Recommend to me some lo-fi dancehall

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

The cheaper and nastier, the better.

― colin s barrow (colin s barrow), Tuesday, 29 July 2003 04:58 (twenty-two years ago)

all dancehalll is cheap, that's why the intricacy and stuff is so surprising and interesting... do you want dirty-sounding dancehall specifically...

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Tuesday, 29 July 2003 08:26 (twenty-two years ago)

the bug album on rephlex is really good if not genuine jamaican dancehall. for that go to dub vendor or greensleaves websites and pick at random. my knowledge of the genre is slim cos you can rarely get any of the 7"s this far from london.

― simon 803 (simon 803), Tuesday, 29 July 2003 11:56 (twenty-two years ago)

'step it up' on the WICKED RIDDIM by Baby Cham and Harry Toddler's version of 'pass the courvoisier' on the QUAKE RIDDIM are the cheapest i've heard this year ('step it up' being the loveliest also)

― sean g, Tuesday, 29 July 2003 13:49 (twenty-two years ago)

I too eagerly await answers to this question. However in my experience all dancehall sounds best/dirtiest when played outdoors at top volume from worn-down 10-foot-high amps and giant woofers.

― amateurist (amateurist), Tuesday, 29 July 2003 14:20 (twenty-two years ago)

dave's right. just listen to some stuff from the 80s if you want dirty. grab some sleng teng versions and turn 'em up LOUD.

― cybele (cybele), Tuesday, 29 July 2003 20:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Thank you all.

― colin s barrow (colin s barrow), Tuesday, 29 July 2003 21:05 (twenty-two years ago)

I've got a bloody excellent version of Baby Cham over the Wicked Riddim called "Wha Dat Fah" or something like that. Is this the same track as the one you're talking about sean? You're right, the wicked riddim is great, but it actually reminds me of Aphrodite a bit (*good* Aphrodite obviously) - it almost sounds like half-speed jungle.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Wednesday, 30 July 2003 01:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, the best version is 'Step It Up' by Baby Cham & Frankie Sly though. The vocal is really lighthearted and fun; the toasters tripping over the wobble-synth line and cracking up at every oppurtunity. Ha, it starts with the "na-na na-na na" refrain from "The Hotstepper"! Really slack. I see the Aphrodite comparison definitely, alongside a clear late 90's bounce influence and a recent Missy-esque old skool quality. I just love its beatlessness and that jaunty synth line, it's a nice respite from the bollywood stuff that's currently flooding the market.

― sean g, Wednesday, 30 July 2003 10:56 (twenty-two years ago)

I mean, alot of the recent Bhangra inspired riddims are SO heavy on the beat that it distracts from the performers. Instead of the toasters providing extra rhythms and melodys the beats dictate the vocal, which makes listening to entire riddim albums a chore. Take the Diwali riddim, the only vocalist i've heard really shine and control the beat (apart from Sean Paul, who is undoubtedly aided by the trebly synth staps you pointed out) is Lumidee. Stuff like the wicked riddim, especially the version i mentioned, appeal to me because the beat, while remaining zesty and bouncy and innovative allowes the performer's energy and charism to be the focus. He becomes the dread pon the controls again, the DJ, not just a name.

― sean g, Wednesday, 30 July 2003 11:09 (twenty-two years ago)

can't agree here - the album is not a chore, spesh considering the diff rhythm edits the voice receives, makes it pretty easy to listen to as opposed to, say, those 40-odd track martial arts endurance tests etc... also bounty killer's sufferer fucking owns the diwali rhythm...

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Wednesday, 30 July 2003 11:27 (twenty-two years ago)

I like that Lumidee track. Is it just me or does the fact her voice is quite weak make a refreshing change from the usual R&B gymnastics?

― Nathan W (Nathan Webb), Wednesday, 30 July 2003 11:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah definitely. You can even hear her voice fall out of tune slightly at one point! I'm just a sucker for that kind of rrrealness vocal style, the same that Aaliyah had, Kelis has, Tweet has, Mary J has; where the personality of the vocalist over-rides any techinical short comings. She also looks really buff!

― sean g, Wednesday, 30 July 2003 12:05 (twenty-two years ago)

I see your point Sean - on my last CD-R I had "Wha Dat Fah" comes after Elephant Man's "Fuck U Sign" as a deliberate shift, and likewise the relative simplicity of Hard Drive inspires some great performances (Elephant Man's "Online", TOK's "Pengeleng") but at the same time I've been consistently impressed by the variety of performances you get over the heavier riddims - think "Fuck U Sign" versus "My Dickie", "Sweet To The Belly" versus Sizzla's "These R Da Dayz" etc.

You should hear the "All Out" and "Mudslide" riddims - not Indian but really electro-ish with their huge buzzing synth riffs, and because of that they balance out the Indian tunes really well.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Thursday, 31 July 2003 01:22 (twenty-two years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.