DJ VADIM-DUBCATCHER.

dereksmusicblog ♦ June 9, 2014 ♦ Leave a comment

DJ VADIM-DUBCATCHER.

For Dubcatcher, the followup to DJ Vadim’s critically acclaimed tenth album, Don’t Be Scared, he dawns the role of his alter ego Dubcatcher. There’s a reason for this. Dubcatcher isn’t another hip hop album. Instead, Dubcatcher is album of dancehall reggae. This isn’t DJ Vadim’s first reggae album. No. He’s previously released a reggae album. However, after a string of critically acclaimed hip hop albums, DJ Vadim felt the time was right to change direction. This just happened to coincide with a special anniversary.

DJ Vadim’s career began twenty years ago, when DJ Vadim founded his own record Jazz Fudge in 1994. A year later, DJ Vadim released his debut album Headz Ain’t Ready in 1995. Since then, critical acclaim and commercial success has come DJ Vadim’s way. He’s now a globetrotting DJ whose about to release his eleventh album Dubcatcher, which will be released by BBE Music on 9th June 2014. Dubcatcher however, is very different to Don’t Be Scared. It sees DJ Vadim turn his back on his beloved hip hop in favour of dancehall reggae on Dubctacher. This is just the latest of numerous twists and turns in the career of DJ Vadim.

2014 marks the twentieth anniversary of the first time DJ Vadim spun the wheels of steel in public. Since then, DJ Vadim has played across the globe, including at some of the most prestigious venues and events. This includes the legendary Glastonbury Festival. He’s also played in front of forty-thousand people at the Moscow Street Ball. Then there’s appearances at prestigious festivals like Sonar, Big Chill, Fuji Rock and the Notting Hill Carnival. These are just a few of the 2,500 events DJ Vadim has played at during his twenty year journey entertaining and educating dancers worldwide. However, DJ-ing is just one string to DJ Vadim’s bow.

After founding his own record company Jazz Fudge in 1994, DJ Vadim released his debut album Headz Ain’t Ready in 1995. That was the year DJ Vadim signed to Ninja Tunes, who he released four albums for between 1996 and 2002. 

Having signed to Ninja Tunes in 1995, DJ Vadim released four albums between 1996 and 2002. These albums are referred to as the U.S.S.R. quartet. The U.S.S.R. quartet established DJ Vadim’s reputation as a innovative DJ, who was constantly pushing the musical boundaries and determined to reinvent his music. His Ninja Tunes’ debut was 1996s U.S.S.R. Repertoire (The Theory of Verticality). Two years later, U.S.S.R. Reconstruction (Theories Explained) followed in 1998. Then in 1999, DJ Vadim released U.S.S.R. Life From the Other Side. After U.S.S.R. Life From the Other Side, another three years passed before DJ Vadim released another album.

By then, DJ Vadim was one of the biggest names in hip hop. He was constantly crisscrossing the globe DJ-ing. DJ Vadim was determined to spread the hip hop gospel. During this three year period, DJ Vadim didn’t turn his back on production. He released several singles. This included 2000s Your Revolution, and then Bang Y2 and Up To Ja in 2002. Later in 2002, DJ Vadim released the final instalment in the U.S.S.R. quartet U.S.S.R. The Art of Listening. This brought to an end what’s remembered as a groundbreaking quartet of albums. However, having released four albums in six years for Ninja Tunes, it would be another five years before DJ Vadim released another album. 

During that period, DJ Vadim was busier than ever, producing and DJ-ings. He collaborated with numerous artists, including The Herbaliser, Fat Freddy’s Drop and The Super Furry Artists. After working with other artists, the time came for DJ Vadim to release his next solo album. So DJ Vadim signed to BBE Music and would release his next album in 2007, The Soundcatcher, when sadly, tragedy entered his life.

Five years after he released U.S.S.R. The Art of Listening, DJ Vadim released his first album for his new label BBE Music in 2007. This was The Soundcatcher. It was  return to form from DJ Vadim. Like a conquering hero, he released The Soundcatcher Extras following later in 2007. Then tragedy struck for DJ Vadim in 2007. He was diagnosed with a rare form of eye cancer, Ocular Melanoma. 

Thankfully, DJ Vadim recovered from Ocular Melanoma. Two years later, in 2009, DJ Vadim made his comeback. He released U Can’t Lurn Imaginashun on BBE Music. It was a glimpse of what hip hop had been missing for the past two years.Then two years later, after further collaborations, plenty of globe-trotting DJ-ing trips, came DJ Vadim’s ninth album. 

This was 2011s DJ Vadim Presents The Electric’s Life Is Moving. Just like U Can’t Lurn Imaginashun. It was the third album DJ Vadim released on BBE Music. DJ Vadim Presents The Electric’s Life Is Moving was a fitting followup to U Can’t Lurn Imaginashun. Critics loved the album. So did hip hoppers everywhere. It was vintage hip hop from a hip hop veteran. A year later, DJ Vadim made a welcome return.

When DJ Vadim returned in 2012, he came bearing gifts. This was his tenth studio album Don’t Be Scared. It was released to widespread critical acclaim. Without doubt, Don’t Be Scared was one of the best hip hop albums of 2012. DJ Vadim had set the bar high for his eleventh album. However, DJ Vadim has bowled a curveball.

The followup to Don’t Be Scared isn’t a hip hop album. No. Dubcatcher is an album of dancehall reggae. This being DJ Vadim though, means Dubcatcher isn’t just an album of dancehall reggae. There’s everything from bass culture, boogie, boom bap rap, roots music, soul and UK 2 step soul. Essentially, Dubcatcher is a genre-hopping album where DJ Vadim embarks upon another musical experiment. Helping him along the way, are an extensive cast guest artists.

That’s no exaggeration. On Dubcatcher each of the sixteen tracks on Dubcatcher see DJ Vadim joined by a guest artist. This includes Rio Hemopo, Sabira Jade, Demolition Man, Govenor Tiggy, YT, Dynamite MC, Katrina Blackstone, Jimmy Screech, Jamalski, Karen B and Gappy Ranks. Each of these guest artists play their part in what’s akin to a magical musical mystery tour.

Dubcatcher is like a musical tapestry. DJ Vadim and his guest artists combine musical genres and influences. It’s a musical journey through the music of the last forty years. As a result, the music on Dubcatcher’s playful, joyous and dance-floor friendly. The music is also oozes social comment. This is music with a social conscience. It’s also dubby, and sometimes, takes on a sunshine sound. Dubcatcher is DJ Vadim at his best, producing groundbreaking, genre-melting music. You’ll realise that, when I tell you about Dubcatcher.

Opening Dubcatcher is Hope, where a dubby toaster sets the scene for growling horns, eighties drums and the unmistakable sound of a Hammond organ. That’s the signal for the arrangement to skank along. Sirens howl, before Rio Hemopo delivers a tender, hopeful vocal. He’s accompanied by Sabira Jade. She’s the perfect foil for Rio’s lead vocal. Mostly, her vocal is understated, but later, it soars defiantly. Later, drums crack, becoming dubby, while horns and the Hammond organ play their part in this delicious, and hopeful slice of dancehall reggae. Thankfully, this isn’t the last we’ve heard of Rio Hemopo and Sabira Jade. They make a welcome return on Rise. It’s an inspirational slice of soulful, sunshine sounding music. 

Demolition Man features on three of the tracks on Dubcatcher. The first is If Life Was A Thing. Here, Daddy Vad throws another curveball. Braying horns are joined by hypnotic drums. Briefly, they’re drenched in futuristic, sci-fi effects. That’s the signal for Demolition Man to unleash an impassioned rap. The lyrics are full of social comment, including: “the rich are getting richer, the poor are getting poorer.” Angrily, Demolition Man spits out the lyrics. Meanwhile, the dubby arrangement reverberates into the distance, before growing in power and drama. Lyrical Soldier sees the return of Demolition Man. Again, he delivers a spellbinding rap at breakneck speed. Frustration and anger fill his vocal as he breathes life and meaning into the lyrics. Badman is another genre-melting tracks. Everything from electronica, drum ’n’ bass, hip hop and reggae melts into one as Demolition Man unleashes another vocal tour de force.

Consignment marks the entrance of Governor Tiggy. Against a jaunty, bouncy understated arrangement, Governor Tiggy delivers lyrics full of social comment. Again, the theme is poverty and inequality. A thunderous bass plays a crucial role in the skanking arrangement. Despite that, it Governor Tiggy’s vocal that steals the show. He delivers the lyrics with power and passion as if affronted at the equality and injustice he’s singing about. This isn’t the last we’ve heard of Governor Tiggy. No. We hear a different side to him on the irresistibly catchy  Sweet Like A Lolly, and the hook-laden, dance-floor friendly Ring My Bell. 

Subjects like politics, poverty and war were the type of subjects that featured in the music of the pioneers of dancehall. This is the case with Nah Join. It features more of DJ Vadim’s politically aware lyrics. They deal with the issue of the Afghan war. Here, the lyrics are sung from the perspective of someone refusing to fight in the war. YT unleashes a vocal that’s equal parts anger, frustration and despair. The bass heavy rhythm section are joined by stabs of synths and sci-fi effects. They’re the perfect backdrop for YT’s impassioned plea. Especially when a despairing TY sings: “my heroes are peacemakers.” That’s not the last we’ve heard of YT. 

He returns on Give It Up, where he’s joined by Katrina Blackstone. Against a futuristic, dubby backdrop YT provides the perfect foil for the soulful delights of Katrina Blackstone. Together, they’re responsible for one of the real highlights of Dubcatcher. That’s not the last we’ve heard from Katrina Blackstone. She joins forces with Serocee on Magnetic. Serocee and grizzled horns set the scene for a sassy, sultry vocal from Katrina. Meanwhile, the rhythm section, keyboards and harmonies accompany a soulful, sassy Katrina as she delivers a coquettish vocal. Just like on Give It Up, it’s obvious that Katrina Blackstone is a seriously talented singer.

Originate features Dynamite MC. It’s dancehall, albeit with a modern makeover. This dancehall track has a dubby, futuristic sound. Dynamite MC unleashes a vocal that rivals Demolition Man for speed, power and passion. Later, he sings call and response, before the arrangement becomes dubby and later, mellow and melodic. 

Jimmy Screech takes charge of the vocal  on Action. His vocal is slow, soulful and needy. Rasping horns and a shuffling rhythm section accompany him. Before long it’s all chance. His vocal become a rap, before returning to its earlier slow and soulful sound. This combination results in another genre-melting track. The same can be said other three tracks on Dubcatcher.

Raggamuffin Life. It’s a fusion of dancehall, electronica and funk. Pounding drums, a thunderous bass and stabs of horns accompany Jamalski’s vocal. The result is a track that’s funky, soulful and dance-floor friendly.  Karen B is responsible for a sultry vocal on Pele. It’s a captivating fusion of musical genres and influences. Everything from dancehall, drum ’n’ bass, electronica and funk are combined with opera. It’s a truly innovative fusion that DJ Vadim specialises In. So is Carpenter, which features a heartfelt, spiritual vocal from Gappy Ranks. Quite simply, it’s captivating. Here dancehall is combined with Afro-beat, drum ’n’ bass, dub and electronica. The combination of a genre-melting arrangement and Gappy Ranks’ vocal ensures Dubcatcher closes on an irresistible high.

So that’s the story of DJ Vadim’s eleventh album Dubcatcher. Dubcatcher is the followup to 2012s Don’t Be Scared. It was released to critical acclaim, and hailed one of DJ Vadim’s finest albums. For DJ Vadim, this presented a problem. How do you surpass such a critically acclaimed album? DJ Vadim had a cunning plan. 

Rather than release another hip hop album, DJ Vadim decided to embark upon another of his musical experiments. So for Dubcatcher, DJ Vadim turned his back on hip hop. Instead, he decided to record an album of dancehall reggae. To do this, he needed some help. 

Helping him along the way, are an extensive cast guest artists. Some of these guest artists you might not have heard of. However, that might be about to change.  No wonder. Some of the guest artists are seriously talented. This includes Rio Hemopo, Sabira Jade, Katrina Blackstone, Jimmy Screech and Gappy Ranks. They play a huge part in the sound and success of Dubcatcher, where DJ Vadim returns to dancehall reggae.

This being DJ Vadim it’s not just dancehall reggae. Instead, Dubcatcher is a groundbreaking album of genre-melting music. Dubcatcher is best described as a musical tapestry. DJ Vadim combines everything from Afro-beat to bass culture, boogie, boom bap rap plus drum ’n’ bass, dub, electronica, funk, roots music, soul and UK 2 step soul. Quite simply, Dubcatcher is a myriad of musical genres and influences. During the sixteen tracks on Dubcatcher, DJ Vadim and his special guests take you on the equivalent of a musical magical mystery tour.

During Dubcatcher, DJ Vadim’s latest magical mystery tour through musical genres, he springs a series of surprises. DJ Vadim combines social comment with hooks. Staying true to dancehall’s roots, DJ Vadim isn’t afraid to tackle subjects like inequality, injustice, poverty and war. However, other tracks are hook-laden, joyous and dance-floor friendly. There are, you see, several sides to DJ Vadim’s music. They’re all present and correct on Dubcatcher, where DJ Vadim at his best, producing groundbreaking, genre-melting music.

Quite simply, Dubcatcher is a captivating, roller-coaster musical adventure. Just like on previous albums, DJ Vadim is forever the innovator. He’s forever reinventing his music, constantly crossing and combines musical genres. That’s what we’ve come to expect from DJ Vadim, one of the most innovative hip hop producers of his generation. However, there’s more to DJ Vadim than hip hop.

DJ Vadim shows this on Dubcatcher. It sees DJ Vadim make a welcome return to reggae. Dubcatcher is a modern dancehall album, where DJ Vadim, with a little help from his musical collaborators create a fitting followup to Don’t Be Scared. Dubcatcher which will be released by BBE Music on 9th June 2014 is an innovative and imaginative fusion of musical genres and influences. That’s what we’ve come to expect from DJ Vadim. He certainly hasn’t disappointed. Far from it. Dubcatcher is an innovative dancehall album for the 21st century. On Dubcatcher, DJ Vadim has succeeded in reinventing his music once again. Although Dubcatcher is very different from Don’t Be Scared, it has one thing in common, it oozes quality. That’s what we’ve come to expect from DJ Vadim, one of modern music’s most innovative producers. Proof of that is DJ Vadim’s eleventh album Dubcatcher, which is a fitting way for DJ Vadim to celebrate twenty years in music.

DJ VADIM-DUBCATCHER.