Sip A Cup Meets Negus Roots - Fire House Dub Vol. 1 - LP (Gussie P)

Michael and Robert ‘Flacko’ Palmer issued a series of highly coveted 12” singles and albums on their Negus Roots label in the early eighties including Lacksley Castell’s Mr Government Man twelve-inch and Princess Lady LP. Their records have long been unavailable on any format until they recently embarked on a reissue programme, including Horace Martin’s recent Positive Vibez album, that’s seen only limited distribution so far.  This fascinating dub album is the result of the brothers making their original master tapes available to Gussie P to run through Mafia & Fluxy’s mixing desk, a job, we’re sure, Gussie found much to his taste. So we have original Negus Roots productions recorded at Channel One, Aquarius and Tuff Gong in Jamaica in the early eighties by the likes of Crucial Bunny and Errol Brown and featuring the cream of the island’s session men; Sly, Horsemouth, Robbie, Ansel Collins, Nambo & Dean etc. treated to a subtle, sympathetic mix by Gussie that allows the musicianship to shine through in crystal clarity.  There are some killer riddims here, helpfully the cover notes them all, including Voice Of Progress’ Mini Bus Driver, Mr Government Man and Princess Lady by Lacksley Castell who, we are told, designed the Palmer’s original Fire House label reproduced on the cover, Don Carlos’ I Love Jah Jah – wicked guitar slashes on the intro – plus tracks that originally underpinned titles by Horace Martin and Neville Brown, including the latter’s long time Shaka dubplate Killamanjaro.  A great concept well executed.

Tracklisting:
1. Conductor Of Dub
2. Land Of Dub
3. Dub Of Killamanjaro
4. Dib Ah Bite!
5. Employed By Dub
6. Dub That Gun
7. Princess And The Dub
8. Journey To Dub
9. Dub Of Love
10. Positiveness With Dub