Hey there Sorry Staters! Thanks for giving the newsletter a read. Is everyone tuning in to see what photo wizardry Jeff will be up to next? Wait until he masters AI. Seriously though, I hope you enjoy reading his entries here in the newsletter as much as we all do. He articulated well the buzz many of us here have been getting from those two Eppu Normaali records and from the Modem album he talked about the week before. A lot of love for our Finnish friends, but we would be remiss not to mention how much we loved Fatamorgana from Spain too. Their record Ahora Aquí Todavía No that came out a few years ago was a Sorry State favorite. They are currently doing well with their full band Belgrado and just released a new album. Perhaps you already picked it up, but if not, go check it out.
Looks like you guys picked up copies of the Institute 7”, however. We sold out of the blue quickly and are getting through the black vinyl as I type. I stupidly missed out on snagging a blue copy, but have been jamming the black. Turns out the songs sound the same. I really like the B-side tune, Why Are These Men Still Alive? Good question. Nice job, fellows.
For my “pick” this week I wanted to share something for the reggae and dub heads who might be reading. I imagine there are a few of you. This is one that was released in 2024 that I discovered last year. Linval Thompson / Roberto Sanchez – Linval Thompson Meets Roberto Sánchez At The Ark - Marijuana Sessions In Dub.
Basically, the story here is that legendary Jamaican reggae artist Linval Thompson linked up with contemporary Spanish producer and musician Roberto Sanchez, who runs his Ark studios in Spain. Thompson provided original four-track stems taken from the Channel One recordings from back in the day to Sanchez, who could then mix them and create new but authentic-sounding dubs. This album features dubs of songs from Thompson’s classic album I Love Marijuana and a few others from the same period. They sound great.
The liner notes get into all the technical details around the recordings and provide some great insight into how some of the classic reggae records from the late 1970s and early 1980s were recorded at Channel One studios and then sent to King Tubby’s for mixing. I won’t get too deep into the weeds with that here, but it should interest fans and those into recording engineering. Thompson has been good about keeping his music safe throughout the years, but unfortunately even carefully stored tapes can eventually erode, and unless saved through a baking process, the music contained can be lost forever. Through his partnership with Sanchez, a lot of his music has been saved for future generations to enjoy. The two met back in 2009 when Sanchez’s band, Lone Ark Riddim Force, backed Thompson on show dates in France, Portugal and Spain. The tour went well, and the artists got along. However, Sanchez had to tell Thompson that the band did not get paid by the promoter. He also took the opportunity to tell him about his studio in Spain and to show him some of the work he had done there. Realizing that the studio had the right vibe, setup and people, Thompson felt secure and confident to work with Sanchez, and after a couple of years began sending him files with original material recorded back in the golden days at Channel One. It’s this relationship that led to the creation of this album of dubs for the I Love Marijuana tunes and others. Staying faithful to the old methods, using analog delays, spring reverbs and the classic Altec low-pass filter, Sanchez has produced an authentic and crucial dub set that should please hard-core dub heads and newcomers alike, whether you love marijuana or not. It does give you a deep meditation.
Okay, cheers and spark it, if you got it. See you next time.
-Dom
Skip to content