Roots Archives Forum

The Vitamixer is good I use it all the times. Mixes and blends everything goods. I have the Vitamixer 5000, one of the best things I have bought.

Cuisinart or Hamilton Beach.

Lee Perry has created some of the most unique music ever back in the 70s. His dubs can take you to another place. Listen for example "Callying Butt", "Know Love"... Genius; even if accident has a lot to do with coming up with that sound - imagine if Lee Perry had never been born, and that incredible audio-art would never have existed...
King Tubby created a style that was so deep no extra-jamaican musician at the time could come up with. It changed, even if most people don't know Tubby's music, the philosophy of what music is about - the emphasis on sound, pure sound and rhythm. A revolutionary, totally different perspective on music, created by this forty something tv repairman in a third world country, a postmodern deconstruction of "the song", that no european intellectual could have dreamed of.
Jammy's was a very faithful apprentice, continuing Tubby's style, as good as Tubby himself, when Tubby himself lost interest in it. But the genius apprentice of Tubby's is in my view Mr Scientist. He again created something new - the lucky combination of a brand new band with brand new ideas: the Radics and interest from the overseas market in dub that allowed him to fully go wild in his mixes, man Scientist did something else. Some of his dubs are totally fucked up!
No one, with today's technology, seems to be able to recreate something like that!! Try it, you can't.
All these mixers have unique styles and are very important, they can not be replaced.
Mikey Dread, I don't know if he actually mixed much himself, but his dub albums are to be checked out as well - for the humour, the twisted, mad take on things.
Finally, I want to draw attention to someone who is neglected and underrated by roots cognoscenti (probably because he is popular with non-reggae audience): Mad Professor from the UK. He is really putting 100% in the mix and coming up with creative innovations - his dubs are full of new ideas, truly a joy for those who enjoy some sophistication and inventiveness. One day he will get the respect as a mixer he deserves.

Don't forget Errol T, responsible for the sound of Two Sevens Clash and a lot more Joe Gibbs music. He could do it live too, he was behind the mixing desk for a show I saw with Dennis Brown, Ruddy Thomas, Lloyd Parks and We the People Band a long time ago (I had to leave before it finished to catch the last bus home though!)

I think Barnabas, Maxie and Professor should get more credit. They all did great mixes. Check out Three The Hard Way for Barnabas and Maxie or Cold Crusher for Barnabas or Professor duel with Scientist...

...and Crucial Bunny...

i feel you on the crucial bunny and barnabas DooP!

King Tubbys in my book.