A new book chronicling the history of dub music, Dub Revolution: Jamaica’s Sonic Innovators and the Birth of Remix Culture, is out now.
Written by author, journalist and documentary-maker David Katz, the book explores dub’s emergence in early 1970s Kingston, where producers such as King Tubby, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Prince Jammy and Scientist began reshaping reggae recordings into stripped-back, effects-heavy experiments.
It also charts how the sound spread internationally through the Jamaican diaspora, taking root in cities like New York via figures including Lloyd “Bullwackie” Barnes, and finding new forms in the UK through producers such as Dennis Bovell, Mad Professor, and Adrian Sherwood.
The book also examines the political and cultural contexts in which dub music emerged and spread globally, and includes interviews with some of the genre’s most influential figures.
A synopsis of the book reads: “Widely adopted by post-punk producers and later a crucial influence on the underground dance music scenes of several continents, dub indelibly changed the techniques and aesthetics of music production with far-reaching effects; it’s no exaggeration to say that without dub, there would be no hip-hop or house music.”
The book has been published by White Rabbit Books, and can be purchased here.
Revisit DJ Mag’s 2022 feature on the life of the late dub pioneer Lee “Scratch” Perry through the lens of photographer Dennis Morris here.
Last month, a new book exploring how sound design has shaped electronic music over the past 30 years was published by Routledge.
