8 Tracks of: Apocalyptic Dub From Whip + Lash

Music

Whip + Lash is a new label emerging from the nutritious broth of talent currently simmering away in south east London. Headed by Rye Wax stalwart and one half of the Souvenir DJ duo Claire Voyant alongside in-house producers Weird Weather, the imprint looks to shine a light on bold, off-centre electronic music that pulls influences from the worlds of dub, industrial and bass.

The first release comes courtesy of Weird Weather who have already worked with lables such as Brian Not Brian's Going Good and the excellent Emotional Especial, while also holding down an NTS residency with the Field Work show. The track "Tongue Drum" is a masterful excursion into delay drenched electronics and will be available via limited press dubplate via the Rye Wax online store, dropping on Thursday 27th June.

To celebrate the launch we asked the Whip + Lash crew to select 8 tracks of apocalyptic dub destroyers and tangled electronic outbursts from the UK and beyond.

Follow Whip + Lash on Facebook and check out their new mix and preview of the release on Soundcloud

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12'' Dread & Fred - Warrior Stance (Dub)

We’re big fans of 90’s UK dub sounds, in particular the digi-steppers flavour. Lewisham’s own sound system mega-lord Jah Shaka basically wrote the book on this rugged style. The tough dry drums, and raw digital squonky synths make his productions instantly recognisable. Dread and Fred were two brothers from Bedford that Shaka took under his wing, releasing Warrior Stance in 1989. It basically sounds like his handiwork, all dub quest horns and fierce mystical power

12'' Dread & Fred - Warrior Stance (Dub)

We’re big fans of 90’s UK dub sounds, in particular the digi-steppers flavour. Lewisham’s own sound system mega-lord Jah Shaka basically wrote the book on this rugged style. The tough dry drums, and raw digital squonky synths make his productions instantly recognisable. Dread and Fred were two brothers from Bedford that Shaka took under his wing, releasing Warrior Stance in 1989. It basically sounds like his handiwork, all dub quest horns and fierce mystical power
Scud Missile - Iration Steppas

Relentless riffy dub plod from Leeds based dub champions Dennis Rootical and Mark Iration. This was their first record, released in 1994. It has all the classic hallmarks of the 90’s UK steppers sound – fierce futuristic militant vibes and apocalyptic rave melodies. The drum beat also sounds a bit like a surf record!
Floods Of Tears

Dennis Bovell aka Blackbeard was a really underrated bass player and dub producer. Operating out of the UK, he is maybe best known for working with a host of big bands including Thompson Twins, The Slits and Banarama. You can totally hear the influence of new wave and 80’s pop in the sound. This track is from a collection of remixes of old tapes Dennis had knocking about. Mixed at Mad Professor’s studio in 2012, this dub has an unreal precision and deftness of touch.
Drilling Equipment

Adrian Sherwood at his most avant garde. The demented loose oompah beats and industrial farts make this almost unlistenable at first but eventually your ear becomes accustomed to the bizzare logic and it becomes a thing of rare beauty. You kind of wonder how they arrived at this, maybe it was some kind of happy accident.
Coil - Windowpane (Astral Paddington Mix)

Post industrial mentalists John Balance and Peter Christoferson went on a rave tangent in the mid 90’s. This is probably one of their most accessible, groovey singles. The ‘Astral Paddington’ mix dub mix on the b side basically drops the vocal and adds more silky backward wizzes and digital aliasing. The original record which Duncan bought recently also comes as a lovely psychedelic picture disc!
Narst

UK Funky operated on the fringes for sure, whipping up sounds from grime / soca / garage into raw house music. This was back around 2008-10 but you’d be surprised how many ‘big’ tunes from then sound killer now. Apple ‘De Siegalizer’ or Hard House Banton ‘Reign’ come to mind immediately – just check those discogs prices :0 We were at a party recently where someone played this track and the place went a bit sideways – loads of funny bass faces!!. Anyway, ‘Narst’ is a favourite: tense and moody as anything, plus those subby stabs are a real ‘toiler door rattler’ – something we always look out for! Very smart, classy even, but not fussy at all. Wicked.
Angel Hunt & Lou Venturini - Amlaberries

Personal issue from Claire. Plucky, lo-fi bass and guitar unfurl in a warm expanse of dubbed-out echo with a nice touch of cassette crunch – plus it ALSO sort of sounds like surf rock record?!. We highly recommend you check out the entire of this excellent release from 2018 on Bandcamp-based label GreenBelt.
Weird Weather - Leather Chair

OK, OK. One of ours. Leather Chair was produced by Weird Weather (aka Duncan and Laurence aka 2/3 of Whip +Lash) and put out in 2018 with Brian Not Brian and Salik’s ‘Going Good’ label. Four-to-the-floor steppers rhythm, moshy bass line and those misty chords in the second half. All part of the Whip + Lash sound for sure. Next!