Raga - Tell Dem (Self Release) [Dub Reggae]

Details are a bit thin on the ground, but Raga is a Trinidadian poet, songwriter, and educator based in New York City with a nice line in conscious thoughts and words. For his new album, he's teamed up with Trinidadian-rooted, storied drummer and producer Chris St. Hilaire, who played on, as well as helped co-write, engineer, and not to mention recruit a host of brightly shining NYC reggae lights to the studio, to help realise this Caribbean vision.

I'd already playlisted the poignant and powerful "George Floyd's Dub" in the Slow Dub playlist, but had somehow overlooked the equally accomplished "Leaving You For Dub", and now I'm revisiting the LP it would be remiss not to mention the album whilst I'm here. It's a wide-ranging trawl through reggae history from perky rock steady to Kwesi Johnsonesque dub poetry and classic roots, although it's the deeper, dubbier second half that really hits the spot for me.

The dubs are a mixture of echo chamber rerubs of the vocal cuts and, from what I can tell, original cuts, and worth the entrance price alone. "Dub Disorder" does what a good dub should do, strips out the original's soul essence for a deeper ride, just hinting at the original's musicality with choice instrumental and vocal snippets, on its largely voiceless mission. "Tell Dem about Dub" to be fair doesn't have to do a lot as the original was a dub poetry cut, but the track still says something, even though the original message was lost. "Leaving You for Dub" is a stripped-back, less is more masterclass; "Another Bloodsucker Dub" is surprisingly rhythmically perky and cheerful considering the track title, and is a last dancer's delight before the deeply poignant, funeral marching dub tribute for the murdered in plain sight, "George Floyd".

If you've got any interest in reggae, then come check the album; it's a great throwback listen with something for everyone.

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Playlist Companion

Find Raga in the Slow Dub Playlist.