Ain't No Dub, the band
When a punk-rock bass player meets a Soul man who is granted with a voice a la "Screamin' Jay Hawkins", a former playing comrade of Paul Personne and of the Irish band The Commitments (from the famous movie), this results in Ain't No Dub. The song Tomorrow is the best example of this.
This band with neo-eighties accents - that mixes in jubilation electronic sounds and synth sequences together with Hammond organs and Rhodes pianos; saturated guitars, bottleneck or flamenco with bouzouki and mandolin, cello and alto violins; rock drums and Latin, West Indian, African and Middle-Eastern percussions, produces this unique alchemy, for example on Return, or Too Wide. Dub and Rock, almost pop melodies, supported by the arrangements chiseled inside the multiform test tubes of Mr Ain't and his accomplices, the whole of this served by musicians from France, America, England and Belgium, that is Ain't No Dub.
Ain't No Dub is so born in January 2006 under the impulse of Mr Ain't (bass player, author, compositor and producer) after he wrote the song Bush No Freedom early 2005. This song was the founding act of the AND... In America album, of which the CD is now available (discounted price here on espmusictune.com), and of course on all the big Internet online shops (iTunes, Virgin Mega...).
AND gathers experienced musicians, each one endowed with a rich musical experience, strongly influenced by the punk and pop rock of the 80's. The sound of AND, emblematically characterized by the participation of veteran Pete Jones, is enriched by the singers Daniel Antoine and Frank Mapleloft, who bring the Soul and Blues roots. Adding to this is Gino Niemiz (aka Mr Pink), the sound engineer and re-mixer of the band, who paints an electro-dance facet that surprisingly complements the "English sound" of Ain't No Dub.
The whole thing exposes a very rich music, with elaborate arrangements, that navigates effortlessly from dub to ska, from pop-rock to jungle-punk while still maintaining a sound unity and proposing a unique group identity. Amateurs will hear accents from XTC, The Stranglers, Dub Syndicate, Bowie, Tom Waits, Alan Vega, Morcheeba and Radiohead, amongst others. But whatever your preferences are, not song will leave you indifferent.
- Bush No Freedom Single - ESP07001 - Public price 5 €
- Discounted price on espmusictune.com
Bush No Freedom
Single, 4 tracks (2007, ESP Music).
This is the short version of Bush No Freedom (3:30), sung by Frank Mapleloft, a Jamaican New-Yorker. The Single also includes the song Hurricane, sung by Belgium singer Pascal Dognaux.
The third track of the single is a remix of Bush No Freedom by Gino Niemiz, that is a more electro version of the song.
Finally, the last track is a remix of Bush No Freedom by Pete Jones, former bass player with PIL (Public Image Ltd, with Johnny "Rotten" Lydon of the Sex Pistols).
- AND... In America - ESP07003 - Public price 15 €
- Discounted price on espmusictune.com
AND... In America
Debut album of the band, CD 13 tracks (2007, ESP Music)
All the richness of the group in this album that mixes together 80's influences with modern and very diversified compositions, binary rhythms with ternary rhythms, a great fullness of arrangements associating numerous guitars and keyboards, but also cello and violin, clarinet and accordion, synth pads or sequences with saturated guitars riffs, amplified and distorted mandolin and bouzouki, Latin, African and Arabian percussions, Spanish-accented acoustic guitar, raging steel bar, sound effects and unexpected arrangements.
Tracks were recorded in different places in France and in the US, assembled and mixed at ESP Music Studio by Mr Ain't and Mr Pink, and Mastered by D. Brethes at Wolf Studio - Flow Mastering in Brixton, London.
iTunes & Virgin Mega
You can also buy
Ain't No Dub tracks on iTunes
Last Press Review
On usa4real upstream radio (USA) :
Ain't No Dub is an off beat steady groove of reggae, soul with hip and hop without skipping over the key what true music is all about. It's unconventional wisdom mixed with soulful surprises that tantalize the ears wondering what's next?
