Dub Avalanche Vol. 1

First chapter of a futuristic dub experiment series by The 18th Parallel. Geneva based collective invites engineer extraordinaire Roberto Sánchez to revisit 10 scorcher riddims from the Fruits Records vault to craft this inventive modern classic. Reminiscent of the greatest dub albums by King Tubby, Scientist, Prince Jammy, or Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry.

Fruits Records presents the first volume of a series of dub albums by Swiss collective The 18th Parallel. Following in the tradition of Jamaican producers who revisited their catalogues in dub versions, such as Bunny Lee and his Aggrovators with King Tubby, Junjo Lawes or Linval Thompson teaming up with Roots Radics and Scientist, or Joe Gibbs and his Professionals with Errol Thompson, Fruits Records is launching a series of dub albums produced by the label's studio band, The 18th Parallel, which will invite different sound engineers to (re)mix the tracks throughout the albums: DUB AVALANCHE. This first volume offers a deep dive into the label's catalogue through ten classic or unreleased riddims revisited by Fruits Records' long-time partner, Spanish sound engineer extraordinaire Roberto Sánchez. The instrumentals are brilliantly performed by The 18th Parallel and punctuated by the voices of legendary artists such as The Viceroys, Lone Ranger, Cornell Campbell, and Dennis Walks, who appear fleetingly before disappearing into clouds of echo. Roberto Sánchez performs ten explosive, creative sound deconstructions, playing with stylistic codes to stimulate our memory and offer a timeless sensory experience.

Like the classics of the genre, the cover art evokes a quirky retro-futuristic imaginary space where, breaking with convention, the talent of Mexican artist Melissa Santamaría is expressed through a striking metaphor of a sonic avalanche.

DUB AVALANCHE VOL. 1 is already establishing itself as a future must-have for fans of uncompromising reggae and dub! 

Tracklist

A1.   North Face
A2.   Serious Matter
A3.   At First Sight
A4.   Steep Gully

B1.   Sound Collapse
B2.   Pothole Invasion
B3.   Worldwide Confusion
B4.   Stars Above
B5.   Metamorphism

Credits

Drums: Antonin Chatelain, Leroy ‘Horsemouth’ Wallace (B4)
Bass: Stuf Addis, Quentin Stern (A4), Primo Viviani (B2, B4)
Piano, organ, clavinet, solina, würlitzer, moog, percussion: Mathias Liengme
Organ: Mihran Abrahamian (A3)
Clavinet, synare: Reuben Telford (A5)
Rhythm guitar, pick guitar (A3, A5): Léo Marin
Lead and pick guitars: Solal Excoffier
Percussion: Loïc Moret (A4, B3, B4)
Trumpet: Alexandre Schneiter, Gorka Fernández (A5)
Electronic trumpet: Raphael Anker (B5)
Alto saxophone: Saioa Jorrín (A5)
Tenor saxophone: Anant Pradhan (B3), Michael Pellegrini (B4)
Trombone: Anthony Dietrich Buclin, Gorka Fernández (A5), Matteo D’Amico (B2)

With guest vocalists: Dennis Walks, The Viceroys, Lone Ranger, The Mighty Gravillons, Cornell Campbell, The I-Twins