This year Valentine’s Day falls on a Saturday, and the crew from Kordoom Hi-Fi Soundsystem decided to celebrate it with some special musical guests. At the Dub Affair session on February 14 at AKC Attack, Untamed Sounds from the UK will perform alongside Italian vocalist Luca Dread.
Originally conceived as a soundsystem project, Untamed Sounds soon began producing roots, dub, and digikiller tunes that are now played by some of the biggest names in the soundsystem scene.
Inspiration is drawn from the digital productions of the late 1980s, when bands were replaced by synthesizers and drum machines, creating a style of reggae that remains irresistible to this day. His work stands out through collaborations with Luca Dread, and their shared approach to music quickly caught the attention of the Dub Affair residents.
“When we first heard their showcase release, we couldn’t believe how much Luca Dread reminds us of Gregory Isaacs. But don’t get us wrong – this isn’t a cover project! Luca Dread is an exceptional songwriter, and his vocals fit perfectly with riddims inspired by digital reggae,” say the Kordoom crew.
“Lately, we haven’t had the chance to hear so many vocalists at our sessions, but their presence, especially when it comes to top-tier artists, brings a whole new dynamic to the experience. That’s why we’re particularly excited to have the opportunity to host Luca Dread,” add the organizers.
Alongside the mentioned names, joining the lineup is Sandokan Hi-Fi, a roots & culture artist from Hanover, active since 2006. His musical approach can best be described as a deep love for conscious music. Whether it’s roots, dub, or rub-a-dub, what matters most is that it remains uplifting.
“The main focus is on the ‘historical’ side of reggae: from 1970s Jamaica to 1990s UK, from rockers to steppers! Alex has one of the largest reggae and dub record collections in the region, covering everything from classics to dubplate exclusives for his sound. That’s why we didn’t have to think twice about who to invite to close the session,” say the guys from Kordoom Hi-Fi.
Also on the lineup is Hvala Sven. His musical style is quite eclectic, covering everything from world music and hip-hop to 1990s jungle. When it comes to reggae and dub, he embraces an urban foundation style that incorporates various rub-a-dub, digikiller, and Warrior King David-style UK steppers influences.
“It’s his style that has helped popularize reggae and dub among a new generation of militants. All that remains is for him to bring the often-forgotten lovers rock into the spotlight. We immediately clicked with Sven because we practically listen to the same kind of music, which is why he always fits perfectly into our B2B sets,” conclude the Dub Affair residents.
Kordoom Hi-Fi soundsystem are passionate lovers of all foundation styles. The selections of Ranking Rok and Jah Vuki cover everything from the golden era of JA roots, through new roots, to UK steppers, with a greater emphasis on bass than on the kick.
In recent years, they have hosted some of the most relevant names on the dub scene, including Ras Muffet, Ital Power, Shaolin Sound, Concrete Lion, as well as a number of local selectors. As they say, for this session they are putting all their cards on the table, so the audience can expect six subwoofers and a brand-new mid-top section.
After the upcoming Dub Affair, the Kordoom crew will turn their attention to preparing another major project. On March 21 at AKC Attack, they are hosting a soundsystem conference featuring four local guests.
“Joining us will be Heavy Duty Soundsystem, Prevara Soundsystem, and Nettle Soundsystem. We’re really excited about this, because since the closing of Željezničar and the big Irie Garden sessions in Zagreb, there hasn’t been an event with more than two sounds. On top of that, each of them has a different speaker box design, so the session is sure to be interesting from a technical perspective as well,” they emphasize.
After that, on May 16 at Attack, they are bringing back the London-based Ital Power Soundsystem, one of the most active and musically interesting sounds of the new generation.
“They are booked at all the major dub festivals, and in the UK they can go toe-to-toe with scene giants like Iration Steppas, Aba Shanti-I, and others. When such a young sound enters the arena alongside these names, you know it’s a serious project,” say the Kordoom crew.
“On top of that, we’re arranging a few more things, but we’ll reveal more when the time comes. We’re glad the dub scene is so supportive when it comes to guest appearances, so we definitely plan to bring in a few more strong artists before the end of the year,” they conclude.
Tickets for the Valentine’s Day Dub Affair cost 10 € and are available exclusively at the club entrance.
Photo: press, Jahvo Joža