Prince Jammy - Kamikazi Dub (1979)

Dubbing to the point of frenzied self-destruction is what is implied in the name of Prince Jammy's 'Kamikazi Dub', one of the most beloved records in Prince Jammy's dub discography. And yet, when met with this Jamdung reissue, we find ourselves caught off guard by its rather counter-intuitive mood of ease and peace; an undisturbedly breezy feel wafts from this album's various riddims, grooves and bubbles, in stark contrast to the violent force portrayed on the karate-kick front cover, not to mention the transgressively outta-control title. But perhaps that's Jammy's point: calm in force: a sense of calm is in force. Throughout, titles like 'Fist Of Fury', 'Oragami Black Belt', 'Throne Of Blood' and 'Swords Of Vengeance' teem about the wax, but the sound itself is of simple reverence, not militant might: it's as though, through the use of simple verb springs and jolly cross-stick slaps, a mute dubbing engineer and protagonist is simply able to bob and swan about the halls of power, looking in on various feudal Edo-period assemblies, Shogunate thrones and war rooms with satisfied glee.

Tracklist:
1-1. Prince Jammy - Throne Of Blood (03:15)
1-2. Prince Jammy - Brothers Of The Blade (03:27)
1-3. Prince Jammy - Shoalin Temple (02:48)
1-4. Prince Jammy - Kamikazi (02:46)
1-5. Prince Jammy - Oragami Black Belt (03:51)
1-6. Prince Jammy - Fist Of Fury (03:05)
1-7. Prince Jammy - Opium Den (03:35)
1-8. Prince Jammy - Swords Of Vengeance (03:45)
1-9. Prince Jammy - Downtown Shangai Rock (04:13)
1-10. Prince Jammy - Waterfront Gang War (03:48)