♦ July 4, 2011 ♦ 1 Comment

THE REVOLUTIONARIES-CRUESHAL DUB.

Many people who read this blog on a regular basis will know by now that I love dub reggae. In the past I’ve reviewed several dub albums. Today, I’m going to review another great dub album. It’s one that I always enjoy listening to, and features one of the best bands in the history of reggae. This band were the house band at Channel One Studios, and featured some of Jamaica’s best musicians, including Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespear. They were The Revolutionaries, and the album was Crueshal Dub.

The Revolutionaries were formed in 1975, primarily, to be the house band of Channel One Studios. The studios were owned by Joseph Hoo Kim, and when artists came to record at Cannel One, The Revolutionaries would be their backing band. Past members of The Revolutionaries included Ossie Hibbert and Ansel Collins, Sly Dunbar on drums, Robbie Shakespear on bass, Bertram McLean on guitar and Tommy McCook on saxophone. Their line up reads like a who’s who of Jamaican music. Over the years they played on numerous dub albums. They also backed many great artists, most of whom were reggae artists. This would include, Black Uhuru, Gregory Isaacs, John Holt, Culture, Tapper Zukie, The Heptones and French singer-songwriter Serge Gainsbourg. 

Crueshal Dub, the album this article is about, is one of many great albums the band recorded. I’ve been listening to much of their music recently, and it was really hard choosing an album to write about. In the end I chose this album. I’ll now tell you what makes it such an outstanding dub album. Crueshal Dub opens with Cell Block Dub. Drums roll, an organ plays brightly, transformed by echo. Ossie Hibbert the producer, isn’t afraid to use the effects. More drums enter the mix, they accompany the organ solo. Both are mangled by echo. The effect is powerful. A trumpet plays, it too, is given the treatment by Hibbert. What you’re hearing is dub in all its glory. Echo and delay are used widely, making this one fantastic slice of heavy dub reggae.

Dub My Whole World Up is the next track on the album. As the track starts, the drums are loud, right at the front of the mix. An organ plays, quickly the effects kick in. When that happens, the drums reverberate, echo is used heavily. It’s a great sound, to some people it sounds like a musical car crash. If you like dub, you’ll love this. The sound is big and loud, percussion plays, rhythms are played on an organ, the drums are frantic. They assault your eardrums and punish your speakers. Remember, the best way to listen to a great dub track like this, is loudly.

The sound is slightly different at the start of Fancy Dub Up. As the track starts the drums and organ are neither as loud or prominent in the mix. The use of effects isn’t as heavy as on the previous tracks. This allows you to hear the rhythms and melodies. The sound is bright and summery. Then Ossie Hibbert decides to get out his arsenal of effects. Suddenly, the sound changes. We’re into dub territory again. The sound is duller, drums are echoey, full of space. It isn’t as harsh as the previous tracks. It’s one of the album’s best tracks, and one of my favorite track by The Revolutionaries.

A brass section plays at the start of Dubbing Storm, accompanying the drums, drums which are crisp and loud. The track meanders along, there is some clever interplay between the brass section and the drums. Effects are used sparingly. They don’t overpower the track, instead, add to it, highlighting parts of the track. Drums become echoey and spacious. Throughout the track, the brass section are brilliant, and bring the track to life. This makes the track very different from previous tracks, and like Fancy Dub Up, is another highlight of the album.

Straight away, on Ten To One Dub Ossie Hibbert puts his effects to good use. Drums echo, the brass section reverberate, the organ echoes into way into the distance. Nothing is spared, they all benefit from his production skills. He doesn’t overdo it though. You can still hear some wonderful rhythms and melodies emerge. They bring to mind sunny days lolling on a beach in Jamaica, something exotic in your glass and the sun on your back. This track takes you there, such is its power. Like the last two tracks on the album, it’s very different from the first two tracks on the album, which had a heavier dubby sound. I like that sound, but many people may be put off by the sound.

The quality keeps on coming with Dress Back Dub, another great track. As the track starts, the sound is bright, breezy and with more than a hint of summer. Dress Back Dub is a track that ambles along, almost understated, just a brass section organ and drums. Again, Hibbert resists the urge to mangle the sound to within an inch of its life. That’s no bad thing, he allows a fantastic track to emerge. He’s found a happy medium, when it comes to the use of effects. This only comes with experience, and Hibbert had produced many albums by this time. The track is a combination of great musicians and an experienced producer working in unison.

When Dubbing West starts, the drums are loud, right at the front of the arrangement. They’re joined there by the brass section, who slowly play, leaving loads of space in the music. Hibbert uses echo to transform their sound. It reverberates, the drums are given the same treatment. It’s effective, improves the brass section, who are playing a melody that much of the time, goes nowhere. It’s heading down a dead end, slowly, very slowly. It’s a track that meanders, slowly, it’s full of space. There playing is good, like all the musicians on this track. The track is a good one, although not among the best on the album.

On Swinging My Dub the sound is loud and full. The brass section open the track. Quickly, they’re joined by drums and a keyboard. Then the drums take charge, they move to the front, a lovely keyboard solo drifts in, and out, the track. Whilst the drums are big and bold, almost in your face, the keyboard is the opposite, light and gentle. When the brass section play, they veer between subtle and brash. Sometimes when Hibbert unleashes the effects, your speakers quake, you fear for their health and wellbeing. Overall, the sound is impressive, the track brilliant, an example of musicians at the very top of their game.

Crueshal Dub ends with Unknown Dub. Drums and the brass section play. The brass section elbow the drums out of the way, wanting their moment in the sun. When they do, it’s impressive, one of their best performances on the albums. Drums are highly effective, the sound loose and spacey, nicely repetitive. Effects aren’t overused. Their use is subtle and sparing. It’s an example of less is more. By the end of the track, you want more, so good was the track. You end up reaching over and pressing repeat, indulging yourself with this wonderful slice of glorious dub.

The Revolutionaries have long been among my favorite reggae bands. They produced many wonderful albums, all full of some wonderful dub reggae. Many people may never have heard their music, as they’re some of the unsung heroes of reggae music. You’ll have heard their music on many other reggae albums, but may not have heard their own albums. Maybe it’s time to rectify this. Crueshal Dub is one of the best albums they ever made. Each track is a great one. The reason for this si simple, The Revolutionaries were made up of some of the most talented musicians Jamaica has ever produced, and Ossie Hibbert is one of Jamaica’s best producers. He may not be as well known as other producers like King Tubby and Lee “Scratch” Perry. However, he has produced numerous great albums, too many to list here. 

If you like reggae or dub reggae, you should buy Crueshal Dub. It’s a great album, one that deserves a place in your record collection. Incidentally, you are now able to buy this album as part of a four disc box set entitled The Evolution of Dub Volume 5-The Missing Link. As well as Crueshal Dub, you will find three other discs. One more by The Revolutionaries and two by Sir Coxsone Sound. Should you buy either this album, or the box set, remember, the only way to listen to dub is loudly. So crank up the volume, and enjoy! Standout Tracks: Fancy Dub Up, Dubbing Storm, Dress Back Dub and Unknown Dub. 

THE REVOLUTIONARIES-CRUESHAL DUB.