Easy Star All-Stars
(Dubber Side Of The Moon) 2010
Easy Star Records
Easy Star All-Stars first released Dub Side of The Moon back in 2003 paying tribute to one of the most successful albums ever produced, Pink Floyd's Dark Side of The Moon. Since it's release Easy Star All-Stars have released similar tribute albums to The Beatles Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, and Radiohead's Ok Computer. With a followup DVD and increidble success Easy Star All-Stars have put together a very dubbed out reggae infused album with Dubber Side of The Moon.
The album begins with a very upbeat and techno-tronic dubbed version of "Speak To Me"/"Breathe" bringing a futuristic and full sounding feel to the famous tracks. With seamless changes the album flows smoothly in "On The Run" and then into "Time". Time is remixed by Groove Corporation and has dub-step tendencies with radically progressive reggae beats....The break down sections of Time are some of the high points, with backing lyrics echoeing from the background to the fore-front, a very unique take on this timeless classic.
"The Great Gig In the Sky" takes you through an intense spacious journey from the beginning background electronics to the dropping in of the drums and bass that move and sway perfectly in sway with the songs slow and tripped out feel. The Alchemist Remix of "Money" is one of the most dub-step influenced tracks on the album with tell-tale piano driving the reverberated lyrics that at times get lost behind the movement and sounds filling the track.
Other tracks on the album include a very fun and driving back and forth version of "Us and Them", remixed by Dreadzone. Also a very twisted and driving remix of "Any Colour You Like" that is smothered over with trippy keyboard sounds and backed with a trip-hop like beat. The album finishes up with Brain Damage and Eclipse, both very progressive and futuristic versions of the originals.
The entire album is full of dub heavy tracks that pay homage to the amazing craftsmanship of the original Dark Side Of The Moon, but even more importantly it expands on the Dub Side Of The Moon release of seven years previous. Sounding more electronic/dub and less reggae at times it still stays true to it's roots and expands the listeners mental horizons of how a tribute album can be unique in it own way and push the fringes of musical mix-mashery while not swaying far from the center at any given point.
While some hard core Floyd fans might find this album hard to take in in it's entirety, it's island flavored roots based tracks and upbeat spacey remixes will be found not only palatable but most enjoyable by all, especially those partial to Floyd's more spacey and jammed out songs, as well as reggae and electronic beats.
The album includes four bonus remixes of "On The Run", "Money" and a "Time" (Called Time Version), which is this reviewers personal favorite. The record features bass heavy remixes of the entire Dub Side of the Moon album by Groove Corporation, Mad Professor, Adrian Sherwood, 10 Ft Ganja Plant, Dubphonic, Dreadzone, Victor Rice, Dubmatix and many more. It comes out October 26 (October 18 in the UK). On tour now Easy Star All-Stars are performing multiple dates across the West Coast before heading over to the UK for multiple shows, returning to perform with many other great musicians on the 9th Annual Jam-Cruise.
By: Samuel Martin
By: Samuel Martin
1 comments:
I want to roll and hear what you are talking about.
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