Various Artists - Jahtarian Dubbers Vol. 5 (Jahtari)

The Slow Music Movement
2 days ago
2 min read

I’ve been a fan of Leipzig’s Jahtari label since day one, you should be too if you like a bit of reggae, and digi-dub in particular. If you’re unsure, digi-dub was spawned during the 80s as the ever curious Jamaican producers started to embrace the new, now affordable music gear appearing in the shops. I don’t know if it’s because the raw, low-bit sound of those early circuit boards is a welcome antidote to today’s often over polished, annoyingly perfect productions or if it just takes me down memory lane - perhaps both, but I’m here for it and in the right hands it still sounds relevant.

Jahtari has always been eclectic so you’ll just have to go with the flow. The selection kicks off with the recently departed activist and DJ extraordinaire Dave Watt’s sample heavy, hip hop driven dub deviance. Next up Kiki Hitomi keeps things equally wayward with some speaker mashing bass, a Gameboy riddim and outsider vocals. “Casio Hippop” sees things getting a bit more recognisably reggae with an Inner City nodding, stripped back, easy skanking dub.

Next up El Fata’s, “Boom Sound” gets the party started with some positive party lyrics and a perky dancehall riddim before Jura Soundsystem switch the vibe to deep smokers dub - one for the heads at the back of the room, before the evergreen Pupajim keeps it deep but ups the skankability and reintroduces the vocal encouragement to hit the floor. Next up Noda & techno legend Wolfers spread the word to the unaware that they’ve been bossing the dance as well as the rave in recent times. Speng Bond then twists up a serious dub meets dancehall cone, closely followed by the lighter, brighter tones and horn heavy “Voidout Dub”- one last workout, before Tiiu Helinä drops a heavyweight ethereal floater to remind reggae’s digi-misfits that they’ll always have a home in Lepzig. There’s also plenty more to discover in their back catalogue.