Ruff Cut

The Original and Authentic sound of Jah Works (ROIR)
by Joshua Brown

Jah Works, as one might guess from the name, is a dub reggae sound system and label based in the U.K. Headed by musician/producer Rej Forte, the label is home to a tight circle of dubsters that includes Hi- Tech Roots Dynamics, G.T. Moore (a.k.a. The Outsider), Pressure, Jah Works Players, Martin Campbell, and The Dub Crusaders. The Original and Authentic Sound of… is a collection of singles, dub plates, alternate versions, and unreleased material from Jah Works. The overall sound is basic “raise your consciousness” while blurring your senses dub. Lyrics like “rich man your day is done” and “why oh why do the wicked ones rule” leave little room for political ambiguity. Being boldly straightforward about one’s convictions is the basis for the “dub ethic.” The production for most of the tracks isn’t as overtly ganja-fied (in other words,like sitting in an echo chamber while listening to something that was recorded in an echo chamber) as many of their spliff-smoking kin. This stuff is more like eating a pot brownie than smoking a joint. Its oozing rhythms and molasses basslines creep up on you but overall have a stronger effect.