Dub from Leipzig? Can that even work? If you have to ask, German unity might be a lost cause. In this case, though, Leipzig is only one of three cities behind this highly international project. Alien Trackers brings together Barcelona-based trumpeter Pablo Volt and Jan Gleichmar, aka Disrupt, founder of Leipzig’s Jahtari label, with producer Dubsworth from Los Angeles on bass and guitar. Heavy, of course — but that’s only the beginning. These lovingly crafted tracks are filled with playfulness, a touch of absurdity and a generous sense of trash-aesthetics.
The visionary madness of Lee »Scratch« Perry might serve as a spiritual reference point, though a direct comparison would hardly be fair. Dubs From Vortex Beach carries an effortless confidence all its own, standing firmly on its own two feet. Instead of reggae nostalgia, you hear vibes firmly anchored in the present. This Vortex Beach lies somewhere in a distant galaxy — which makes perfect sense, given how far out it all sounds. That’s Leipzig for you. And the rest of the universe too.
