Dreadzone, delighted us all when they flew into the commercial domain with the unique, genre busting dub, folk, electronic dance epic ‘Second Light’ which featured their first ground breaking top 40 hit ‘Little Britain’ back in ’96.
The band formed by ex Big Audio Dynamite member Greg Roberts, Tim Bran and Leo Williams are an intrinsic part of the UK dance heritage. From their first album ‘360’ signed to the legendary Creation Records in 1993 and their foray into the mainstream when snapped up by the mighty Virgin, where their label mates included the likes of Massive Attack, Daft Punk and The Chemical Brothers to 2011 and the release of ‘The Best of Dreadzone ‘ The Good, the Bad and the Dread’, Dreadzone are now proud to be celebrating 20 years of recordings and live music performance in 2013.
‘Escapades’ is the band’s 7th studio album, featuring Mick Jones from The Clash and Lena Cullen on vocals. The album is born from a heavy touring schedule when founder members Greg Dread and Leo Williams took their drum and bass duties onto the Big Audio Dynamite reunion tour alongside Mick Jones and Don Letts, that lead to a creative musical narrative flowing in the BAD bunker in Acton. Along with Mick and Don, original members Leo and Greg return to play and co produce alongside present members MC Spee and Earl 16 with guitarist Chris Compton.
The album will not disappoint committed fans, occasional acquaintances or those discovering Dreadzone for the very first time. There’s an equal mix of nostalgia and progression and the bands instantly recognizable sound; ‘Places’ a happy, upbeat Summer dance track, perfect for festivals, ‘Next Generation’, musically light, but with a warning tale of the legacy we leave for the future, ‘Too Late’ a gritty, bass punching number with gloriously sleazy undercurrents features a sample from ‘Is Vic There’ by New Wave 80’s band Department S, and there’s deeper, darker dub house numbers, ‘I Love You Goodbye’ and ‘Fire In The Dark’, written about recent global conflicts.
Seen by some as forerunners of today’s dub and bass driven music Dreadzone have been building an impressive body of work since their early days with Alan McGee. An exciting Summer tour schedule to celebrate their 20th anniversary will see them at festivals Nationwide, lifting the spirits of the crowds with unique live performances of their classic tracks and highlights from ‘Escapades’.
www.dreadzone.com
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