Lapo & Ago, alongside the rest of the mighty Numa Crew, are responsible for some of the most crucial, addictive, and classic 140 material in the history of the scene. Tunes on Moonshine and Killa Sound such as "Youth Pon The Corner," “Everytime" (as Numa Crew), "Dreadlock Blues," and Ago’s "So Mi Seh" on Innamind are stone cold classics that haven’t left many selectors’ boxes since release. After a long pandemic-enforced hiatus, ZamZam returns with our 83rd release, offering two more future classics for the global dubwise sound system massive, on 7" vinyl- the original sound system format. 

Coming in hard with kick, melodica, and echo chamber vocal fragments, “Spirals and Pyramids” drags us into the dance with stabs and a
rubbery, buoyant bassline that’s hard yet playful, reveling in the elemental joys of the dance, community vibes spread through sound system principles: bass, reverb space, haunting melodics, and masterful frequency control. Upful steppers is the vibe, just in time for a summer that we hope brings a return to in-person sessions wherever you are. 

The wholesome pleasures of the A side do nothing to prepare us for the massive weight and sound-killing heaviness of the flip, “Shot The King!” From the very first dungeon tone and bone-dry high hat holding time, the mood is pure dread and the die is cast for war. Calling out soundboys and weakheart with sound tape declaration and a thick miasma of smoky reverb, this is a tune to test sounds and bring dancers to their knees. Staccato kicks and swarming sub drive the riddim, augmented by lasers, minimal percussion, and a feeling of elated claustrophobia that only proponents of this music understand.

Soundcloud blend recorded straight from the vinyl so you know what you’re getting. Shipping mid-June 2021. Limited to 800 7″ vinyl copies for the world. Mastered by Sam at Precise. Design and screen print by Polygon Press. No digital, no repress.

Numa Crew: Lapo & Ago "Spirals & Pyramids" b/w "Shot The King!" ZamZam 83 vinyl blend

ZamZam 84 marks the return of J.Sparrow, one of the true stalwarts of UK sound system music. Producing dubstep & bass masterpieces for over 15 years, and running Navy Cut, with seminal releases on labels including Deep Medi & Tectonic, it would be difficult to overstate Ryan Wild's place in this culture. His second ZamZam carves out a new sonic world of dubwise power and beauty alongside close friend & sparring partner, the Microphone Controller called Sun of Selah.

“Behold” pairs a gorgeous plucked melody with a deep lyric honoring those who prioritize their spiritual path in a world of illusion and wickedness. Complex yet utterly intuitive and propulsive drum work, tight pads, spectral melodics and massive bassweight transform the sound system into a space of deep contemplation.  “Paradise Bird” is nothing if not transporting. Imagine a soundworld where Muslimgauze, Ryuchi Sakamoto, and LTJ Bukem stroll along the shore by moonlight in a parallel-universe Caribbean and you’re starting to feel the vibe. 

These two sides are 140 missives of weighty minimalism, restraint and graceful clarity, a beautiful antidote to the chaos and uncertainty of the last year and a half. “Behold” and “Paradise Bird” reveal an artist hitting new creative peaks in dub that we’re honored to present.  Dubwise no compromise!

Soundcloud blend recorded straight from the vinyl so you know what you’re getting. Shipping mid-August 2021. Limited to 700 7″ vinyl copies for the world. Mastered by Sam at Precise. Design and screen print by Polygon Press. No digital, no repress.

J.Sparrow feat. Sun of Selah "Behold" b/w "Paradise Bird" ZamZam 84 vinyl blend

Al Wootton returns to ZamZam with two more stunning sides of deep dubwise for late and later. It’s been a prolific year and a half since his last ZamZam, with multiple killer 12”s and an LP on his own Trule label, a four-tracker for Livity Sound, and two thrilling EPs as Holy Tongue alongside drummer Valentina Magaletti. Informed equally by UK dub, garage, roots reggae and techno, Al Wootton creates unique amalgams that always hit, and this 7” adds to that legacy in fine style.  

‘Every Knee Shall Bow’ opens with swimming percussion and echoing pads, ramping the tension before dropping into a potent, simmering 4/4 powerhouse, a perfect marriage of steppers and dub techno, at once visceral and cerebral, up front & deep, clear yet heavily atmospheric. Galloping drums, massive reverb splashes and FX, a wide-eyed drop into space… pure fire for the dancers. 

B Side 'Every Tongue Confess,’ drops the tempo down to 120, pulling us into pure heartbeat territory with drum kit, bass guitar, live percussion and keys all played by the artist and dubbed hands-on-desk style. A deep internal grounation in the timeless Count Ossie to Rhythm & Sound continuum, this is true healing music whether on a proper Sound or at home on the hi-fi.  

Strictly limited to 700 copies for the world. No digital, no repress. Design & screen print by Polygon Press. Mastered by Sam at Precise. Releasing late October 2021.

Contact: zamzamsounds@gmail.com

Al Wootton "Every Knee Shall Bow" b/w "Every Tongue Confess" ZamZam 85 vinyl blend

Consistently at the leading-edge of underground bass music worldwide, it’s always an honor to bring you new music from J:Kenzo. On ZamZam 88 he steps up for his third Zam, and true to form it’s a masterclass on both sides. 

From the first second of the tune, “Traverse” teleports us straight into equatorial zones; humid spaces of dense green and animal calls from the canopy above. Deep pads and tribal percussion take a path to a driving 4/4 kick, in turn dropping into a massive, rolling bassline that recalls the best of late 2000s and early 2010s 135-140 while keeping the dub flourishes utterly fresh for the now. 

No stranger to garage, especially in his Jodo Kast identity, Kenzo satisfies our love for the form with “Deuce,” bringing the drums and vintage flavor again, but this time in the service of mightily-swung UKG in fine style, expertly dark & dubwise 2 Step that hits just right. Chopped, panned & verbed to perfection, this is hard yet subtle dance music from the roots that nods to the past & winks to the future of funk with the light touch of a don in his prime.

Soundcloud clips always recorded straight from the vinyl with flat EQ so you know what you're getting. 

Releasing mid-October 2022. Vinyl only, no digital. Limited to 800 copies for the world. Two color art & screen print by Polygon Press. Email zamzamsounds@gmail.com for more info.

J:Kenzo "Traverse" b/w "Deuce" ZamZam 88 7" vinyl blend

It feels redundant to introduce a duo so beloved by, and important to, the modern UK and global sound system community. If you don’t know Dubkasm by now, then you must be very new to the scene indeed! Working tirelessly over the last two and a half decades to forward the traditions of sound system reggae, dubplate culture, and Bristol history in particular, Stryda and Digistep as Dubkasm are truly an institution. It’s always an honor to work with them, whether live or on wax, and this record is another testament to their continuing vitality, vibes, and vision. 

“Mighty Designer” is a mystical stepper of the highest order. Gorgeous flute rides a tough riddim dominated by a relentless bassline. Clocking in at 140 bpm it’s both languid and driving, heartical and militant, an opalescent jewel of a tune that is also message music: while the second half goes full dubwise, the first features a profound meditation on the wisdom of the Creator as witnessed in the beauty and balance of Creation. “When you check out… how each thing set up in a different mathematical order- you know it must be a Mighty Designer…”

On the flip, the abstract intro to “Almighty Version” signals we’re in for a tougher Part-2-style. Percussion and hi-hat tease and intertwine before dropping into the elemental bass & drum attack. The voice is stripped completely, as all-hands-on-desk focus on bass, drums, filtered percussion, and reverb and echo as instruments. Animal sounds and melodics emerge from a dense, primordial, teeming background to shimmer briefly then recede again. “Almighty Version” is a trance-inducing dub that continues the meditation on the message - through music alone.     

Mastered by Sam at Precise. Art, design, and screen printing by Polygon Press. Limited to 800 vinyl copies for the world. No repress, no digital. Shipping end of November, 2022.

Dubkasm "Mighty Designer" b/w "Almighty Version" ZamZam 89 7" vinyl blend

It’s always a joy to release music from friends, and ZamZam 91 is our first collab with a dear one, Jim Coles AKA Om Unit. It’s impossible to frame the breadth and depth of such a storied career in bass music in just a couple lines- so suffice to say that releases over decades on a who’s-who of seminal labels including Exit, Fabric, Planet Mu and of course his own Cosmic Bridge have cemented his rep as an absolute force in production and DJing across any number of genres and sub genres. 

Coles’ roots in Bristol and deep love of dub and reggae - made wonderfully explicit on his recent Acid Dub Studies LPs -  come through strong on both sides. “The Canopy (Armageddon Style)” opens with ravey, arpeggiated synths worthy of Vangelis, punctuated by a brooding piano chord, building steadily into a dark and utterly apocalyptic steppers guaranteed to storm & batter down Babylon walls inside and out. 

“Mystic 808” is a deep meditation, a slow stepper that ices down the furious energy of the A side and drops the tempo to suit. Recalling the heady days of original late 90s/early 2000s UK Dub - as well as early dub techno - stabs and melody caress, restrained percussion swims and multiplies in reverb and echo, orbits locked to the gravitational force of the massive and truly timeless bassline. Proper sound system material that will satisfy the heart and soul long after the dance is done.

Strictly limited to 800 copies for the world. No digital, no repress. Art, design & screen print by Polygon Press. Mastered by Sam at Precise, Pressed at Third Man. Releasing 12 May 2023.

Om Unit "The Canopy (Armageddon Style)" b/w "Mystik 808" 7" vinyl blend

A very special all-vinyl dedication to two kings in two different arenas who recently left us, Jah Shaka & Mark Stewart. While there may not be any obvious connection between them - aside from dismantling Babylon system with sound , Adrian Sherwood has talked about sound tapes from Shaka sessions being some of Mark's direct inspiration for the approach they took on albums like Learning to Cope With Cowardice and As The Veneer of Democracy Starts To Fade... anyway, enjoy, and let us know what you're feeling!
￼

Sounds From The Well Ch.50 Jah Shaka & Mark Stewart tribute mix

We love it when family return to ZamZam and #92 welcomes back Blind Prophet & Ishan Sound in their first cross-pond collab.  



Begun in 2019 when Joe & Cris met in Portland for the first time, “The Labyrinth” is a phantasmagoric dream of intertwining melodic figures, buoyant mid-range synth work, bright percussion and piping flutes over a driving steppers riddim. Playful, even spritely, but belying a menacing core.



Flipping the key and darkening the vibe substantially, “Minotaur Dub” strips out the lighter tones, pulsing and pushing through dark tunnels of reverb and echo, deeper and deeper into the labyrinth of refracting drums and relentless bass, the sound of pursuit, predator and prey. Fusing the spectral with the functional, the mythic with the technological, this release is for deep forest dances and subterranean sessions alike. This one is ruff… and tuff!!

Strictly limited to 700 copies for the world. No digital, no repress. Art, design, & screen print by Polygon Press. Mastered by Sam at Precise, pressed at Third Man. Releasing end of July, 2023.

Blind Prophet & Ishan Sound "The Labyrinth" b/w "Minotaur Dub" ZamZam 92 7" vinyl blend

75 minutes from us & 45 from Blind Prophet celebrating his new release, ZamZam 92, alongside Ishan Sound.
Track list: 
NAZAMBA - Hot Dub Special
UNDEFINED FT PAUL ST HILAIRE - Victims
PAUL ST HILAIRE - Little Way
RHYTHM & SOUND W/TIKIMAN - Ruff Way
PAUL ST HILAIRE - Ten to One
DEADBEAT FT PAUL ST HILAIRE - Rise Again
ALTER ECHO & E3 - Nubian
BLIND PROPHET & ISHAN SOUND - Minotaur Dub
BLIND PROPHET & BUKKHA - Stone Dub V.I.P.
SEKKLEMAN - Descending Babylon
TUBBY ISAIAH - Conscious Calling
PROGRESSIVE ROOTS ENSEMBLE - AI On the Attack
PROGRESSIVE ROOTS ENSEMBLE - Humane Technology Dub 2
BLACK SLATE - Romans
CULTIVATOR - Hear the Voice of Love
CULTIVATOR - Hear the Voice of Dub
HOLY TONGUE - Threshing Floor
ANNIE ANXIETY BANDEZ - As I Lie In Your Arms
LITTLE ANNIE MEETS NIGHT FOUNDATION - Inertia
LITTLE ANNIE MEETS NIGHT FOUNDATION - Inertia (Dub)
BADAWI - Jinn Al Kaboos

BLIND PROPHET GUEST MIX -
DAVID CORDERO - Lento
BUKKHA - Raindance
ANOTHER CHANNEL & MASIS - Wickedness
BLIND PROPHET FT VERSA - Endless War
BLIND PROPHET - Endless War (Mutually Assured Destruction Mix)
DUJA - Rolling
GREEN KING SOUND - Dubplate
KANKA FT JOSEPH LALIBELA - The Lion is Real
BLIND PROPHET FT DAWEH CONGO - Good Morning Zion
BLIND PROPHET FT DAWEH CONGO - Good Morning Zion (Vocal Dub)
BLIND PROPHET & ISHAN SOUND - The Labyrinth
BLIND PROPHET & ISHAN SOUND - The Labyrinth (Halfstep Version)
??? - ???
JUNIOR DREAD - Dread of Babylon
JUNIOR DREAD - Dread of Babylon (Dubplate Style)
NOEL TEMPO - It’s Time to Be Free

Sounds From The Well radio Ch.51 ZamZam Sounds + Blind Prophet

E3's opening vinyl set for Holocene's 20th anniversary party alongside Laurel Halo & Moritz Von Oswald. Featuring plenty of ZamZams plus tracks from K-Lone, Hodge, Sabab, Stillhead, Ossia, Krotone, Bandshell and more.

E3 opening set w/Laurel Halo & Moritz Von Oswald, 5.30.23 Holocene

For the past few years we’ve been mesmerized by Elijah Minnelli’s output on his own Breadminster County Council label… a handful of hand-crafted 7”s that live at the foggy intersection of dub, outsider folk, and various strands of Eastern European and South/Central American musics. In hindsight it seems inevitable that he would join the ZamZam family. 

Firmly rooted in dub through its mammoth bassline, ‘Gradually’ is a shaggy, unhurried tune framed by melancholy, almost grieving squeezebox and gorgeous ensemble percussion that reverently recalls early cumbias. The tune is unique for Elijah in that it features fully-sung vocals. Themes of loss, despair, tragedy and coping circle and loop, ironically held in a musical matrix that spirals in deliberate repetition. 

In ‘Gradually Verzion’ the introduction of a minimal melodic figure and long echo trails signal a dramatic shift, going full dubwise steppers without compromising its warm center.  Elijah holds back the wheezy melody, deftly forwarding the percussion in time-honored echo chamber mode.

Our soundcloud clips are always recorded straight from the vinyl with flat EQ so you know exactly what you're getting. 

Strictly limited to 700 copies for the world. No digital, no repress. Art, design & screen print by Polygon Press. Mastered by Sam at Precise, Pressed at Third Man. Shipping early November, 2023.

Elijah Minnelli "Gradually" b/w "Gradually Verzion" ZamZam 93 7" vinyl blend

ZamZam 94 is a long-awaited plate from South London duo Traces, fresh from a pair of releases last year on Innamind. Laser-focused on a stripped-down, essentialist strain of UK bass music, Traces’ ZamZam outing showcases two distinct facets of their approach.

“No One (Can Tell I)” is a perfect slice of eyes-down spiritual dubstep for the ages, a vibe we always crave here at ZamZam. Waterhouse-flavored rusty hi-hats, reverb thick like smoke, expertly-crafted bassweight, subtly ricocheting percussion, perfectly minimal stabs, and a sampled spirit of Jamaica Past… Utterly timeless, “No One” is a masterclass in restraint and depth over flash and slickness.   

Equally direct and unfussy, “Listen” flips the vibe utterly, running off a winking slice of badman soundtape, shakers and siren, earworming midrange melody, and a mirror-image bassline with more swagger per bar than anyone in a 140 session will be able to resist. Battle-tested on dubplate & ready for early, late, or anywhere in between, “Listen” is a guaranteed sheller.

Our soundcloud clips are always recorded straight from the vinyl with flat EQ so you know exactly what you're getting.

Strictly limited to 700 copies for the world. No digital, no repress. Art, design & screen print by Polygon Press. Mastered by Sam at Precise, Pressed at Third Man. In shops mid-February 2024.

Traces "No One (Can Tell I)" b/w "Listen" ZamZam 94 vinyl blend

ZamZam 95 is a link with the enigmatic French producer Hiss Is Bliss. We’ve been fans since the very first drop on their 777Hz label and these two sides drive straight to the heart of the dub techno galaxy.

Little is known about Hiss Is Bliss beyond the fact that they hail from France, are steeped in esotericism, and create tunes as masterfully grounded in roots reggae as they are in techno and related strands of electronic music. Their releases are utterly free of hype, beautifully crafted 10” vinyl plates that let the singers and tracks speak for themselves. 

At the risk of being cheeky, “Nope” is absolute dub techno bliss. The 808 kick propels the track relentlessly forward, saturated washes of color streak the night sky, while syncopated hi hats and warm, soulful chords bring life- dare we say funk- to a style too often stiff and clinical, too in thrall to the past to truly step forward. Matching Hiss is Bliss in mystery, Ras Lys’ vocal brings a Dread perspective on music and the sometimes shady business of music, a grounded contrast to the deep inner space explored by the tune itself. The B-side version “Abbadia” splits musical atoms through the desk, focusing squarely on the stripped 4/4 elements and gloriously distorted pads that echo and cycle like tides in a darkly shimmering sea. 

Strictly limited to 800 copies for the world. No digital, no repress. Art, design & screen print by Polygon Press. Mastered by Sam at Precise, pressed at Cascade Record Pressing. Shipping late May, 2024.

Our Soundcloud clips are recorded straight from the vinyl with no additional mastering so you know exactly what you're getting. 

Email zamzamsounds@gmail.com for any info or inquiries.

Hiss Is Bliss "Nope" b/w "Abbadia" 7" ZamZam 95 vinyl blend

Few names shine as brightly in the cosmology of dubwise bass music as that of V.I.V.E.K. From releasing absolutely groundbreaking tracks for the better part of 20 years primarily on his own System and VIVEK imprints, to curating and hosting his legendary System nights, to bringing so much rising talent to light, it’s honestly difficult to imagine the last two decades of UK and global sound system music without him. 

For ZamZam 96 V.I.V.E.K went straight to the bedrock of sound system music and delivered a power-stepper of galactic proportions. 

“Illusions Dub” opens with starkly heavy valve bass and a punishing kick, leaving little doubt where this journey is headed . Richly adorned with neck-snapping percussion, industrial snares, post-punk atmospherics and a gorgeous melodic figure, the tune employs classic 90s digi-dub principles while feeling like a message from a gloriously human -or post-human- future. 

“Illusions (Raw Dub)” runs rugged through the desk in fine style, with barely restrained feedback, phasers, and deep space echo and reverb ripping open shimmering holes in space-time for a truly cosmic Part 2. 

Strictly limited to 850 7” vinyl copies for the world- no digital, no repress. Mastered by Precise. Two color screen print by Polygon Press. Releasing August 30th, 2024. Retail or wholesale inquiries: zamzamsounds@gmail.com

V.I.V.E.K "Illusions Dub" b/w "Illusions (Raw Dub)" ZamZam 96 blend

UK Dub pioneers Alpha & Omega finally return to ZamZam with “The Jungle Trembles,” an absolute anthem of a tune, a heartical call to action voiced by Steppas Records’ stalwart Nai-Jah. “Money-making has filled our minds with disease / you keep on raping, yet some still can’t find food to eat.” The lyrics demand empathy and overstanding atop a heaving bassline, magisterial melodica, sparkling keys and synths and jungle sounds that transport us to the very heart of the struggle. “The Dubplate Trembles” extends the vibes in classic A&O fashion, reminding us once again of why the duo have such a storied place in the history of this music we love.

Inspired in large part by the immortal Jah Shaka, A&O were amongst the very first artists to make dub music outside of Jamaica, key in the soundsystem culture and bass music expansion from JA via the UK to the world. Formed in the 1980’s and with over 30 studio albums to their name, we couldn’t be more proud to work with them once again. Nai-Jah graced the ZamZam stage at Outlook festival alongside Dub Dynasty back in 2017, so finally having him on a release completes another circle. An instant classic, “The Jungle Trembles” is a call to hear and heed the cry of the planetary systems and indigenous wisdom that sustain us before it’s too late.

Strictly limited to 850 7” vinyl copies for the world- no digital, no repress. Mastered by Precise. Screen print by Polygon Press. Releasing end of November, 2024. Retail or wholesale inquiries: zamzamsounds@gmail.com

Alpha & Omega "The Jungle Trembles ft Nai-Jah" b/w "The Dubplate Trembles"

It says a lot about the interconnectedness of the global dubwise underground that it took downtime with Bristolian Neek in Portland to spur the link between ZamZam and Feel Free Hi Fi out of the Minneapolis Twin Cities. Once he put us on to them we were hooked- not only by their brilliant music but by their rigorously DIY approach and aesthetic. Heavily inspired by the more esoteric angles of early digi-era JA dancehall and UK dub (Shaka, Disciples, Mixman and Gussie P being some touchstones) the duo create a sound both reverential and unique, steeped in the traditions but striking out hard left into idiosyncratic territory all their own. Releasing all of their works up to this point on their own fantastic Digital Sting label, we’re excited to showcase them on ZamZam.

In “Voyageur” an ominous mid-range figure, heaving synth bass and complex intertwining melodies drive the tune into heavily cinematic territory, thick atmospherics and strange synthetic animal calls like a lost John Carpenter soundtrack-in-dub. The duo says, “Voyageur in its title speaks a bit to the mythic, mysterious, but also very real wild places of the North Country where we live... and how it all rubs up against the contemporary urban environment.”

“Underground”s opening stabs, bassline and drums could have time-travelled from Unity Sounds or Jammys, but bring an eerie darkness in their deployment that is unmistakably now.  Feel Free Hi Fi explain, “Underground in its title is a tribute to the spirit of underground music, of the DIY non commercial ethos... So the tunes together kind of speak to time and change, and the struggle of what's going on now. Trying to preserve the environment and and also the wild places of basement and warehouse gigs, and the outsider mentality of underground music that also seems like it's fading away but hopefully isn't lost.” 

Strictly limited to 700 7” vinyl copies for the world- no digital, no repress. Mastered by Precise. Screen print by Polygon Press. Releasing mid-April 2025. Retail, wholesale & other inquiries: zamzamsounds@gmail.com

Feel Free Hi Fi "Voyageur" b/w "Underground" ZamZam 98 7" vinyl blend

The ZamZam Sounds screen printed 7” vinyl journey concludes with a massive double pack link-up from Bristol legends Dubkasm & Gorgon Sound, not heard together on vinyl since Peng! Sound 12”s back in 2013 and 2018. ZamZam’s love for Bristol’s musical vibes and sound system culture and history is well-established, since kicking off the label with Henry & Louis ft. Prince Green’s “Every Time” in 2012. It’s only fitting that the series concludes in Portland’s sister city; but while ZamZam 01 was an unreleased deep cut from the 90s, the 99-100 double pack is a fully up to the minute dispatch. 

The set starts off with Dubkasm’s “The Return,” a heavy stepper in the duo’s brutal yet lush style; fleeting melodica and ephemeral flute float over a bed of heavy bassline and tough percussion. Alive with the sounds of nature, shot through with laser and siren, Dubkasm’s desk-as-instrument ethos is on full display with raw dubbing galore. Gorgon Sound’s remix ramps up the intensity with a lean, muscular, synth-driven rebuild that’s already proved to be a guaranteed rewind anywhere it’s played.

Gorgon Sound’s “Born Under Siege” is purest Gorgon while feeling like a new evolution in the pair’s unmistakable sound. Crystalline synthetic horns and strings interlace in a gorgeous melodic dance with buzzing mid-range synths and lacerating percussion over a dark martial riddim that’s both fully steppers and unlike anything we’ve heard in the idiom. Dubkasm’s crucial remix is thick, baroque and bombastic, a dubwise hall of mirrors and echoes that wrings every last drop of dub from the original. 

Pressed with each version on the B side of the opposite 7” for playing showcase style, ZamZam 99-100 are housed in a single full color offset-printed, double-die cut gatefold jacket with additional silver screen print. Limited to 1000 copies for the world. There won’t be a repress, so grab the last chapter of the label’s legendary run where you find one. Keep following the ZamZam socials- there’s more to come. 

Strictly limited to 1000 copies for the world - no digital, no repress. Art, design & screen print on top of offset print by Polygon Press. Mastered by Sam at Precise, pressed at Cascade Record Pressing. Shipping late September, 2025.

Dubkasm "The Return" + remix / Gorgon Sound "Born Under Siege" + remix ZamZam 99-100 7" vinyl blend

Summer of 2014 at Reconstrvct, Brooklyn NY - Ishan Sound was pummeling the capacity crowd with hi-powered steppers, cut after cut on beautiful acetate.  Suddenly a huge sonic space opened up with a tune that was like a blast of cool air through the suffocatingly hot room… ZamZam’s E3 was instantly captivated by the track, and knew we had to have it… but first we had to find out what it was!

The tune that had the crowd heaving and rocking in delight was Peaman’s “War” - a legendary dubplate by a mysterious producer, controlled by only a few including Ishan, Kahn and Bristol’s DJ Dad.  Massively warm sub-bass, uncompromisingly sparse one drop riddim, sublime horns and pads, and masterful control of reverbs define this understated killer.  Powerful in its restraint and minimalism, War touches all the right marks in the frequency spectrum, making it an unforgettable hit with every sound system it’s flexed on.

Khaliphonic 04 offers up the original tune alongside three versions on 12” vinyl.  “Horns of War,” an extended saxophone version excursion featuring James Morton soloing on the horn offers up pure, sparkling dubwise jazz like none we’ve ever heard.  Two remixes by Bristol producer Rhumius on the B side bring War into steppers territory with a more insistent kick drum and oh-so-sweet fuller horn melodics.

Peaman shares the story of Horns of War’s first play this summer in Bristol, and Babylon’s reaction: 

"Every year since we’ve been building our soundsystem, me and my sound system crew, ‘Heathen’ have managed to run at St Pauls Carnival and 2015 was no exception despite the event's official cancellation. We got a last-minute spot with a half stack, playing in the courtyard at legendary Bristol Soundman Froggy’s Birthday party on Argyle Road. We put the boxes outside and ran cable all the way down through the garden and into the basement of the house, so far away we could not hear the rig. It was a mid sized event and most of our crowd were old school Bristol Roots scene so we were all buzzing and we ran the sound louuuud! 

A couple of hours in, I pulled out my newly mixed version, 'Horns of War', and played it out for the first time. I quickly made my way up through the garden and out into the courtyard. We had drawn a nice crowd and when the bass rolled in, everyone started to step heavy, the stack was pushing War like I’d never heard it and I was feeling sweet! We got about half way through the tune when five of Babylon’s finest strolled into the courtyard, requesting a wheel up with no second play. The nerve. After some failed mass negotiation, the police threatened to take the sound and we had to pack down. In spite of the party being cut short, the day had been a success: we turned up, tuned up and my version was the last thing the police heard before leaving!"

Mastered and cut at wide 33 rpm for maximum bass warmth by Lewis at Stardelta, Devon UK.  Limited to 600 copies for the world, no digital, no repress. Design & screen print by Polygon Press.  Shipping first week of December, 2015!  Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and at www.zamzamsounds.com

Peaman "War + Horns of War + Rhumius Rmx Version + Rhumius Rmx" Khaliphonic 04 12" vinyl megamix rip

With releases on Black Box, Box Clever, System - and of course firmly planted in the mighty Innamind camp of artists - ZamZam is proud to forward our first 7” from the enigmatic LAS (Love and Sound) AKA Lassi Vainionpää of Helsinki.

Well-known to those that have journeyed alongside LAS during his live shows the last couple years, “Traveling" is a deep journey into the post-dubstep ether - a classic Upsetters sample rotates and swims in strange orbits around a rubbery sub and LAS’ signature conga-led percussion.  Half way through the tune a 4/4 pulse takes over and the dubbing goes recursive and non-Euclidian, even while it drives that much harder. 

"Omega Dub" takes a turn for the darker - the darkness of space.  A hollowed out lead that sounds like throat signing cyborgs navigates the craft, propelled by insistent skanks.  Spectral key flourishes bloom from the beyond, and hats and snares are pushed into an ever deeper reverb void.

Released mid-February, 2016. Limited to 800 copies for the world. No digital, no repress. Design & screen print by Polygon Press.

Contact zamzamsounds@gmail.com for any information (including subscriptions and direct mail-order, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to be kept in the loop!

LAS "Traveling" b/w "Omega Dub" ZamZam 35, 7" vinyl rip

ZamZam Sounds’ Tracy and Ezra have been close followers of Alpha & Omega and Alpha Steppa from day.  ZamZam is well-pleased to finally be able to present two exclusive tunes from the UK powerhouse.  Now three fantastic albums deep via Steppas Records, Dub Dynasty is composed of Alpha Steppa and Alpha & Omega (Alpha Steppa’s father and aunt).  Two generations of UK dub combine for a sound with roots in orthodox 80s UK sound system, pushed into new post-dubstep territory.

For their debut ZamZam the trio unearthed two early sessions, recorded and mixed during the formative months of the Dub Dynasty project.  Unreleased until now, these two staunchly 140 pounders marry the weight of classic A&O to the digital space and sensibility of Alpha Steppa for maximum pressure in the dance.

Dub Cure combines the bucolic ambience of Christine Omega’s chickens (!!) with majestic horns and an absolutely storming steppers kit.  The massive bassline propels a stripped yet anthemic tune for sound systems of every size and stripe.  Named for "the ritual performed by Korean shamans, involving offerings and sacrifices to the gods and ancestor worship, rhythmic movements, songs, oracles and prayers,” Kut (굿) is powered by a driving riddim that skillfully rides the knife edge between steppers and one drop, featuring a detuned melodica figure alongside plucked guitar, punk skanks and the masterful dubbing we expect from this regal concern.

Released mid July, 2016. Limited to 900 copies for the world. No digital, no repress. Design & screen print by Polygon Press.

Contact zamzamsounds@gmail.com for any information, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to be kept in the loop!  Check www.zamzamsounds.com for exclusives and giveaways.

Dub Dynasty "Dub Cure" b/w "Kut" ZamZam 42 7" vinyl blend rip

Jerome Meyer AKA Von D is a master craftsman, well-known for releasing dubstep and bass music since 2009. On an increasingly prolific trajectory since last year, recent 12”s on Infernal Sounds, Trojan Audio and Scotch Bonnet have signaled his renewed focus on dubwise productions.  We are proud to say that Von D’s Khaliphonic debut sees him fully committing to reggae and dub - in his words, “going back to my musical roots.”

“Politricks” is a masterwork, cut from the same living rock as the classic Cuss Cuss riddim, a simply huge bass and drum workout that is truly one for the ages.  Politricks is an anthem for now, a call to avoid the dead-end of politics-as-usual and a warning to beware of the lies politicians tell to keep themselves in power - full of promises but changing nothing.  Von D says that “working with Don Cotti was very natural,” and their easy relationship is audible - the tune fits the vocal like a glove, and Cotti’s instantly-recognizable singjay style gives even more gravitas to an already heavy track.  The dub version spools out Von D’s signature saturated echoes even further, and opens up spectral chambers of reverb that shimmer and glow.

The B side “Ygrec” is an equally massive tune, just as compelling if more meditative and mysterious, coming in both one drop and power-steppers mixes for maximum versatility and vibes.   Both tunes and their versions feature an incredibly robust, warm, human sound - one that simply can’t come from machines alone - live drums, bass, and kete drum among other instruments maintain the tradition of live musicians in dub - to say nothing of expert desk-based mixing and deployment of live analog effects the way the elders intended.  Both tunes dial in at 140 making them perfect for roots and dubstep selectors alike. 

Von D got his start as a drummer and engineer outside Paris, in the heady days of original jungle.  Early releases on Disfigured Dubz, Hench, Boka, Black Acre and the seminal V Recordings, as well as his reggae-oriented Liquid Wicked project, cemented his reputation.  Don Cotti is a prolific producer, DJ and MC with releases stretching back to 2006 on labels as varied as Bass Face, Studio Rockers, and Soul Jazz.

Mastered by Lewis at Stardelta. Art & design by Polygon Press.

12" vinyl only, limited to 800 copies for the world. No digital, no repress.

Ships mid-January alongside ZamZam 49.

Von D "Politricks" w/Cotti, "Poly Dub," "Ygrec Dub, "Ygrec Dub 366" Khaliphonic 07 12" vinyl blend

There are few producers in the world of underground bass and dubwise music working today with the breadth, depth, and genre-busting powers of Ognjen Zecevic, the man called Egoless.  From post-everything blasts of wonky crunch & bass, to the most sparkling, orthodox reggae, his mastery of analog and digital production, and his free-roaming imagination and intuition make every Egoless plate a special, surprising, and rewarding experience.  

We’ve been holding this tune for some time… we kept it back as we knew right away it was fully deserving of the #50 spot in our catalog, a release we’ve been steadily working towards for a full 5 years.  It exemplifies what we have tried to build with ZamZam - a body of forward thinking heart and soul music, message music, physical music, sound system music.

For "Non-Immigrant Song” the Croatian Gorgon linked with rising sing-jay star Tenor Youthman (virtually unknown outside of his native Russia when the tune was recorded).  Egoless says "It was one of those moments when I received a message and some tunes from a guy in Russia, expecting the worst English ever... Oh how I was wrong, this guy blew me away with the natural organic quality of his voice and we did this tune shortly afterward.”

The lyric was extremely relevant when we first heard it, but we could not have imagined how relevance would turn to urgency with the rise of anti-immigrant extremism, Brexit, Trumpism and full-blown fascist infections spreading in so many parts of the world.  A plea to all those who lose touch with our humanity when we treat anyone as ‘other’ - native-born as immigrants, immigrants as refugees, refugees as less than human.

As for the music… an effortlessly swinging, massive rub-a-dub riddim in classic formation.  Buttery bass and thick kick hitting hard in unison.  Sparse and spare. Strictly analog effects and flawless instrumentation.  We asked Egoless for a truly OUT dub version to back the vocal, and he obviously didn’t disappoint - absolute desk & tape madness in the tradition of the most dub-me-crazy Ariwa or Black Ark meltdowns.

We couldn’t be more thrilled with this record and this milestone arrived at through so much work and so much support from our worldwide community. 

****As a special gift to celebrate ZamZam 50 we are including a full color poster documenting the art of ZamZam 01-49 folded into every copy.****  

Mastered by Egoless himself, cut by Lewis at Stardelta.  

Released late February, 2017. Limited to 800 7" vinyl copies for the world. Design & 2-color screen print by Polygon Press.  No repress, no digital.

Egoless feat. Tenor Youthman "Non-Immigrant Song" b/w "Non-Immigrant Dub" ZamZam 50 vinyl rip blend

2017 was a serious year for Von D, with releases on a number of great labels including our long-format imprint Khaliphonic, plus Amar, Moonshine, Lion Charge and more - and it's not over yet!  For ZamZam, Von D has delivered “Over” - a brooding, burning 140 anthem providing serious heat as we head into the dark winter months.  

“Over” features a powerful half-time reggae riddim built from Von D’s signature warm, enveloping bass and restrained but powerful drums.  Tambourine and guiro add flavor while the snares slap, and Meekman’s kete drum rocks throughout, adding a swing and live feeling missing from many contemporary in-the-box sound system tunes.  Melodica and synth skank in unison, underpinning a dizzying spread of analog signals & sonics.

With reality lyrics straight from Kingston JA courtesy of Shamarie Kamar Bogle AKA Digital Sham, the tune is brought to a boil with heady verbal vapors on poverty, struggle, corruption, daily stresses caused by the political shitstem, and the inevitable end of the wickedness that is so prevalent in these times.  

The dub version spools out the echoes and forwards the kete drum in fine style, displaying brilliant filter-sweep moves and reverbs so luscious the space they define seems to breathe.  “Chalice Overdubs” also features gorgeous guitar work starting halfway through, adding another melodic, rhythmic and textural element for much more than a simple version.  

Mastered by Sam at Precise, released late November, 2017. Limited to 800 7" vinyl copies for the world.  Design & screen print by Polygon Press.  No repress, no digital. 

Contact zamzamsounds@gmail.com for any information, including subscriptions to our 7" series, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to be kept in the loop!

Von D feat Digital Sham "Over" b/w "Chalice Overdubs" ZamZam 58 7" vinyl rip blend

Babe Roots are a relatively young duo from Turin, Italy, making a unique brand of atmospheric, techno-infused dubwise.  On our radar since their splendid debut 7” on Rohs! Records in early 2016, we are very pleased to invite them into the ZamZam fold with two mesmerizing and contrasting tunes.  

“Be Still” is a deeply meditative yet driving dub techno trek in classic fashion, featuring rastaman Kojo Neatness intoning on righteous living, working the land, guarding the tongue, and avoiding Babylonian schemes and traps laid by the wicked.  Maternal bass and shimmering reverbs envelop a heartbeat rhythm of kick, shaker and distant snares for a timeless vibe that shows mastery of the idiom while updating it for contemporary sound systems.  

“Rawness” is an extraordinarily deep 140 journey that opens with rich pads and swirling atmospherics, creating a psychoactive ambience that builds into a steady kick.  The full riddim hits and plunges us even deeper with restrained, syncopated drums and percussion.  Churning bass powers us through the dense, hallucinatory fog as tendrils of electricity probe and zap, and serrated snares cut through the tape haze and studio clouds in the last third.  Carving out a gorgeous edge between deep dubstep and dub techno, “Rawness” hits all the marks and will find a home in a huge range of sets.

Mastered by Sam Precise.  Design & screen print by Polygon Press.  Limited to 600 copies for the world.  No digital, no repress.  Contact zamzamsounds@gmail.com for subscriptions, wholesale, or other info.  Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to stay in the loop!

Babe Roots "Be Still" feat Kojo Neatness b/w "Rawness" ZamZam 59 7" vinyl rip blend

J:Kenzo is a certified don of contemporary sound system music, whether dubwise or otherwise, 140 to 160 and beyond.  Kenzo is a highly respected label head (Artikal Music UK & Lion Charge Records), heavyweight producer, master disc jockey and host of one of the most passionately-followed radio shows in all of dubstep on Rinse.fm. Needless to say we are thrilled to build with him once again.  Absolute control over sound design, timing, tension and dynamics mark all of Kenzo’s productions, and the pair he delivered for his second ZamZam are no exception.  Where his first release was a more meditative affair, “Kingston Hot” and “Concrete Jungle” both revel in a harder, darker vibe.

"Kingston Hot” enters rocking a sleigh bell riddim and builds quickly into a stormer that has been pummeling crowds worldwide on dubplate with support from the likes of J.Sparrow, Mala, and Headland to name just a few.  At once spacey, sultry, heady, and menacing it’s both eyes-down and hands-in-the-air material, all bass weight and reverb space, with every flick of the wrist in the mix another reason to recognize that the man’s stature in the world of bass music is well-earned.  

Concrete Jungle’s thinned intro kick, spare hand drums, and paranoid minimalist melody set the stage for a hard 140 stepper composed of a sidewinding, distorted bassline, smeared snares and panned percussion that drives deep into primal sound system territory. Frequent sparring partner in the live arena Sun of Selah makes a guest appearance on the mic with a single dread declamation that perfectly captures the tone of the tune, a gritty vibe that feels like swaggering through a near-future urban wasteland on the way to a dance that may not be much safer than the streets.  

Mastered by Sam at Precise. Shipping third week of January, 2019. Limited to 700 7" vinyl copies for the world. Design & screen print by Polygon Press.  No repress, no digital.

J:Kenzo "Kingston Hot" b/w "Concrete Jungle feat. Sun Of Selah ZamZam 69 7" vinyl rip blend

In six short years, over as many releases, Corin Bornhoff AKA Karma has carefully built a name as one of the most trusted and sought after producers in dubwise dubstep.  His releases are few and far between, with most tunes gaining legendary status on acetate long before they see release.  To date only System and Innamind have released his works on vinyl - ZamZam 73, our first release together, continues Karma’s path of strict quality control with two eagerly-awaited sound system tunes.  

Heads have been clamoring for A Side “Crampton Beat” to be released for no less than five years.  In that time it has aged beautifully, showing itself to be a truly timeless track, as captivating now as it was when first played out.  Buoyed by a massive, melodic bassline and pounding kick, thick atmospheres ebb and flow like tidal movements, and hard-skanking stabs drive the track forward.  Deeply melancholic pads that could almost be processed horns create a sense of loss, while lasers, test tones, and lacerating snares resolve in sheets of echo and feedback.  A gorgeous study in contrasts, Crampton Beat is a rare steppers that is both rhythmically ruthless and rich in emotion.  

Awash in tape hiss as thick as a sneaker wave, the B Side is an equally deep tune in collaboration with Karma’s longtime friend & musical sparring partner G.Goodz.  Blanketed in fog, rocking with shaker & sly drum turnarounds, "Shortwave Step” has all the hallmarks of the most beloved Karma tracks - propulsive half-time riddim, lonely reverb-soaked spaces, masterful EQ, mournful melodics, and subtle dub effects.  Together these two sides show once again that Karma is an artist who fully integrates emotion, intuition, and serious craft to maximum effect.  

Shipping the last week of June, 2019.  Limited to 700 copies for the world, 7" vinyl, no digital, no repress.  Design & screen print by Polygon Press.  Mastered by Precise Mastering.  Email zamzamsounds@gmail.com for wholesale or retail inquiries.

Karma "Crampton Beat" b/w Karma & G.Goodz "Shortwave Step" ZamZam 73 vinyl rip blend

Ophir Kutiel AKA Kutiman is a multi-instrumentalist from Tel Aviv, a “psychedelic space funk architect” to quote Straight No Chaser. When we were approached by his label Siyal about recruiting ZamZam/Khaliphonic artists for a remix project, we loved the idea right away - dub without borders or boundaries is our passion, and getting our hands on Kutiman’s freeform analog explorations felt like an amazing opportunity to push that passion further.  All four remixes revel in the freedom of the original tunes, and each, while anchored in dubwise techniques, are totally unhindered by tempo or other genre constraints.  

Alter Echo & E3 open with a remix of “Unknown,” the set’s only 140 tune, full up with a bubbling cauldron of bassline and flutes, esoteric vinyl archaeology, spring reverb shocks, and swung percussion.  

J:Kenzo, known for 140 and 160 bpm sound system bangers, here takes the chance to stay deep - but in a chill mode - unfurling a beautiful journey of syncopated drum work and slapping percussion framing the lush, meandering melodies of the original “Behind The Noise."

Gulls’ rework of “Mineral” rocks with an offbeat feel, technically in four, but swaying like it’s in three.  Plucked guitar figures recall the African roots of contemporary bass music, and tape hiss buffets the listener back and forth through a sonic hall of portals and passages.

Perhaps the most surprising of all four four versions is Headland’s closing “Lucid Dream” remix, which sets course for dub techno country and never looks back.  Combining the best of the producer’s masterful sound design and sense of build-and-drop dynamics with the idiom’s 4/4 pulse and focus on immersive space, Headland closes a set as inspired as the album it was based on. 

Shipping the last week of June, 2019.  Limited to 500 copies for the world, 12" vinyl, no digital, no repress.  Design & screen print by Polygon Press.  Mastered by Precise Mastering.  Email zamzamsounds@gmail.com for wholesale or retail inquiries.

Kutiman "Don't Hold Onto The Clouds - The Khaliphonic Versions" Khal 12 vinyl blend

Continuing the march to 100 releases, ZamZam 75 comes from one of our favorite contemporary producers, Alex Waitoa, the man known as Akcept.  Hailing from Christchurch New Zealand, steeped in that country’s unique sound system culture, with a rep cemented by a string of deep and dread releases on crucial imprints including Amar, Moonshine, Sentry, Modern Hypnosis, and Artikal, we are very happy to offer the next chapter in his already strong discography.  With roots, UK dub, techno, and dubstep as points of reference, Akcept operates in an open space where creativity and personal exploration are paramount. 

Murderous on dub for some time, “Cambridge Road” (named for Green King Cuts’ HQ where the tune originated) is a weighty, slyly menacing 140 rocker featuring Akcept’s signature syncopated percussion chops & a slithering, minimalist bassline. A disquietingly distorted hook, pitched & chorused vocal snippets and test tones lead the way through a dark dance equal parts eyes down & wariness - danger lurking around every corner.  

“Over & Out” is the secret weapon, a loping, lumbering behemoth of dubwise built for serious Sounds, a stew of filtered hi hat, heaving bass, sampled drum fills, swung shaker, oddly-looped reggae horns, and claustrophobic spaces navigated by cagey reverbs.

Releasing end of September 2019. Limited to 700 vinyl copies for the world, no repress, no digital. Design & screen print by Polygon Press. Mastering by Sam at Precise Mastering.  Email zamzamsounds@gmail.com for info on ordering, subscribing, or for stockists in your area of the world.  Peace!

Akcept "Cambridge Road" b/w "Over & Out" ZamZam 75 7" vinyl rip blend

ZamZam’s first encounter with the music of Diggory Kenrick was “The Lion Flute,” a wind-led cut to one of Jamaican music’s toughest riddims, the Mighty Diamonds’ “Africa.”  Years later it still hasn’t left the box, and it led us on a quest to acquire as many of his tunes as possible… E3 became obsessed with reaching out to him for a collaboration, and “Temple Duel” b/w “Temple Dub” is the resulting plate. Collaborations with legends including Bunny Lee, Lee Perry, and Jah Wobble have resulted in an extraordinary catalog of 7”, 10”, and 12” singles, to say nothing of producing an outstanding documentary on Mr. Lee, “I Am The Gorgon,” and countless liner notes and production credits for the untouchable Pressure Sounds label.
 
Kenrick’s signature sound is haunting and richly melodic, phased and distorted, lending an ancient-to-the-future vibe to everything he touches, whether rootical collaborations or left-field version excursions. 
 
Alter Echo & E3 and Headland had been wanting to collaborate for some time, and Kenrick’s high-plains-meets-far-east vibes seemed the perfect opportunity to build something truly unique.
 
The scene takes place deep underground, in blackened chambers untouched by the sun, ancient halls where reverb space is the guide and ritual combat is the only way out.  Subsonic 808 bass undergirds a near-industrial mid-range bass guitar groove, stiff snares, stick-fighting percussion, and the melody an ever-present narrative arc through the dark. “Temple Dub” strips down the flute and widens the cinemascope, with claustrophobic panning and vertiginous detuning echoes creating ghostly traps for the unwary.

Mastered by Sam at Precise.  Art & Design by Polygon Press.  Limited to 700 10" vinyl copies for the world.  No repress, no digital.  Releasing first week of November 2019.

Alter Echo & E3 Meet Headland & Diggory Kenrick "Temple Duel" + Dub Khaliphonic 13, 10" vinyl blends

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!!

Mastered by Sam at Precise.  Art & Design by Polygon Press.  Limited to 600 12" vinyl copies for the world.  No repress, no digital.  Releasing first week of November 2019.

Dubkasm "Two X Two" Khaliphonic 14, 12" vinyl blends

ZamZam 82 marks our first collaboration with another label - the mighty Dubquake Records outta Geneva! We’ve long been fans of O.B.F. and Dubquake, so when Von D proposed the collaboration all sides were eager to make it happen. 

Nazamba burst on the global sound system scene in 2018 with O.B.F. and the Bug-produced stormer “Vex,” and has since worked exclusively with O.B.F. and Dubquake, releasing two singles and a powerful statement of an LP last year. Firmly in the tradition of the great dub poets such as Prince Far-I, LKJ, and Mutabaruka, Nazamba has digested the lessons of the past and is now changing the game by carving his own niche in the living history of dub poetry. His lyrics are born from lessons learned living in Kingston, and meditations on life, spirit, and the trials imposed by Babylon. 

“She Solid" was born when Rico & Steph of Dubquake played Nazamba the instrumental while driving in the Alps - inspiration struck immediately and he began writing in the car! The poem describes the resilience of a woman - a mother - strong, independent, providing for herself and her children without the help of a man, or the institutions of society. Simply maintaining her sanity and surviving every day in a system that doesn’t value or even see her strength is a victory. Nazamba's seemingly effortless delivery belies a mastery of cadence that perfectly locks his voice to the riddim with every syllable. A true dub poet plays his cadence like an instrument, and “She Solid” is a masterclass in this subtle art. 

Von D’s hard yet restrained 140 steppers perfectly frames Nazamba’s ode to struggle and determination. Kete drum and plucked guitar filigree intertwine at the edges of the growling baritone, buoyed by a rockstone bassline mirrored in a heavily filtered midrange melody. Von D’s dub cracks open the space inherent in the tune with wicked snare splashes maimed & mangled in FX chains only he knows the secrets to. Guitar & percussion come forward and the echoes reel out in fine style. Hands-on-desk raw dub the way the people love it!!

Soundcloud blend recorded straight from the vinyl so you know what you’re getting. Release date: 11 Dec 2020. Limited to 750 7″ vinyl copies for the world. Mastered by Sam at Precise. Design and screen print by Polygon Press. Digital available soon via Dubquake Records Bandcamp.

Nazamba & Von D "She Solid" b/w "She Dub" ZamZam 82 7" vinyl blend

ZamZam: strictly limited 7" dub vinyl, lovingly designed and screen printed by hand.  No digital, no repress.  Khaliphonic: 10", 12", and LPs. 

Email zamzamsounds@gmail.com to subscribe to the next five releases and have them shipped to your door: $60 (USA only). 

Distribution:
UK: Unearthed, Juno, Dubwise
France: Toolbox
Germany: Hard Wax, Buyreggae.com, HHV
Japan: Dub Store
USA: retailers including Zions Gate (Seattle), Ear Candy Music (Missoula), Musique Plastique & Clinton Street Record & Stereo (Portland)

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