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REVIEW: ZENTONE - Zenzile Meet Hightone (Jarring Effects)

Zentone are two of France leading dub outfits, Zenzile and Hightone, joining forces as one. Although both of them have a couple of releases behind them they're not too known to the dub audience outside of France and neighbouring countries. Zenzile first caught my attention with a rhythm they've produced for the label Irie Ites first 10:inch release which featured vocalists Ras Mac Bean, Chezidek and Lorenzo. Hightone are one of the those groups I've heard on different compilations yet never looked up until I got hold of their wicked 10:inch releases, with Shanti-D and UK rootsman Martin Campbell on vocals, that saw release this summer. Both Zenzile and Hightone are groups of players of live instruments although they tend to have a more digital approach at times. Non of them are afraid to take new paths of direction in music which have led them to experiment and mould jungle, drum and bass and electro with their own brand of dub music.

Soundclip: Zentone - The Source

With Zentone they've gone into a very ambient and meditative realm of dub which by no need gets borring or lack originality. The rhythms are hypnotic and monotone but grow on you for every time you hear them simply because of the small details within the rhythms and the haunting groove pushing them forward. Many times I start thinking of what great film music this would make, especially "Breathe" and "Wide Screen" with their hazy and dreamlike soundscapes. Other tracks are more uptempo and pulsating like "Zentown" and "Organ Gift" which also includes sampled voices adding to the film music feel. All to all this is a seriously good album projecting modern day dub in its best form. Personally I rate this one, along with the new Nucleus Roots dub album, as one of the best dub albums of 2006.

Soundclip: Zentone - Organ Gift

As time is the master non of Zenzile and Hightone seems to wast any time since both already have new works in progress. Zenzile got the new album "Meta Meta" where they've explored the world of electronica and Hightone released just shortly before the Zentone project the album called "Re-Processed" which features remixes of Hightones earlier work. Hopefully we'll see these two dub entrepreneurs joining forces once again in a not too far away future for another musical chapter of progressive dub.

/Jakob Levi - 30/10-06