Album Review: Dub Till Dawn

Can’t really go wrong with a bit of dub, can you?

The reggae/ska infused stylings are more-or-less the national anthem of Aotearoa after all, with deep roots tendrilled through our collective psyche. And some of us that have successfully escaped across the ditch have taken it with them.

A truly international collaboration, guerrilla-dub outfit Sunset Tsunami (not to be confused with the strain of a certain hydroponic cultivar) is equal parts Sideways and Buckwheat, an unlikely mix of Londoner and Aucklander by way of Sydney. Both hemispheres converging where the sun meets the golden sand, to make those warm fuzzy noises us Kiwis can’t get enough of.

Hitting in the middle of our southern summer, their debut long-player, Dub Till Dawn, brings together Sunset Tsunami’s recent singles, with the noticeable exception of their take on The Elovater’s Castaway with MO2, which is worth the listen if you’re ever in the area.

Whether it’s a summertime soundtrack to a backyard bender, a rural road-trip between nowhere and somewhere, some late night introspection on the worn sofa down in the garden shed or garage, bouncing in a cloudy basement bar coated in someone else’s sweat, or wherever else you usually dub yourself out… Dub Till Dawn has a track for all of these scenarios.

Beginning and ending with very different interpretations of Dub Till Dawn, starting with the tranced-up flow state vibes of the original, it is a curated journey through to the high impact Drum & Bass of the closing MO2 Remix. The trip feels planned. Optimised for maximum enjoyment.

The tracks ebb and flow in a sort of natural rhythm. From the rasta grooves and freestyling of the Israel Starr led Trigger Warning, the hip-hoppery of Wildfire, the sultry slow dance of Dynamite, the Ganja and Jamaica infused Mr Midnight, the hop-skip-and-jumping of the bouncy Pass The Rizla, the hypnotic driving beat of Stereotypes with its synthy guitar and Sega-like licks, the jungle beats of the arpy-industrial Liquid Sunshine. Everything in its right place. Never a bad vibe. No negativity. Just sunshine, sound systems, and dance floors.

Recommended for Kiwis, Londoners, Aussies… Anyone that can feel a groove. While Israel Starr collab track Trigger Warning is a strong contender with its conscious lyricism and infectious groove, the standout track is the duo’s reimagined version of Corrella’s Skeletons. Try that one on for size, then strap in, start again, and enjoy the whole ride.

You can find Dub Till Dawn on the Sunset Tsunami Bandcamp or anywhere else you stream music.