There are not many dub albums out there these days but the idiom is alive and kicking. Recently, The Fatman Riddim Section (which includes Roger Lewis and Skatta Burrell of Inner Circle) teamed with The Lickshots from Long Island on “Big Man Sound”, a six-song EP released April 16 by Dub Shot Records. 

They put a rootsy, sonic spin on classic rhythms such as Dennis Brown’s “Revolution”, “Satta Masa Gana” by The Abyssinians, as well as the timeless instrumentals “The Answer” and “Heavenless”. 

Lewis, Inner Circle’s co-founder and rhythm guitarist and Chris Schlarb of Dub Shot Records, are executive producers for “Big Man Sound”. 

“Roger and Skatta chose the songs and performed the initial ‘riddims’. I received the first versions of the songs in April, 2020. Roger and I discussed a plan to have the songs reworked with The Lickshots,” Schlarb disclosed. 

Jimmy McGerald and Nick Fantastic comprise The Lickshots who are best known for producing the 2008 Hard Times ‘riddim’ which drove hits like Capleton’s “That Day Will Come” and I Wayne’s “Living in Love”. 

Though reggae scholars point to dub’s genesis in the 1960’s, the bass-heavy sound took off exploded a decade later through genius audio engineer Osbourne “King Tubby” Ruddock. Other key exponents were musician/producer Augustus Pablo and Yabby You. 

Dub retains a loyal following throughout Europe, Japan and parts of the United States.

Written By Howard Campbell