Dub Colossus - Dub Will Tear Us Apart '2010

Tracks list

In 2006 Nick Dubulah Page, British producer, multi-instrumentalist and founding
member of Transglobal Underground and Syriana, first travelled to Ethiopias
capital Addis Ababa. His aim was to collaborate with musicians and explore
traditional Azmari styles, 60s Ethiopian pop, Ethiojazz and 70s Jamaican Dub
Reggae. He came across some amazingly talented artists – female vocalists
Tsedenia Gebremarkos and Sintayehu Mimi Zenebe, Ethiojazz pianist Samuel Yirga,
tenor sax player Feleke Hailu and Teremage Woretaw on messenqo (one-string
fiddle) and vocals.
Dub Colossus was born. The first recordings were exclusively previewed on
Society of Sound. Then followed the critically acclaimed debut album A Town
Called Addis, (2008) and a series of outstanding live shows.
Especially for Society of Sound, the band have put together ‘Dub Will Tear
Us Apart’, featuring ten brand new tracks fresh from studio sessions in
Real World, Edinburgh and Addis Ababa. Highlights include Dub Colossus’
Anglo-Ethiopian version of the reggae classic, “Uptown Top Ranking”,
written and originally performed by Jamaican girl duo Althea & Donna, which
topped the UK singles chart in 1978. It had a big effect on me, explains Nick
Page, seeing it on Top Of The Pops… it was a first in many ways.
The connection between Ethiopia and Jamaica has been well documented, especially
with regards to the lyrical content of a lot of Jamaican Roots Reggae music. Dub
Colossus’ dread Abesha version is fronted by Sintayehu and Tsedenia, with
UK/Jamaican guest MC JP Higgins.

Other highlights include Guragignia, a ferociously funky Ethiopian song which
sounds like a blue taxi going at full speed with no brakes during rush hour in
Addis Ababa. A live show favourite, it features lead vocals by Sintayehu. Selemi
is another live favourite, an Ethio-Funk stomper fronted by Tsedenia supported
by the keyboards of Samuel Yirga and saxes of Feleke Hailu, that morphs into a
southern Ethiopian rhythm of release. In contrast, Medina is a Teremage Woretaw
traditional solo track, for voice and messenqo. A gospel song performed to mark
a period of fasting, Teremage sings in growling wild swoops as he bows his
messenqo with an intense energy.
Dub Will Tear Us Apart features members of the current live band for the first
time: drummer Nick Van Gelder (ex Jamiroquai, Brand New Heavies), bass player Dr
Das (ex Asian Dub Foundation), vocalist PJ Higgins (Natacha Atlas, Almamegretta,
Kenneth Bager), as well as the wonderful Horns of Negus, who recently worked
with Dr John, Dizzee Rascal, The Streets, consisting of Ben Somers (tenor and
baritone sax), Robert Dowell (trombone) and Jonathan Radford (trumpet).

Tracklist:
01. Dub Colossus - Dub Will Tear Us Apart (6:41)
02. Dub Colossus - Wey Fikir (4:21)
03. Dub Colossus - Yeh Shimbraw Tir Tir (4:22)
04. Dub Colossus - Dub Me Tender (4:23)
05. Dub Colossus - Satta Massagans (inst version) (3:43)
06. Dub Colossus - Kuratu (5:09)
07. Dub Colossus - Uptown Top Ranking (5:04)
08. Dub Colossus - Guragigna (5:14)
09. Dub Colossus - Medina (3:07)
10. Dub Colossus - Selemi (6:42)

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