*The aim*, says guitarist/producer Nick Page (aka Dubulah, of TransGlobal Underground and Temple of Sound), *is to constantly surprise*.
Dubulah travelled to Addis in 2006 to explore 60s Ethiopian pop, Ethiojazz, traditional Azmari styles, and 70s Jamaican
Dub Reggae. He met two amazing female vocalists: pop star Tsedenia Gebremarkos and nightclub owner Sintayehu Mimi
Zenebe (described as Ethiopia s Edith Piaf ) as well as the extraordinary young Ethiojazz pianist Samuel Yirga, veteran jazz
saxophonist Feleke Hailu and traditional Azmari folk singer Teremage Woretaw, who plays the one-string messenqo violin.
Dub Colossus was born.
This new album evokes the sultry clubs and pounding dancehalls of Addis with its exuberant mix of traditional sounds, sturdy
reggae rhythms and a modern dub twist -- echoing sounds like Sun Ra, The Abyssinians, Dick Dale and King Tubby, and
ranging from atmospheric, drifting jazz-dub instrumentals to classic reggae covers and smoky love ballads.
Recorded in both Addis & England, it features guest artists Mykaell Riley (Steel Pulse); Jamiroquai drummer Nick Van Gelder;
the Horns of Negus brass section; bassist Dr Das of Asian Dub Foundation, and double bassist Bernard O Neill with Dubulah
himself on guitar, bass, harmonicas and keyboards and the great Ethiopian collective in dazzling performances.