Dubkasm

Cementing the legacy of Dubkasm's contributions to the Bristol / UK / Intl Roots scene over the years, originally out in 2003, and only pressed in a ltd edition of 500 12" records, which were then hand-distributed directly by Dubkasm's Dj Stryda to record shops from Bristol to London and up and around the UK.
Pre internet-era, and with no repress ever available for all these years due to the loss of the original vinyl stampers, now, 20 years on, the very first release on Dubkasm's Sufferah's Choice label gets revitalised in the form of this reissue. Cut to a full, mighty sounding high quality 12" disc, remastered and cut for full pressure, with two cuts of Strictly Ital pressed up on the A side (plus another two, which you can only hear / receive as a digital file alongside this vinyl, as mentioned above), and with another gem, Hornsman Trod, and its dub counterpart pressed to the flipside, to round things off in rock solid 'hi-tek roots' style.

Strictly Ital features a great vocal contribution from long time friend Ras Addis on a vocal tribute to Ital livity, which is anchored by a typically harmonious, and rich-in-melody, yet utterly heavyweight piece of rootical steppers business from Digistep and Stryda, aka Dubkasm.

Strictly Ital was the first full release of theirs in the early 00s, after some years building a reputation on Bristol's local (illegal) pirate radio airwaves and in the UK soundsystem scene - Dubkasm became known and revered as providers of dubplates for the big UK sounds such as Iration Steppas, Aba Shanti-I and Jah Shaka - following their humble appearance with the track 'Chemical Reaction Dub' on the infamous Dub Out West comp, all the way back in 1996.

Pressed up with new centre label artwork, and reissued as the 31st release on Dubkasm Records (previously known as Sufferah's Choice) - the 12" comes packed with the original Strictly Ital, with Ras Addis adding depth and spiritual guidance to a deep, infectious steppers cut. Guided by a scaling hornsline (from Shanti-Ites players Colin Marcland and Digistep) and a growling bass that trembles underneath sharp, rolling metallic percussion and the reassuring clank of the snare - a real Dubkasm sound-signifier, and great to hear in it's early incarnation, 20 years prior to where we are now. 'Years without fears!' as Dj Stryda would probably say.