The Profound Appeal of Dub: Recommended Masterpieces and a Popular Classic
If you know the music genre called dub, chances are you’re a serious music lover who frequents record shops.
While it’s a genre derived from reggae, it’s also a production method, and its world is incredibly deep and profound.
This article focuses on classic, essential albums recommended for beginners, while also highlighting releases that trace the roots from authentic Jamaican roots dub to UK dub, as well as works in post-punk and new wave that bear dub’s influence.
Even those who usually listen mainly to rock will find plenty to enjoy—so be sure to check it out!
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- Masterpieces, fan favorites, and new 21st-century staples for reggae beginners
- [For Beginners] Introducing Recommended Overseas Reggae Bands and Groups!
- From the UK! The Allure of Grime — Essential Albums and Fan Favorites to Start With
- Classic rock masterpieces: a roundup of must-listen albums
- [For Beginners] Popular Post-Rock Songs in Western Music: A Curated List of Recommended Classics
- A collection of classic progressive rock albums: popular records you should listen to at least once.
- [UK Music] A Britpop masterpiece. One recommended album.
The Profound Allure of Dub: Recommended Masterpieces and Popular Picks (21–30)
KilimanjaroIration Steppas Meet Dennis Rootical
Iration Steppas, alongside ABA SHANTI-I and others, are residents of the UK’s largest dub event, University of Dub, and are one of Europe’s top New Roots Reggae and Dub sound systems.
Dubstep, said to have evolved from Roots & Culture and Dub sound systems, remains a globally thriving DJ style and dance sound.
It stands at the core of bass music/dub/reggae and is heavily played across sound systems worldwide.
Kilimanjaro is a dub-style track released in 1995 on the Iration Steppa label.
RUNAWAY GIRLU Roy
Ewart Beckford, better known as U-Roy, is a Jamaican vocalist active since 1962 and is considered a pioneer of reggae toasting.
This track is included on the album “Dread in a Babylon,” released in 1975.
The profound allure of dub: recommended masterpieces and a popular pick (31–40)
High Than the SunPrimal Scream
Primal Scream is a rock band formed in 1982 in Glasgow, Scotland.
Their 1991 album Screamadelica, which spans House, Dub, Downtempo, and Indie Rock styles, is a landmark work that expanded the possibilities of dance music and rock, and it won the inaugural Mercury Music Prize in 1992.
“Higher Than the Sun” is a Dub-style track from the Screamadelica album.
Give Thanks & PraiseJohnny Clark
Johnny Clarke is a reggae singer born in 1955 in Kingston, Jamaica.
He released a single in 1973 produced by Clancy Eccles, and from 1974 he recorded many classic tracks with Bunny Lee Production.
In 1985 he moved to London, released two albums on the Ariwa label, and has been active as a vocalist in the roots rock scene.
“Gibe Thanks” is a track in a dub/roots reggae style from the album of the same title released on the Ariwa label in 1985, produced by Mad Professor.
Rocky Shores from a Birds EyeDESTROY BABYLON
Destroy Babylon is a band formed in 2001 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Their sound draws on a wide range of influences, including post-punk, dub, and Jamaican backing bands.
This track is included on their 2006 album, Oligopuzzled.
Song Of LifeLeftfield
Leftfield is a techno duo formed in London, UK in 1990 by Paul Daley and Neil Barnes.
They gained popularity across a wide range of styles including techno, house, reggae, dub, hip hop, and breakbeats.
The group disbanded in 2002 so the members could focus on solo projects, but they reunited in 2010 and released their first original album in 16 years in 2015.
Song of Life is a house/dub-style single released in 1992.
Smiling DubJah Shaka
Jah Shaka is a British reggae musician and soundman, born in the late 1950s in Clarendon Parish, Jamaica.
He moved to the UK at the age of eight and launched a reggae sound system there in the late 1960s, beginning to produce music as a recording artist around the 1980s.
The name “Shaka” derives from Shaka Zulu, the 18th-century Zulu king.
He is regarded as a pioneer who paved the way for UK roots reggae, a strand distinct from Jamaican styles, and has influenced artists such as Basement Jaxx.
“Smiling Dub” is a track from the album Far I Ship Dub.