There are few people who have played as vital a role in the development of dub and reggae in this country as Dennis Bovell. Not only a skilled multi-instrumentalist (most famously playing guitar for UK reggae pioneers Matumbi) he is also a hit songwriter (of Janet Kay’s chart topping ‘Silly Games’), a prolific producer (working with ground breaking artists ranging from Linton Kwesi Johnson to The Slits) and a highly skilled dub engineer (check out the excellent dub albums produced under his Blackbeard pseudonym). In short, he’s a bit of a legend.
He’s also still very much on top of his game as this amazing record that came out on Optimo Music a few years back is testament to. The story goes that Optimo’s JD Twitch heard that Dennis was going to be in Glasgow for a show so he got in touch and asked him if he’d be interested in dropping by at the city’s Green Door Studio to dub up two tracks by post-punk/post-disco local heroes Golden Teacher. He said yes and the spectacular results are found on this record - a joyful union of cross generational dubwise madness that takes in dub, dancehall, techno, post-punk and disco.
Particular mention also has to made of the striking artwork by Golden Teacher’s own Oliver Pitt which provides a nod to both the classic reggae 12” disco sleeves of the 70’s as well as the punk ethos of printing the price of the record directly on the cover to prevent profiteering, a concept originally pioneered by punk band Crass. Discogs sellers take note…