Roots Archives Forum

Hi reggae people,

It's my first post on this (irie) forum, so I present myself briefly.
I'm from Marseille, France, I'm 25, and roots addikt for long time!

I like dubstep too, so I bought this lp, Izyah Davis meets King earthquake, and when I listenned to it I was very surprised : the bass is quasi non existent, it's quite hard to hear it.

So it's hard to enjoy dubstep with this very low bass, despite a good Izyah Davis on this lp...

Does someone have this lp with the same problem, or is it just the pressing of mine??

I would not consider King Earthquake productions being 'dubstep'. You probably mean 'steppers'.

The bass is mixed very deep on a sub-level. Most of the time these productions are done for soundsystem use. It's very hard to catch the bassline on a normal hi-fi set in the livingroom. A thing you don't have with the original 70's roots.

Thanx for your answer I-defenda.

I have a good ampli and big speakers, it's a bit more than a normal hi fi set, so I can have a relatively heavy bass in my living room

But above all, I have other uk sounds, like jah warrior lps, and the bass is normal, that's why I thought there was a problem with king earthquake vinyl...

And just a question, cause I'm not a specialist in UK reggae, what's the difference between steppers and dubstep (it was the same for me..)?

Good question - `What`s the difference between steppers and dubstep?` new UK reggae is becoming more like dubstep than reggae and at some UK reggae dances people go up to the selector and say `Can you play some reggae now!!`
King Earthquake and others are using a bass that has very low frequencies that don`t sound loud but only have a feel played on hi-fi`s you can only pick up all the bass sounds with a graphic EQ to bring the bass sounds up!! So it`s not a bad recording, they set it like that!!

peace

Yes I stepping razor, It's clear that this kind of music is better inna sound system, but regretably there are not UK sound systems every week or even every month in Marseille.

I just wanted to enjoy this music sometimes at home, but I think I will go back to my roots vinyl...

I'm listenning some good wackies, and I can feel the bass (and I think my neighbours might feel it too!)!

Irie

The new UK steppers tunes mostly sound the same as each other. The early UK steppers tunes 1985 - 1998 are much better and was the foundation of what is made today. With better rhythms and actual songs and it is a lot more musical.

peace

Check out on RA`s thread of favourite podcasts that has reggae music from the 70`s - 90`s. http://www.roots-archives.com/forum/read.php?3,71485 there`s a varied collection of differant styles of reggae.

peace

Ok, thanx for these interesting informations.

And just another question because you seem to have a good knowledge about uk sound.

For long time I want to get a jah shaka lp, and I think it should be good for a home listenning according to what you say.

Which one would you recommand to me?

Yes they are all good recordings on Jah Shaka LP`s. There are pure dub LP`s, Vocal LP`s, and dubs to the vocal LP`s. There are a lot of reggae music sites for new music that has sound clips of each track from the lps. I think Jah Shaka is the best of all the sound systems bringing out records/cds. They would be easy to get in France as well as Shaka now and again plays dances in France. Ernie b has 93 shaka tunes listed with sound clips of each track on the vinyl LPs and some cds ernie b in the USA link: - http://www.ebreggae.com/Home.asp?FFID=9 ... AAN=&X3QT=
It`s such a long link for the Shaka page it`s not even a third through, so there`s the link and type in Jah Shaka in the search engine and the page will come up.

peace

I know well ernie b, and I appreciate these audio clip which often helped me for my choices.

But sometimes I feel it's hard to really be aware of the "quality" of a lp, if you know what I mean, because it's short and it doesn't sound like it will on your turntable.

I especially feel it with dub lp (I'm searching for a shaka dub recording), and it has always prevent me from making a ckoice between the shaka vinyls of ernie b...

That's why I asked you your personal (and subjective) opinion.