Living Dub Vol. 2 cover

Living Dub Vol. 2

Burning Spear · 1980

39 min · 10 tracks · dub music · roots reggae

A hypnotic fusion of echoing rhythms and deep bass creates a meditative atmosphere steeped in Rastafarian spirituality.

Why this album works

This album is significant for its influence on the dub genre and for showcasing Burning Spear's unique sound that blended spiritual themes with modern production techniques. Critically acclaimed, it helped to define the direction of reggae music in the late 20th century and has been referenced by many subsequent artists within the genre. The album further established Burning Spear's reputation as a leading artist in reggae, particularly in the realm of conscious music.
Best for
steady rhythmic exploration meditative listening experience hypnotic bass-driven grooves
Context
Released in 1980, 'Living Dub Vol. 2' marked Burning Spear's continued exploration of dub music following the success of his previous albums. At this point, he was solidifying his role as a key figure in the roots reggae scene, building upon the foundations laid by his breakthrough records like 'Marcus Garvey' (1975) and 'Man in the Hills' (1976). This album showcased his innovative approach to dub production, emphasizing instrumental depth and sonic experimentation.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Cry Africa (Cry Blood Africans) Standout 3:56
  • 2 Telegram Dub (African Postman) Standout 4:08
  • 3 Teacher (African Teacher) 4:34
  • 4 Offensive Dub (Jah A Guh Raid) 4:54
  • 5 Majestic Dub (Hail H.I.M.) 3:56
  • 6 Pirate’s Dub (Columbus) 3:26
  • 7 Foggy (Road Foggy) 3:47
  • 8 Marcus Dub (Follow Marcus Garvey) Standout 3:41
  • 9 World Dub (Bad to Worst) 3:41
  • 10 Over All Dub (Civilized Reggae) 3:37

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata