Ambient dub is the dreamlike extension of traditional dub—a sound world where slow-motion basslines, swirling echoes, and textured layers stretch out like scenes from a film you've never seen but somehow remember. It’s not dub for the dancefloor. It’s dub for drifting. For breathing. For letting go.

Docetism – Old Oak

Akcept, Another Channel – Transmission

Another Channel – Version Of Love

Versa – Breakthrough

Thievery Corporation – Le Monde

Eccodek, Dubmatix – Voices Have Eyes (Dubmatix Cinematic Dub Mix)

Low Volume, Biodub – Hope So - Biodub Remix

Upwellings – Blue Line to Brixton - Original Mix

Deadbeat, Paul St. Hilaire – Dopa

Biodub – Schweben

Dubmatix, Future Dub Orchestra – Black Arc

Burning Spear—born Winston Rodney in St. Ann’s Bay, Jamaica—is not just a reggae artist; he is a vessel of history, resistance, and Rastafari wisdom. While his better-known songs, such as "Marcus Garvey," "Columbus," and "Slavery Days," defined 1970s roots reggae, there’s a rich body of lesser-known tracks that offer just as much power, insight, and sonic magic.

This one-hour mix delves into a deeper catalog: unreleased takes, dub versions, extended disco mixes, and forgotten B-sides that still resonate with Spear’s unwavering spiritual and political voice. These are songs for those ready to go beneath the surface.

PLAYLIST

Burning Spear - Call On You

Burning Spear - Swell Head

Burning Spear - Foggy Road

Burning Spear - Institution (Disco Mix)

Burning Spear - Workshop (Red Gold And Green)

Burning Spear - Travelling

Burning Spear - Free Black People

Burning Spear - Farther East Of Jack (Old Marcus Garvey)

Burning Spear - Spear Burning

Burning Spear - Dub Man

Burning Spear - Natural (Version)

Burning Spear - Jah No Dead (Disco Mix)

Burning Spear - Marcus Senior

Burning Spear - Do The Reggae (12" Inch mix)

Burning Spear - The Whole We A Suffer

We take a deep dive into the heaviest, deepest, and most earth-shaking dub sounds of the 1970s with 15 killer, no filler, dub tracks.

This is the era when dub was forged in Kingston's studios, carved into vinyl grooves, and blasted through the most powerful sound systems across Jamaica and beyond. These dubs rattled speakers, lifted minds, and laid the foundation for what we now call bass culture.

So turn up your speakers, feel the bass in your chest, and let’s step into the echo chamber of heavyweight dub.

PLAYLIST

The 60-minute reggae mixtape show curated by Dubmatix showcases the finest Sticky Icky Reggae tunes from around the globe — spanning dub to dancehall, rocksteady to roots, and every rhythm in between.

PLAYLIST

This special mix celebrates the voice, vision, and vibration of Martin Campbell, one of the UK’s most dedicated roots reggae artists. With haunting vocals, militant riddims, and dubwise production, his sound remains a powerful bridge between the message-driven reggae of the 1970s and today’s global dub revival.

This was an artist I’d never crossed musical paths with, so when I first heard “Wicked Rule,” my ears perked up. The music was different, his voice stood out with a unique tone and delivery that made me stop and ask What was that? T’ Then I had to relisten several times to wrap my head around what this guy was doing. Released in 1990, it was a blend of digital dancehall sounds, soundsystem-style steppers, and bass, with minimalist production.

Martin Campbell, Hi Tech Roots Dynamics – Just Another Day

Martin Campbell – Babylon Come

Martin Campbell – Another Night

Martin Campbell – Give the Poor Man a Try

Martin Campbell – Everywhere I Walk

Martin Campbell, Hi Tech Roots Dynamics – Keep on Rowing the Boat

Martin Campbell – War and Plunder

Martin Campbell – Tears Form

Martin Campbell – Hard Living

Martin Campbell – Got to Pray

Alien Dread, Martin Campbell, The Hi-Tech Roots Dynamics – Don't Cry Dub

Martin Campbell – Ignorance & Poverty

Martin Campbell – Crazy Circus

Martin Campbell – Bound to Fall

Martin Campbell – Jacks Mouth

Martin Campbell, Hi Tech Roots Dynamics – You Lick Me First

Martin Campbell - Wicked Rule

This one-hour set draws from key artists and tracks that have helped shape the sound, making it a perfect companion for chill-out sessions, creative focus, or late-night journeys through your mind.

Quanta - Akasha Experience – Quazilimbo (Akasha Experience Remix)

Pitch Black - Deep Fried Dub – Transient Transmission (Deep Fried Dub's Battered Mix)

Kuba – The Woman Who Made The Rain Come

Psybur – Pocket Universe

Deep Fried Dub – Kryptology (Deciphered Mix)

Tor.Ma In Dub – The Colour from Space

Third Ear Audio – The End?

International Observer – Low Light Meter

Ricky Bamboo – Subconscious

Deep Fried Dub – Mirage

Dubsalon – Yeco Ne Boko

Steely & Clevie laid the blueprint for digital reggae and modern dancehall. Their innovations in rhythm sequencing, MIDI drum programming, and sampling gave rise to an entire generation of producers. Sadly, Steely passed away in 2009, but their legacy lives on in countless tracks, remixes, and riddims still in rotation today.

Pinchers – Bandelero

Beres Hammond – Tempted to Touch

Steely & Clevie, Dawn Penn – You Don't Love Me

Freddie McGregor – Loving Pauper

Junior Tucker – Love Of A Lifetime

Steely & Clevie, Leroy Sibbles – Fatty Fatty

Foxy Brown – Sorry

Lady G, Sugar Minott – A Whole Heap A Man

Cocoa Tea – Sonia Come Back

Tiger – Ram Dance Hall

Sugar Minott – Smile

Mr. Vegas – Heads High

Admiral Bailey – Punanny

Gregory Peck – Oversized Mampie

General Degree – When I Hold You Tonight

Shabba Ranks – Trailer Load A Girls

Anthony Malvo, Daddy Lizard – Take You To The Dance

Ninjaman – Murder Dem

The 60-minute reggae mixtape show curated by Dubmatix showcases the finest Sticky Icky Reggae tunes from around the globe — spanning dub to dancehall, rocksteady to roots, and every rhythm in between.

PLAYLIST

For more themed mixes, visit https://bassculture.substack.com/

I’ve been locked in with Leroy from the moment I heard Ballistic Affair as the needle hit vinyl and exploded out of my childhood bedroom stereo decades ago - the infectious groove and his vocal delivery, raw pleading, captured my attention and hasn’t let go since. He is a once-in-a-generation voice that, after 50 years, still resonates with young and old and will get your head nodding and feet moving.

The Backstory

Leroy Smart - Mother Lisa

Leroy Smart, Big Youth - Pride And Ambition (Extended)

Leroy Smart - Life Is a Funny Thing

Leroy Smart - Wreck up My Life

Leroy Smart - Ballistic Affair

Leroy Smart - We Want to Go Home

Leroy Smart - Jah Is Mighty

Leroy Smart - Badness No Pay

Leroy Smart - Badness Don't Pay (45 Edit)

Leroy Smart - Africa

Leroy Smart - Mr. Smart

Leroy Smart - Friday Night

Leroy Smart - Party Time Rock

Leroy Smart - No Love

Leroy Smart - Jah Almighty

Leroy Smart - Beautiful Rainbow

Leroy Smart - No Check Babylon God

Leroy Smart - Jah Jah Forgive Them

Lovers Rock is a romantic subgenre of reggae that emerged in mid-1970s London, blending soulful melodies with reggae rhythms. It was pioneered by producers like Dennis Harris, Dennis Bovell, and John Kpiaye, who established the Lovers Rock label in 1977. The genre provided a softer, more melodic alternative to the politically charged roots reggae of the time, resonating deeply with the Black British community.

Dennis Bovell played a pivotal role in shaping the Lovers Rock sound, producing hits like Janet Kay's "Silly Games," which reached number 2 on the UK Singles Chart in 1979. The genre's emphasis on love and emotional expression provided a platform for female artists, with figures such as Carroll Thompson and Louisa Mark gaining prominence. Lovers Rock became a staple at house parties and sound system events, fostering a sense of community and cultural identity.

The impact of Lovers Rock extended beyond music, influencing fashion, dance, and social dynamics within the Black British community. It provided a space for emotional expression and connection during a time of racial tension and social upheaval. The genre's legacy continues to inspire artists and audiences, underscoring its significance in the tapestry of British musical and cultural history.

Here’s an interview with Dennis Bovell on PeckhamSoul.com

J.C. Lodge – Someone Loves You Honey

Brown Sugar – I'm in Love With a Dreadlocks

Sandra Reid – Ooh Boy

Carroll Thompson – Simply in Love (2021 - Remaster)

Janet Kay – Silly Games

Claudette Miller, Errol Brown – Tonight Is the Night

Louisa Mark – Caught You in a Lie

Jean Adebambo – Paradise

Carroll Thompson – Hopelessly in Love

Webby Jay – In the Rain

Trevor Walters – Stuck on You

Marie Pierre – Choose Me

Delroy Witter, Janet Kay – I Do Love You

Claudia Fontaine – Natural High

Paul Dawkins – Ready to Dance