Zion Train – Promo Tracks
Reviewed by Sadie O., 1/1/11
Roots Dub from Koln, Germany. One of the finest live dub acts in the world, ZT are pioneers in the practice of dynamic onstage dub mixing, which the band performs alongside acoustic instruments and the best live vocalists. ZT has also been heavily involved in alternative and DIY underground culture since the ‘90s. All tracks KILL. FCC on track 4.
1. 3:40 **mellow flutes and electronics intro, then forceful (yet wiggly) midtempo skank, sweet positivity lyrics.
2. 3:11 ***toasting intro, spoken word about sound systems with horns, upbeat shuffle-skank. Very groovy sound.
3. 3:14 ***swingy upbeat bubble, cool lyrics about terrorism.
4. 5:02 (FCC – “fucking”) **spoken intro – the announcement that the Iraq war was over when it wasn’t… Then very sad sort of moaning-singing, electronics and slow bass tones. Finally a sparse skank with toast about war.
5. 4:24 ***toast intro with keyboard chords, slow shuffling march, shout out to good fathers. Collab with Brazil’s best dub outfit.
6. 3:24 **midtempo skank with horn section, switches to electronic riddim with sweet vocals about family. Some nice harmonies, too.
7. 4:00 ***Same track as on Best of Deep Root but with extra electronic syncopation, Michael Rose vocals.
8. 7:53 ****fine midtempo bass-heavy dub with lots of random added elements, female vocals. Depressing political lyrics, but that’s ok. Serious dub stuff for last half of track.