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Vibronics It was the joint discovery of the Aba-Shanti-I Sound System and digitally sequenced music which first inspired Steve Vibronics to try his hand at building dub tunes. A minimal studio was put together at home during 1995 using the most basic of equipment - a dilapidated 16 track mixer, reverb and echo units, a couple of synths and a an Atari computer - all mixed down onto cassette tape. One such tape was given to Aba-Shanti-I after one of his legendary sessions at the Arches in Vauxhall, London. By the next dance it had been cut onto dubplate and the sounds of Vibronics were unleashed in the form of the thunderous 'Universal Love'. Soon after links were forged with the Leeds Sound System Iration Steppas, this time with the hard stepping 'Dub Discovery' rhythm. Since those early days Vibronics have maintained strong links with Roots Sound Systems. As anyone who has heard Aba, Iration, Shaka or Tubbys will confirm that Dubs are best heard through 18" scoop bass bins with the kind of volume and power that will shake a building to it's foundations. The Vibronics sound was introduced to UK dub pioneers Zion Train in 1996, and so begun a fruitful relationship with their 'Universal Egg' label which lasts to the present day. Shortly after the release of the Egg Files in late 1997 ( 'Awakenings' included on this compilation was the first commercially released Vibronics track) came the offer to be part of the Universal Egg Experience, a four week tour of Europe taking in 22 dates across four countries. On our return Deep Root ( a subsidiary of Universal Egg dealing strictly with roots 7"s) unleashed 'Jah Light Jah Love', a downbeat seppa with a bass line only heard before on exclusive dubplate mixes played by the mighty Jah Shaka Sound System. Following on from numerous dub-clashes on the Universal Egg Experience tour, 1998 saw Vibronics team up with dub activist Jah Free for the 'Outernational Dub Convention' album. Jah Free introduced the conference with a set of uplifting vocal tunes and Vibronics answered with six raucous lo-fi bass-heavy dubplates. The album set the scene for a year of live dub conventions with Jah Free and MC Richi Rootz, taking in venues all over the UK and Europe from Southend to Summerjam and London to Lowlands. The Vibronics studio had by now evolved into the Bathysphere - a joint venture with like minded associates in Leicester where collaborations with Alpha and Omega, Wayne McArthur, The Disciples, The Dub Factory, Jah Free and Zion Train have now taken place. Despite
a brief appearance on 'Jah Light Jah Love', the voice of Boney 'L' had
yet to be fully appreciated. Now armed with a microphone and a computer
based hard-disk recording system, more authentic vocal recordings could
be made - this resulted in the next two 7" singles - 'On Jah Side' and
'Positive Direction'. Both these tunes soldout within weeks of release,
affirming Boney's and Vibronics' place within the Roots scene. Live
shows expanded where possible to include Boney singing live alongside
Steve Vibronics, Richi Rootz and melodica player Vitamin 'M'. |
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