Dubtribe Sound System

The experiences of live performance tends to show up more on a Dubtribe record then it might on others. Like a good DJ, this husband and wife duo intuitively know when the energy of their audience is peaking out and dropping down. But they also believe in aesthetic imperfection and the naturalness of their performance. Those qualities come through on Bryant Street with live percussion, saxophones, trumpets and strings, not to mention when they let go of the sequencers to pick up the mic and sing. The vibe on this third Dubtribe release is acid disco (acid in the psychedelic, rather than the techno, sense), overflowing with sloganeering sentiments about peace, love and positivity over flowery and funky grooves. And like Masters At Work, they've incorporated Latin rhythms and vocals into their sound, but maintained the floor-friendly vibes of their deep house roots. The balance of cultures comes across best on "No Puedo Estar Despierto" when the beats kick in with a fiery timbale solo and a swinging string section that sounds like a hybrid between folk and soul. It works on other cuts like "Equitoreal" and "Samba Dub," except when Sunshine, the male half of the duo, starts to sing. He sounds like a politicised version of Jim Morrison rediscovering life at his first rave. Moonbeam has an airy quality to her voice that's soothing by comparison, although she too can get a little maniacal on parts of "Breeze" and "El Regalo de Amor.” That's not dis their talents, nor their right to expression; they just need to chill out a little more when they got a mic in their hand.