Roots, Sound & Power - since 2004

Formed by the producers Pedro Dubstrong, Gustah and Veiga, Echo Sound System is not just (another) reggae band, nor is only just a hip-hop group, but a collective production that reaches not only several Jamaican branches, but also many other influences.

“Do centro de SP mandando ver pro mundo inteiro / frequencias e efeitos em estéreo brasileiro”, which means something like “Stereo Brazilian frequencies and effects / sent from the heart of São Paulo to the whole world”, says Jimmy Luv  in “Todos Um”.

The trio’s name clearly shows their intentions. Inspired by the sound system’s culture and echoing several Jamaican musical styles, Echo Sound System uses technology to promote the re-gathering between reggae and rap, two musical genres very close to each other (after all the rappers descend directly from the Jamaican toasters). At the same time, the trio manages to show both the music from the smoky island and rap’s spectrum range.

Their debut album, “Tempo Vai Dizer” (ST2 Records), mixed by Ganja Man and Tejo (Instituto), matches all these several styles. From the rocksteady tune “Só d’eu ver(de)” to the hip-hop “Punnani”, the album brings also the reggae “Pas Tester” and the rub-a-dub “I & I”, among others. In addition to Veiga, responsible for the acoustic guitar, bass, flute and harmonica, Gema and Andrés Salazar plays the bass and the saxophone respectively.

Getting to know the Jamaican sound systems is crucial to the understanding of reggae’s importance to today’s world music. Since the Ska era, back in the fifties, till today’s dancehall, every night, in some corners of Kingston, powerful sound systems are assembled to promote the charge-free parties, held in open-air areas. These itinerant parties are the most respected way of musical propagation in Jamaica, serving as a test field for new singers and new songs.

Naturally, there has always been competition between the sound systems, each one trying to show the latest tunes. Not by chance, it was a Jamaican, DJ Kool Herc, who first brought speakers to play music at the streets of Bronx. After that, came Grandmaster Flash, Afrika Bambaataa and the rest is history…

Despite their respect for the past, “Tempo vai dizer” does not sound vintage at all. The fancy production brings actual references, mixing them with others to produce a very original sound.
“Echo Sound System, raiz com Futuro” which means something like“Echo Sound System, roots and Future” , as it is said in “Pas Tester”.

The smart drum programming, the distinguished timbres and the flying ambiances makes it evident. Another differential is the good use given to effects borrowed directly from Dub (such as delays, echoes and reverbs), which never sound exaggerated nor out of context. Not only in tracks like “Bom Filho” and “Kaya Monkeys (safari dub)”, where the influence of dubmasters like Scientist are obvious, these effects are used in the whole album. 

The hip-hop beats are either sustained by bass lines (“Leão de asas”) or by drum samples that come straight from the seventies’ reggae (“Pas tester”). The reggae tracks, however, follow the opposite way, accepting some rap elements. The MCs Funk Buia (Z’África Brasil). Jimmy Luv and Arcanjo (Familia 7 Velas) along with the Frenchman Pyroman (ex- Assasin), take turns on the vocals, mixing funny, spiritual and social speeches.

“Todos um”, a dancehall like hip-hop, already released on a vinyl compact in 2004, has got Funk Buia at the microphone. “Só d’eu ver(de)”, is the b-side of this very same compact, pressed on a 7-inch format, such as the classic Jamaican releases. While Arcanjo warns “um minuto pra explodir” “one minute until the explosion” in the strong track “Inna Babylon”, Jimmy Luv flood us all with his sincerity in the groovy “Replay”.

It is very common in Jamaica for singers to make different versions of the same song, using new lyrics and melodies created over the same musical background, what, in Jamaica, is known as riddim.  Following this tradition, in “Original style” Pyroman sings over “Stalag”, riddim immortalized by “Bam Bam”, in the Sister Nancy’s version.

In addition to the regular Echo’s collaborators, the Jamaican General Smiley, from the Michigan & Smiley Duo (famous in the 80’s for dancehall hits such as “Diseases” and “Rub a dub style”), also plays a part in “Tempo vai dizer”. Even though this was not the intention, the mix of languages internationalizes the sound, what makes it possible for the Echo Sound System to find it’s place abroad.

General Smiley took part in the project from a distance. His jaw breaking part, along with Funk Buia in “Rookie Rock” (co produced by the Swiss Romanowsky, from the collective Future Primitive Sounds) is one of the album’s highlights.

After 21 tracks, “Tempo vai dizer” is not tiring at all. “Favorite Song” closes the album in such a good mood that ends up making the listener to wish that the interludes were complete tracks, just to have a little bit more of its taste…. Or maybe wish that the CD was a vinyl record, so that after all the songs are played, you can play the other side as well.

Bruno Natal / November 2005

bookings/contact: echosoundsystem@gmail.com


The story so far...Little Pebble began his days back in 2004, a visit to Anstruther in March of that year was to provide inspiration for the name, the theme and the songs! The first festival by Fife label Fence Records took place and while standing in the Erskine Hall nursing a full bottle of vin rouge, Alan (aka Little Pebble) realised very quickly what was happening here and instantly was hooked and wanted to be involved from that day on. For the next 7 years Alan assisted at festivals and live events arranged by Fence, offering his mobile PA system and passion to deliver a pleasant sound experience for all. Lucky enough to perform at many of the events, the opening music session on a Saturday was always a pleasure to do. Usually a good drink had been accomplished on the Friday night, everyone excited to be in Ainster and meeting their festival buddies again, at the time the mellow tones of the Little Pebble set was well suited to ease the joyous hangover. The sheer variety of acts that made up The Fence Collective allowed for experimentation and you were encouraged to create new alter-ego's. Come In Tokyo was a break away from the acoustic arena, achieving success very early with vinyl releases on Nekkid Rekkids/Fence/De-fence, national radio play and a 9 date Carling Academy tour supporting The Aliens. AC Hum a collaborative project with Iona Marshall was again something different and wonderfully strange. Road to Tokyo involved dressing up and being rude, always fun to do.

Artist, Activist & Idiot. 

Lino del Fango es también conocido como, Lino di Fyah, KalaKuta Show System o Milton Malone entre otros pseudónimos. 

Empezó poniendo vinilos en salas cuando tan solo tenía 16 años,  las sesiones duraban 8h y su madre aún iba a recogerle a la salida del club.  En los últimos años ha actuado en festivales y clubs de Berlin, Dresden, Praga y el norte de España, principalmente Burgos. 

Actualmente además de ser dj, es productor, músico, programador cultural, bla bla bla...

Su música ante todo es eclecticismo y groove. Un viaje cósmico alrededor del globo, donde se pueden escuchar elementos gnawa, maloya, afro-funk, cuicas brasileñas, electrónica, música disco y jazz.

OTHER PROJECTS

KalaKuta Show System is a new project developed by the veteran and the eclectic Dj Lino di Fyah dedicated to spread the Afrobeat Culture and World beats around the globe.
KalaKuta Show System is what would happen if we put together a little bit of Reggae, Tropical beats, Funk and Jazz within an Afro-cocktail and we shake it adding some echoes and reverb inna dub style.
Ultimately, an eclectic journey around the world which you will never want to come back!

Caleb Vercher, born October 31st 1990,
better known by his stage name Little Devil aka L.D Diablo 
he raps, sings, produces and plays piano an guitar.
He first started rapping at 10 years old.
Through his writing of poetry he used words to express his anger and resentment of life, how he was bullied in school and the domestic violence that he had to deal with at home. As a result of his harsh upbringing he became highly mistrustful of almost everything & everyone, he was volatile aggressive with a very short fuse, quick to take offense, and always very serious with no sense of humour.
In his younger years before undertaking study at CASM (Centre For Aboriginal Studies In Music) his lyrics were often vitrolic and bleak.
He expressed alot of frustations and opinions on his life of foster care and often living on the streets, surviving the harsh conditions of sleeping in parks on cold winter nights. Believing he would be better there then the abusive foster homes he had been placed in. At 12-13, Caleb had the opportunity to meet Simplex from Terra Firma at Hip Hop workshop in Ingle Farm where he showed great lyrical skill  in freestyling against other teenage opposition. 
Simplex was very impressed an invited Caleb to do a one on one songwriting workshop at Da Klinic, which Caleb was very keen to get involved in and decided to partake. 
There he learned to beatbox and develop his songwriting skills even further. 
Shortly after this Caleb was introduced to OTP(Only Talented People) 
Through them he recorded two EPs consisting of three songs along with their instrumental versions. 
The first was recorded in 2004 and was called "Keep You Head Up" and the second EP called "Fight Back" was recorded in 2007.
He was also involved in some workshops made to help inspire teenagers into music through recording songs together as a group, through which he participated in five of these recordings. 
Two particular of these groups of teenagers were known as "Prescribed Rapture" and "Up North Collaboration".
Around the same time Caleb had started undertaking study in Foundation In Music at Northern Sound System doing regular performances, first of which was in 2005
on October 31st where he performed the song "Rock These Charts" in front of 500 people mostly consisting of government officials.
In 2008 a couple of months after recording the "Fight Back" EP he auditioned for CASM at the University of Adelaide and was successful in getting accepted.
Upon his first year he achieved status as the highest achiever for the foundation year in his course.
In 2010 he had a music video clip recorded and produced by Antony Cirroco Productions called "(Can't) Keep Us Down"
While studying at CASM he performed at a variety of complexes including the Adelaide Convention Centre for a corporate event, Tandanya on various occasions including Survival Day and Rundle Mall.
He also performed his songs "Fight Back" and "(Can't) Keep Us Down" alongside Karnage & Darknis for their album launch at The Kings Hotel. In 2011 Caleb successfully obtained Associate Diploma In Aboriginal Studies in Music. 
He has gone on to study a Bachelor of Popular Music & Creative Technologies also at the University of Adelaide which he hopes to complete by the end of next year, and is currently working on his debut album "Empires Rise, Empires Fall" which he hopes to release at the end of this year.
Lyrically he is inspired by rappers such as Immortal Technique, Lowkey, Jedi Mind Tricks & Hopsin and bands like Nickelback, Nirvana, Black Sabbath, Metallica, , WASP, Scorpions, Poets Of The Fall, Silverchair, Muse, Iron Maiden, Linkin Park, Red Hot Chili Peppers &  Rage Against The Machine.
His future plans include completing his course which is a 3 year Bachelor, as well as releasing his album and working on another one.
He also plans to travel to France in the near future as he says "it is the Hip Hop capital of the world and if you wanna make it in this industry that's where you should be". 
Once he's performed there he wants to spread out all over Europe and then the world and hopes to make himself successful and uses that success to start his own record label and help other up and coming artists succeed in this industry.

ORIGINAL REGGAE WARRIORS!!
Nace en el verano del 2009, con la unión de 3 djs o selectores, afincados en Villajoyosa (Alicante). Ahora Urban Poison Selektah (Astur Sound System) y Dj Titan, en sus sesiones recorren los sonidos nu roots, dancehall y hip hop principalmente, aunque no descartan sonidos ska, dub o jungle; esto siempre acompañado de los scraches de Dj Titan y las presentaciones de Urban Poison.
En el 2009 realizan sesiones mensuales en Villajoyosa principalmente.
En el 2010 editan su primera mixtape, "Del Rollo Mixtape vol. 1", y junto a Dj Dometechs organizan el Real Beat Club, fiesta mensual que se realiza en Villajoyosa. Actuan en la Blazing Fire (Madrid) haciendo de backing sound para Pekeño Zergiote, comparten escenario con Little Pepe y Shabu One Shant en la discoteca Mint (Alicante), también actuan en el Free Yard del Rototom (Benicassim). Hacen de backing sound para Metrica Squad, Humo Denso y Souey, durante este año realizan numerosas sesiones en la zona del levante alicantino.
En el 2011 continuan realizando sesiones por la Comunidad Valenciana, Torrevieja, Alicante, Benidorm, Villajoyosa, Valencia, Calpe... Organizan junto a Tirpajah el Benireggae Bob Fest donde hacen de backing sound para Tomawok (Fr), Humo Denso y Ras Juanmi &amp; Lidia, los dos últimos colaboradores habituales del sound. Realizan una mixtape promocional para el Medijjan Reggae Fest. Comienzan a organizar de nuevo el Real Beat club. En verano saldra a la luz "Del Rollo Mixtape vol. 2" y trabajan en su primer riddim.


System Fault are an Alt-Rock 6 piece formed in 2006, in a tiny place called Heaton Moor south of Manchester.

Our sound is a modern one, taking influences from many bands, whilst not imitating any. 

We're a Rock Band, we've been likened to a mix of Queens Of The Stone Age, Placebo, Foo Fighters and The Stranglers all thrown in a blender and wailing at the same rate! 

Apparently this can come across as a bit menacing and also a little bit epic here and there, but we're sure you can make your own mind up about that.

We're best listened to live, right in your face, on a big stage.

We're currently working on our 4th studio release. Due out in June 2011.

If you like our sound, find us on iTunes!


Established in 1996 the “North West Heavyweight” OPERATION SOUND SYSTEM is a custom built, hand crafted, reggae & dub sound & record label based in UK.
Live in session Operation Sound is a raw reggae, dub, steppas, roots & culture experience not to be missed….Over the years we are privileged to have played with sounds such as:
Jah Shaka, King Earthquake, Iration Steppas, Disciples, Quaker City, Roots Vibration, Quadraphonic, Axis, Adrian’s Wall, Inspirational Sound, Toxic, Universal love, Jah Lion, Dub Smugglers, Hytal Bosrah, Roots Renegade, Goverment, Sama Roots, King Cosmic, Freedom Masses, Ballistic Sound, Ital Ebony, Irie Vibes, Roots Inspiration, Rig Smith Sound, Pressure Roots & nuff more…..  Also alongside Bands, singers & players such as… reggae legends Culture, Little Roy, Vibronics,  Parvez, Daddy Teacha, Jonah Dan, Jah Melodie, Iden Natural, Echo Ranks, Nucleus Roots & Prince Jamo & Hollie Cook.   (apologies to any i forget ;-)
Here’s what other sounds have to say about Operation….
“Operation Sound are one of the UK’s finest. With qualifying for the quarter final of UK Dub Cup 2009 and holding sessions all over, Operation also run their very own record label. Bringing some of the freshest releases from Ja to Uk and some of the wildest Plates on the scene right now (its all about the Earl Sixteen Plate from the Dub Cup 1/4 finals, sent everyone nuts!!!!). Once you have experienced Operation Sound you will see “Who feels it knows it”. Roots Renegade Sound (UK)”
 
“Operation have been around for over 15 years and have played alongside the biggest and best sound systems from up and down the country including Iration Steppa’s, Aba Shanti I & Channel one. They were also very successful in the UK Unification Dub Cup only just loosing out to the eventual winner King Earthquake. They are true UK Roots pioneers. This is set to be the heaviest night we have ever done.” – Adrian’s Wall Sound” (AUS)”
 
Operation say “Who Feels it knows it”

Some Little Things 
(Leandro Moyano & Matias Medina)
Desde Córdoba, Argentina, Influenciados por Pink Floyd , Sumo , Patricio Rey y sus Redonditos de Ricota , Soda Estereo y en el ámbito electrónico grandes artistas( Hernan Cattaneo, Nick Warren, Sasha, Eelke Kleijn, entre otros), SLT logró sacar a flote un producto combinado de sonidos futuristas y ambientales, percusiones marcadas y melodías alegres incursionando de una nueva manera en el estilo de sus referentes y mostrando lo propio y único de sus producciones.

Han participado de grandes fiestas con artistas internacionales, como Henry Saiz, Eelke Kleijn, Deepfunk, Soundexile, Derek Howell, Mind Against, Sahar Z, Cid Inc,  Rich Curtis, Roger Martinez, Guy Mantzur, Nick Muir entre otros.
El 16 de Julio del 2014, su primer track vió la luz, gracias al sello Sindor Records. Lines, incluído en "The Thule", Ep compartido con amigos, logró alcanzar su objetivo, obteniendo muy buenos feedbacks.

Luego de unos meses, pasaron a formar parte de Hope Recordings,SudBeat ,Dopamine Music, Massive Harmony, Suffused Music, Balkan Connection, Clinique, Slideways, Movement Recordins, System Recordings , Just Movement, Stellar Fountain Records, PHW Elements , 3rd Avenue , AH Digital , Deep Blue Eyes , 3xA Music y BC2 Records con grandes producciones.

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From Cordoba, Argentina, Influenced by Pink Floyd, Sumo, Patricio Rey and his Redonditos de Ricota, Soda Stereo and in the electronic field great artists (Hernan Cattaneo, Nick Warren, Sasha, Eelke Kleijn, among others), SLT managed to bring out A combined product of futuristic and environmental sounds, marked percussions and melodies merrily entering a new way in the style of their referents and showing the unique and unique of their productions.

They have participated in great party with international artists like Henry Saiz, Eelke Kleijn, Deepfunk, Soundexile, Derek Howell, Mind Against, Said Z, Cid Inc, Rich Curtis, Roger Martinez, Guy Mantzur, Nick Muir among others.
On July 16, 2014, his first track saw the light, thanks to the Sindor Records label. Lines, included in "The Thule", Ep shared with friends, managed to reach its goal, obtaining very good feedbacks.

After a few months, they became part of Hope Recordings, SudBeat ,Dopamine Music, Massive Harmony, Suffused Music, Balkan Connection, Clinique, Slideways, Movement Recordins, System Recordings, Just Movement, Stellar Fountain Records, PHW Elements, 3rd Avenue, AH Digital , Deep Blue Eyes, 3xA Music and BC2 Records with great productions.

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