Hmmm, I wonder who these guys are, and whether they’ll ever make it… 😉

Nah, I am thrilled to get to review some Salmonella Dub. Single Hands In The Soil is on release now, with guests Troy Kingi and Whirimako Black. As we know, Dub has been an ever present sound around the South Pacific, as well as Europe and North America, for many years. The release of the two latest singles marks the pending releases in October of their new digi-album For All Things Alive Disc 1 and November’s release of Disc 2.

You’ll recognise the easy professionalism of the studio work behind the warm, almost lazy (but not!) tempo and orchestration of instruments. This is SO Dub. The velvety lead vocal, the easy, non-taxing sway of the groove that is going to get you moving, slowly and continually. You recognise the description, yeah? Course you do. I’m telling you Dub have done it again. This is Mainland Dub music at its zenith and is already making huge waves.

From the bewitching BVs of Whirimako Black, who you see considerably throughout the vibrant yet mellow vid, to Troy Kingi‘s vocal contribution, the guitars, the brass, the obligatory bass, which ramps up nicely; this is a fabulous advertisement for the genre, and for the forthcoming albums. I like the subject behind the lyrics too. Poignant at this time in our history making years.

For comment, founder Andrew Penman says in the EPK: “The rhythm bed was recorded in Christchurch with Whirimako Black adding vocals in the band’s Whakatu studio in a session on the night of Richard Nunns’s tangi. The day Aotearoa was told we were heading into a second COVID  lockdown Troy Kingi was in our Whakatu studio adding vocals making this the last tune to be finished from our new vinyl album Return To Our Kowhai. We are pleased to say we have now finally finished the album!”

The single is, as mentioned, paired with Shaping Ground, featuring Nino Birch. This one also tackles some of the ills we’re inflicting upon ourselves, as depicted in some stills through the rather darker, more compelling vid. The band is in full brass-led mode, massive studio work done here making this an absolute stand-up and be counted number. A more angry melody, sullen at first but becoming quite in your face, really marks this track as a future favourite for the live shows. It’s got a chorus that’s anthemic and memorable. It’s got such a brazen brass ensemble hitting you from all sides, you’ll know exactly who’s playing if you’re walking across a field ten miles away!

Mixed by Haza Bretherton, these guys are the icons of the genre and they are back to show us why. For Dub‘s legion of fans, you are in for more ear candy and they’re covering these lush islands, and the neighbours across the Tasman too, through October to December.

Diarise the album releases and the shows. Salmonella Dub! F*** yes!