Limited to 600 12" vinyl copies for the world. No repress, no digital. Bristol’s Dubkasm is an absolute pillar of the worldwide roots, dub, and sound system movement. In fact it’s hard to imagine the contemporary UK dub scene without them. Massive releases on Peng! Sound, Bristol Archive, ZamZam, and especially their own Sufferah’s Choice and Dubkasm labels have made Stryda & Digistep household names among lovers of contemporary sound system reggae. Holding down and forwarding traditional dubplate culture for 25 years now, “Two X Two” showcases two slices of two different tunes, both in a raw steppers style, and demonstrates why they are among the world’s most beloved groups, a link back to the elder generations of Bristol sound, and a beacon to the younger.
“Discipline,” presented in two pieces, cuts to the chase with a massive, relentless, fully saturated digital bassline blasting straight into the future of dubwise steppers. No surprise that it has a ‘Year 3000’ vibe, as it was, in Stryda’s words “originally built for Iration Steppas to run at Teachings In Dub against his pupil Sinai Sound. All those who remember the dubplate special version “schooool him iyaaaah..!!” If the main mix, "Discipline", feels extra heady for a ‘Part 1,’ the "Lights On Mix" charts a course even further into reverb space with the tape echo running mad and the snares ricocheting to infinity.
Opening with a beautifully resonant piano figure, “The Key” featuring Ashanti Selah is another propulsive steppers, also presented in two pieces, this one with a galloping live-drums feel, Digi’s sax surfacing majestically through the flurry of syndrum and rim shots. Of “The Key” Stryda says “it’s been played by Aba Shanti-I on dubplate for the past couple of years, and there is a Keety Roots vocal and horns cut which rumour has it will see the light of day next year…” Stay tuned!!
