Dub Plate Selection, Vol. 1 cover

Dub Plate Selection, Vol. 1

Released

This album originally arrived in February 1995, almost simultaneously with A Guy Called Gerald’s Black Secret Technology, and sandwiched in between 4Hero’s Parallel Universe and Goldie’s Timeless. It never got the same critical kudos as them at the time, but it is absolutely as important as any of them in establishing jungle / drum’n’bass as a genre with depth and longevity. Partly this was down to the natural diffidence of Rob Smith (the Smith of Smith & Mighty, and half of More Rockers along with Peter D. Rose), the antithesis of a hype-seeker. Partly it’s that this album didn’t have the grandiose sci-fi vision of those other groundbreaking sets — rather being a deep expression of the UK’s soundsystem and rare groove grass roots, all organic, dubwise production, soulful vocals and interpolation from classic roots, disco and boogie. Play this now, though, and it absolutely captures the moment, but also stirs the soul in the here and now too.

Joe Muggs

Recommended by

Suggestions
Pleasure Dub cover

Pleasure Dub

Tommy McCook, Errol Brown, The Supersonics
Lost In Space cover

Lost In Space

Gentleman's Dub Club
The Reggae Power 2 cover

The Reggae Power 2

Sly & Robbie, Spicy Chocolate
Lows & Highs cover

Lows & Highs

Creation Rebel
Full Circle cover

Full Circle

Jaki Liebezeit, Holger Czukay, Jah Wobble