The Version: Dub pt.1 Love is the Message: Dance, Music and Counterculture

In this week's episode Tim and Jeremy dive headlong into Dub. They discuss the changing meaning of the term, the difficulties in charting the history of the music, and explore the work of two of the pioneers of the sound, Lee 'Scratch' Perry and King Tubby. Jeremy and Tim discuss the sonic properties of dub, including the innovative use of reverb and delay, as well as the distinctive vocal practice of toasting and the starring role performed by the bass in this new musical form.

Tim and Jeremy also talk about why the innovations of Dub took place in Jamaica, the importance of addition and subtraction to the dub producers, and the persistent dialectic between seriousness and playfulness out of which so much Dub emerges. In this spirit, we also hope you enjoy the special LITM theme music version. Back in a fortnight with more - stay dubwise. 

Tim Lawrence and Jeremy Gilbert are authors, academics, DJs and audiophile dance party organisers. They’ve been friends and collaborators since 1997, teaching together and running parties since 2003. With clubs closed and half their jobs lost to university cuts, they’re inevitably launching a podcast.

Produced and edited by Matt Huxley.  

Tune in, Turn on, Get Down!  

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Tracklist:

Les Paul & Mary Ford - How High The Moon
Richie Havens - Indian Rope Man
Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity - Indian Rope Man
Bob Marley & the Wailers - African Herbsman
Lee 'Scratch' Perry - African Herbsman (Dub Version)
King Tubby & Augustus Pablo - King Tubby Meets the Rockers Uptown
Junior Byles - Curly Locks
Augustus Pablo - Curly Dub
Sir Gibbs - People Grudgeful
The Abyssinians - Satta Massagana
Joe Gibbs - Satta Amasa Gana Version
King Tubby - Weeping Dub

Books:
Michael Veal - Dub: Soundscapes and Shattered Songs in Jamaican Reggae