By Liam Monaghan
GENTLEMAN’S DUB CLUB SIGNS TO EASY STAR RECORDS, ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF NEW ALBUM THE BIG SMOKE
BELOVED UK REGGAE ACT BEGINS TOUR IN OCTOBER, DROPS NEW RELEASE NOVEMBER 13
The Big Smoke takes listeners on a well-paced and diverse musical journey, with guest appearances by major UK reggae talent and “Bedroom Eyes” writer Natty (on “One Night Only”) and tenor sax star Josh Arcoleo (best known for his work with the legendary Pee Wee Ellis as well as Joss Stone, Katy B, and many others).
I was fortunate enough to get a copy with some tracks so heres a brief view!
Music is The Girl I love
Relly like this song, upbeat with an original Ska sound, subtle guitar strokes flick out with bouncy keys from what sounds like an old organ you’d hear in some of the early Ska based records. Johnny’s unique style of singing balances rap/talkative with harmonious outbursts that works well with the catchy horn line of this track.
See Them
Chilled and slowed down, we’re introduced into this record by a harmony that sets the tone. All key elements of a GDC tune are in this with a Ska sounding guitar riddim stroke and soft keys. A nice touch also is the splatters of the drums give a Dub style feel to the record that lie nicely under the minimal horn sections. A nice chilled record.
Bad Girl
Back to a upbeat tempo, a simple tune here, another wicked sounding horn line with a catchy harmonious chorus, a festival winner for sure and again the drums come through well on this record.
One Night Only
Was really interested to see whom the guys was going to collab with but was very happy to see the talented Natty on a track! This track infuses Natty’s style of delivery with minimal activity but lots of emphasis on drums and dubbing. Nattys rap like delivery with his raw gritty voice really creates a moody air around this record, which is a nice contrast in the album, one of my favourites from this album.
TOUR DATES
09 OCT – ENGINE ROOMS – SOUTHAMPTON, UK
10 OCT – THE GLOBE – CARDIFF, UK
17 OCT – BULLINGDON ARMS, OXFORD
23 OCT – EPIC STUDIOS – NORWICH, UK
24 OCT – ARTS CLUB – LIVERPOOL, UK
13 NOV – M11 – MILTON KEYNES, UK
20 NOV – MR KYPS – POOLE, UK
21 NOV – MADNESS HOUSE OF FUN – BUTLINS, UK
2016
12 FEB – MOTION – BRISTOL, UK
13 FEB – PRINCESS PAVILION – FALMOUTH, UK
14 FEB – THE HUB – PLYMOUTH, UK
16 MAR – HORIZON FESTIVAL – BANSKO, BGR
