Playback with Black Market Dub

Episódios

• 
  Toots And The Maytals — Funky Kingston | The Funky Soul of Jamaica 28.07.2026 2h 29min

  This week its Toots and the Maytals' Funky Kingston, and we're joined by John Roy — of Unsteady and the A100s, founder of Smoke and Mirrors Sound System, and the man behind Escape Hatch Records — making his second appearance on the show.It's the Big Payback of Jamaican music: a band that had been working since before ska had a name, suddenly sounding huge. We sort out which Funky Kingston is actually Funky Kingston (the 1975 US version keeps three songs from the 1973 original and borrows six more from In The Dark), work through why Chris Blackwell left this one mostly alone after meddling so heavily with Catch A Fire, and find the overdubs he snuck in anyway. Along the way: Toots as a gospel kid from a Seventh-day Adventist household, the uncredited band that stayed with him for fifty years, the piano that steals the bass line on the title track, the best John Denver cover ever recorded, and a long detour into Chris Blackwell's family fortune, Ian Fleming, and whether he's Vader or Palpatine.Also, you've probably been pronouncing his name wrong.Next episode: The Heptones, Night Food.CHAPTERS: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:24:33 - Talking Toots 00:49:44 - Production, Chris Blackwell, and Musicianship 01:42:11 - Standout Songs + Favorite/Best 02:13:14 - Final Thoughts and News
• 
  Jimmy Cliff — Wonderful World, Beautiful People | Reggae Before Rasta 23.06.2026 2h 29min

  Before Bob Marley conquered the world, Jimmy Cliff was the number one man in reggae. Wonderful World, Beautiful People (known outside the US as the self-titled Jimmy Cliff) is the most secular, least Rasta record we've covered for Reggae Summer — and the album where Cliff brought protest and political consciousness into reggae before anyone else. It's "happy music, sad lyrics," it contains two of the greatest songs ever cut ("Many Rivers to Cross" and "Vietnam"), and almost no one remembers it was him who kicked the door down.This week Nate and Brandon dig into early reggae before roots and dub, producer Leslie Kong and the Bunny Wailer curse, the mystery of who played on the record, the across-the-pond production that flew the tapes to New York, John Lennon and Paul Simon's debt to Cliff, and why — if Marley had never existed — we'd all be wearing Jimmy Cliff shirts. Week two of the second annual Reggae Summer.CHAPTERS: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:17:04 - Who Was Jimmy Cliff? 00:46:25 - Production 01:21:14 - Standout Songs 01:38:40 - Favorite/Best 02:05:29 - Final Thoughts, Mailbag, and NEW BMD ALBUM!
• 
  Peter Tosh — Legalize It | Reggae's #2 — Or Should He Be #1? 08.06.2026 2h 25min

  Reggae Summer Vol. 2 kicks off with Peter Tosh's 1976 debut, Legalize It — and we've got a guest. Brian Wallace, aka Dub Robot, returns for his second appearance on the show (he joined us last year for Exodus): a saxophonist, engineer, and the man who taught us reggae in the first place. Brandon's pick is the first solo album from the Wailer who never softened the message — recorded with what's essentially the Wailers minus Bob Marley, including Bunny Wailer, Rita Marley and Judy Mowatt. It sounds like a loose jam played to perfection, and it exists in two very different mixes: the bone-dry original Jamaican mix and the lush, Spector-ized version polished at CBS in New York.We dig into Tosh's place as reggae's perpetual "number two" and the argument that he could have been number one, the Wailers split and the management feuds behind it, Al Anderson's New York guitar overdubs, the guitar Tosh built himself, the surprisingly forward-looking synth work, and the difference between Tosh's confrontational, specific protest and Marley's universal approach. Plus our standout songs, including the Bob Marley diss track hiding in plain sight, and Brian's deep cuts off the dub plates.Email blackmarketreggae@gmail.com and leave a comment to be read on a future episode.
• 
  Beck — Sea Change | The Breakup Album Everyone Misreads 29.05.2026 2h 51min

  Nate picked it (and is going through a breakup as we record this), Brandon was the engineer on a week of rehearsals with this exact band years ago, and we both arrived at the same hot take: Sea Change is not actually a stripped-down album.This week on Playback: Beck — Sea Change (2002). The breakup record. The eighth Beck album. The one where the goofy Devil's Haircut rapping-in-Spanish funk guy walks into Ocean Way with Nigel Godrich and walks out with a slow, deep-voiced, string-drenched masterpiece. Recorded on the legendary Dalcon console. Mixed with no automation, all hands on the desk. And — this is the part nobody talks about — made by a guy who was ALSO simultaneously starting records with Dan the Automator and probably Guero and The Information at the same time.What we get into:- Sad Beck vs Funk Beck — and the fact that he was making both at once- Why Sea Change isn't "stripped down" — it's secretly maximalist- The Dalcon Feud: Beck, Nigel Godrich and Jon Brion all tried to buy the Ocean Way console, and only one of them got it- Brandon's week in the studio with the band before this episode was ever a podcast- Closer to Neil Young's Harvest than to Bob Dylan's Blood on the Tracks- The "all hands" mix technique — three or four people on the console, mixed as a performance- Paper Tiger as a full-on Serge Gainsbourg / Melody Nelson sound-alike (and the confession that Nate may have oversold this)- Joey Waronker's pocket, James Gadson's funk pedigree, Smokey Hormel (yes, that Hormel) and Roger Manning Jr. (yes, that Jellyfish)- The George Harrison / All Things Must Pass guitar trick hiding all over Sea Change- Favorite vs Best vs Standout — The Golden Age, Lost Cause, Guess I'm Doing Fine are all so good none of us could pick clean- Why Paper Tiger as track 2 is the wrong move- Brandon's hot take: does post-Sea Change Beck dip a toe into the Eddie Vedder / Layne Staley / Scott Stapp yarl-voice pool?- Quote Corner: three Beck quotes that change what you think this album actually meansTell us your Favorite vs. Best Sea Change song — comment on the YouTube version of this episode or email blackmarketreggae@gmail.com.Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtube.com/blackmarketdubPlayback playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2bglGuNFbZwJ7SsGU-QbeBero8j7p7jnSupport the show: https://patreon.com/blackmarketdubBlack Market Dub on Bandcamp: https://blackmarketdub.bandcamp.comEscape Hatch Records: https://escapehatchrecords.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/blackmarket_dub
• 
  Supertramp - Breakfast In America | When Nerds Ruled Rock 'n Roll 13.05.2026 3h 6min

  Brandon picked it, Nate had never really listened to it, and our guest, Patrick Simon (musician, audio engineer, and Brandon's bandmate of a bazillion years) is a full-on Supertramp nerd. So we're putting Breakfast in America on Playback.This week: Supertramp – Breakfast in America (1979) — the album that turned a band of British transplants into the biggest pop act on Earth, sold 20 million copies, hit #1 in 12 countries, and somehow left the band so unrecognizable that any of them could walk around your city right now and you'd never know. The album where Roger Hodgson got so deep into the recording that he bought a Winnebago and parked it outside the Village Recorder so he could sleep next to the console.Brandon's pitch: this is the album where, in the same exact moment punk was telling the world you don't need to know what chord that is, a different breed of British musician was answering "but what if you did?" This is the Steely Dan / Rush / Alan Parsons / late-70s nerds-take-over-rock-and-roll moment. And it might be the greatest Wurlitzer album ever made.Chapters: 00:00:00 - Intro - Why did we pick Breakfast In America? 00:23:55 - Supertramp Went To Hogwarts 00:54:53: Production (But Mainly Wurlitzer Talk) 01:42:59 - Standout Songs + Favorite/Best 02:27:52 - Final Thoughts…. SIKE More Wurlitzer 02:41:23 - Ok FINAL Thoughts.. SIKE 9/11 02:45:33 - Final Final Thoughts, Mailbag, and Next PickWhat we get into:- Yacht rock or dad rock? (We land on one of them — and it's not yacht rock)- The Davies / Hodgson duality — blue-collar blues guy vs. boarding-school castle kid- The Dutch millionaire who paid for Supertramp to exist, then walked away when it didn't work — and let them keep the money- The Wurlitzer vs. the Rhodes — what the difference actually is, why this is a Wurlitzer album, and why a Wurlitzer mixes itself- Boss CE-1 chorus pedal + DI + a tiny 64-key range that only really speaks in the middle = the entire sound of this record- The making-of: 1 month tracking, 7 months of overdubs, 1 month mixing — they only stopped mixing because the deadline came- A full week of just drum sounds- Why they had to leave the Village and mix it at Crystal Sound in Burbank- Favorite vs. Best vs. Standout — three different picks, three different reasons, and one heated argument about whether The Logical Song's vocal performance is grating- Casual Conversations as the negative standout- Why "dated" isn't a bad word, and why "timeless" isn't a complimentNEW SEGMENT (continued): We read your YouTube comments from the Bad episode. Leave us your Favorite vs. Best Supertramp song (or your opinion on Nate's reordered Breakfast in America track list) and we'll read the best ones on the next episode. Email us at blackmarketreggae@gmail.com.Support & follow:Patreon: https://patreon.com/blackmarketdubBandcamp: https://blackmarketdub.bandcamp.comEscape Hatch Records: https://escapehatchrecords.comYouTube: https://youtube.com/blackmarketdubInstagram: https://instagram.com/blackmarket_dub
• 
  Michael Jackson — Bad | Was This Michael's Last Good Album? 27.04.2026 2h 56min

  We did it — we put Michael Jackson on Playback.This week, Nate picked Bad (1987) — Michael Jackson's seventh album, his third and final collaboration with Quincy Jones, and the impossible follow-up to Thriller. The album where MJ wrote "100 MILLION" on his bathroom mirror, almost talked Prince into singing the first verse of the title track, and produced five #1 singles in a row — a record that stood for 25 years. If Thriller was Michael's Goodfellas, Bad is his Casino: weirder, darker, more interesting, and dated in a way that makes it endlessly fascinating.We get into:- Hot take from minute one: this album should be called "Good"- Why Bad is where everyone started taking a hard look at Michael — and where the "Wacko Jacko" era really begins- The production deep dive: the Synclavier ($200K in 1987), the Yamaha DX7, the Roland D-50, the Mitsubishi X850 digital tape machine, and how digital synths split pop musicianship into two camps forever- The A-Team vs. the B-Team — Quincy Jones, Bruce Swedien and Greg Phillinganes at Westlake versus the home-studio crew at Hayvenhurst, and what happened when Michael showed up to the official sessions with finished-sounding demos- Bruce Swedien stories: the drum platform, the 100 mixes of Billie Jean, the sped-up-tape clap trick- Did he do it? — we talk about the allegations- Brandon was working at the rehearsal studios for This Is It when Michael died — he was there, in the room- Favorite vs. Best: Man in the Mirror, The Way You Make Me Feel, Another Part of Me, Smooth Criminal, Liberian Girl- Was Michael Jackson the greatest entertainer who ever lived? Plus our next album pick.We want to hear from you. What's your Favorite vs. Best Michael Jackson album, song, or sound? Email us at blackmarketreggae@gmail.com or leave a comment on YouTube and we'll read the best ones on a future episode. CHAPTERS: 00:00:00 - Bad Overview 00:10:33 - Who Was Michael Jackson? 00:52:26 - Did He Do It? The Allegations 00:53:12 - The BAD Production 01:48:48 - Standout Songs & Favorite/Best 02:28:48 - Final Thoughts. Was MJ The GOAT? 02:38:43 - Mailbag (we read your comments) and Next PickFollow & support:Patreon — patreon.com/blackmarketdub (ad-free episodes)Bandcamp — blackmarketdub.bandcamp.comEscape Hatch Records — escapehatchrecords.comInstagram — @blackmarket_dubYouTube — youtube.com/blackmarketdubThis episode is for fans of Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Bruce Swedien, Prince, Stevie Wonder, the King of Pop, Off the Wall, Thriller, Dangerous, Smooth Criminal, Man in the Mirror, the Synclavier and 80s digital production, music history deep dives, and album deep dives from a musician's perspective.
• 
  Gorillaz - Plastic Beach | The Cartoon Band With Something to Say (Or Do They?) 06.04.2026 2h 26min

  We're back from a short break and we came loaded — we relistened to the entire Gorillaz catalogue, caught them live at The Palladium in Los Angeles performing their new album The Mountain in full, and visited the House of Kong Exhibition before sitting down to record. On this episode we cover Plastic Beach: the production, our favorite tracks, our hot takes on what doesn't work, the full arc of Gorillaz across their career, and our honest reaction to The Mountain. And we sit with the question the whole episode keeps circling back to — are Gorillaz actually that deep, or is it all very stylish plastic artifice? We also pick our next album. Drop your Favorite vs. Best Gorillaz picks in the comments or email us at blackmarketreggae@gmail.com. CHAPTERS: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:27:56 - Production styles of GORILLAZ 00:56:55 - Standout Songs 01:41:50 - Favorite/Best & Hot Takes 02:11:43 - Final Thoughts & Next Album Pick
• 
  The Shaggs - Philosophy of the World | Art, Coercion, or Accidental Genius? 09.03.2026 2h

  On this episode of Playback, we dig into Philosophy of the World by The Shaggs — and we don't let it off easy. We break down the legend of Austin Wiggin and the palm reading prophecy that supposedly destined his daughters for fame. We get into the music technically: what's going wrong, what's surprisingly going right, and what their relationship to rhythm and melody actually tells us. We put the record head-to-head with Trout Mask Replica by Captain Beefheart — two records that sound alien in similar ways but couldn't be more different in intent. And we ask the question nobody seems to want to sit with: is this album art, or is it coercion?CHAPTERS:00:00:00 - Intro on Philosophy of the World00:12:45 - The Legend of The Shaggs00:43:23 - Production and Musicianship 01:10:19 - Standout Songs & Songwriting Breakdown01:30:13 - Favorite Songs vs Best Songs, and Guitar Demo01:44:00 - Hot Takes, Final Thoughts, and Next Album Pick#TheShaggs #OutsiderMusic #AlbumDeepDive #MusicPodcast #albumreview
• 
  The Prodigy – The Fat of the Land | The 5 Elements That Made It Revolutionary 23.02.2026 2h 18min

  In this episode we dive into The Prodigy’s The Fat of the Land and break down why it still sounds so explosive, distinct, and revolutionary decades later.We lay out what we call the “5 elements” that make these recordings hit so hard:samplingsynthsmenu diving / sound design decisionsperformancesequencingInstead of just treating this as a classic 90s big beat record, we get into the actual craft behind the chaos — how these tracks are built, why the production feels so aggressive and alive, and what makes The Prodigy stand apart from other electronic acts of the era.We also do a deep dive on our favorite tracks and close the episode by announcing our next album pick.Chapters:00:00:00 - Intro and First Impressions00:28:48 - Who is The Prodigy? 00:51:54 - The 5 Elements of a Prodigy Track01:33:35 - Standout Songs and Production Deep Dive01:53:35 - Favorite Songs vs Best Songs02:07:15 - Final Thoughts and Next Album Pick🔊 Support & follow:Patreon – https://patreon.com/blackmarketdubBandcamp – https://blackmarketdub.bandcamp.comEscape Hatch Records – https://escapehatchrecords.comInstagram – https://instagram.com/blackmarket_dubYouTube – https://youtube.com/blackmarketdub
• 
  Grace Jones – Nightclubbing | Original Pop Diva & Queer Icon Album Deep Dive 09.02.2026 1h 59min

  In this episode we dive into Grace Jones’ 1981 album Nightclubbing and talk about why it’s one of the most important art-pop records of all time.We dig into Grace Jones as a performer and as a queer, androgynous icon – how she can seamlessly code-switch between fashion runways, queer clubs, Jamaican roots, downtown NY art scenes and mainstream pop. We talk about the Compass Point sound (Sly & Robbie, minimal dub-inflected grooves, Wally Badarou synths), and the visual world she built with Jean-Paul Goude.We also argue about whether Nightclubbing or Warm Leatherette is her true masterpiece, and what each album represents in her evolution.In this episode:– Track and moment highlights across Nightclubbing– Sly & Robbie, Compass Point Studios and the hybrid of reggae, post-disco, new wave and funk– Grace Jones’ queer identity, persona and ability to shape-shift depending on the room– The case for Nightclubbing vs Warm Leatherette as her definitive albumChapters:00:00:00 - Intro & First Impressions00:20:46 - The Artistry of Grace Jones00:41:48 - Production and Album Cover01:00:32 - Standout Songs01:38:45 - Hot Takes01:43:31 - Final Thoughts🔊 Support & follow:Patreon – https://patreon.com/blackmarketdubBandcamp – https://blackmarketdub.bandcamp.comEscape Hatch Records – https://escapehatchrecords.comInstagram – https://instagram.com/blackmarket_dubYouTube – https://youtube.com/blackmarketdub
• 
  David Allan Coe - Longhaired Redneck | Outlaw Country, His Persona, & Problematic Legacy 26.01.2026 2h 29min

  In this episode we dive into David Allan Coe’s Longhaired Redneck, one of the defining records of the 1970s outlaw country era—and a great lens for talking about how myth, image and real-life controversy collide.We get into the sound and songwriting on the album, the “longhaired redneck” persona Coe leans into, and what makes this record musically compelling even as his broader catalog and legacy are wrapped up in some deeply problematic material. We also talk about how we feel engaging with outlaw country when the artist’s off-mic behavior and beliefs are hard to separate from the songs.In this episode:– Musical deep dive on Longhaired Redneck and key tracks including the title song– Outlaw country context: Coe alongside Waylon, Willie, Kristofferson, etc.– Image vs reality: how much of Coe’s persona is performance and how much is real– How we personally navigate listening to (and critiquing) artists with troubling histories🔊 Support & follow:• Patreon – bonus episodes & ad-free audio• Black Market Dub on Bandcamp – our original music• Escape Hatch Records – label family & collaborations• Instagram – clips and episode updatesChapters:00:00 (Intro and First Impressions)00:29:51 (Country Vs Outlaw Country)01:06:30 (David Allan Coe, Politics, and Culture)01:20:11 (Production of Longhaired Redneck)01:46:10 (Standout Songs, Favorite/Best, and Hot Takes)02:16:53 (Final Thoughts and Next Album Pick)
• 
  Oasis - (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? | Reunion Tour & Does It Hold Up? 07.10.2025 2h 31min

  Oasis are back on a massive reunion tour, so we went back to the album that made them stadium legends: (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?In this episode of Playback, Nate and Brandon dig into how this record actually holds up in 2020s headphones. We talk about the songwriting, the wall-of-guitars production, Noel vs Liam dynamics, Britpop history, and whether Morning Glory is truly a masterpiece or just a very good time capsule. We also put it in context with the Oasis reunion and how these songs hit now.In this episode:– Track-by-track highlights (“Hello,” “Roll With It,” “Wonderwall,” “Don’t Look Back in Anger,” “Champagne Supernova” and more)– How the guitar tones, chords and arrangements do more work than people give them credit for– Britpop, class, swagger, and why Oasis blew up the way they did– Our honest answer: does Morning Glory still deserve its legendary status?🔊 Support & follow Playback:• Patreon – bonus episodes & ad-free audio• Bandcamp – our original music as Black Market Dub• Escape Hatch Records – label family & collaborations• Instagram – clips and episode updatesChapters: 00:00 (Intro and First Impressions)00:26:52 (Britpop and Oasis in the 90s)00:46:41 (Music Analysis)01:36:56 (Standout Songs)02:01:37 (Favorite/Best and Hot Takes)02:16:53 (Final Thoughts and Spoilers for Succession lol) For Further Study: Oasis: Supersonic https://tubitv.com/movies/100038702/oasis-supersonic
• 
  Ween - The Mollusk | Sea-Psych Masterpiece ft. Kyle Clark (This Is Rad) 23.09.2025 2h 30min

  Ween fans, this one’s for you. In this episode of Playback, Nate and Brandon are joined by comedian and podcaster Kyle Clark (This Is Rad) to dive into The Mollusk, Ween’s watery, proggy, sea-shanty psych masterpiece.We talk about why this record has such a cult following, how tightly written and arranged it actually is under all the goofiness, and what makes Ween so good at jumping genres without losing their identity. From maritime prog to fake folk, from heavy riffs to bizarre character voices, The Mollusk has it all.In this episode:– Track and moment highlights across The Mollusk– How the band builds a whole underwater world with harmony, sound design and lyrics– Why this might be Ween’s most complete “album-album”– Kyle’s perspective as a lifelong Ween fan and host of This Is Rad🔊 Support & follow:• Playback on Patreon – bonus episodes & ad-free audio• Black Market Dub on Bandcamp – our original music• Escape Hatch Records – label family & collabs• Kyle’s podcast: This Is Rad (wherever you get podcasts)Chapters:00:00 (Intro and History of WEEN)00:48:06 (The Mollusk)01:30:23 (Standout Songs)01:58:46 (Favorite/Best and Hot Takes)02:12:57 (Final Thoughts)02:21:49 (Kyle Clark plugs)
• 
  Parliament – Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome | P-Funk Mythology & Deep Dive 09.09.2025 2h 27min

  Parliament at peak powers. In this episode we dive into Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome, the 1977 P-Funk classic where George Clinton turns a whole philosophy of funk vs. “placebo” disco and consumerism into a wild concept album.We talk about the P-Funk mythology (Sir Nose d’Voidoffunk, the Placebo Syndrome, the idea of funk as real life-force), how this ties together tracks like “Bop Gun (Endangered Species),” “Sir Nose d’Voidoffunk,” “Wizard of Finance,” “Funkentelechy,” “Placebo Syndrome” and of course “Flash Light,” with Bernie Worrell’s legendary synth-bass line. In this episode:– What the “placebo syndrome” actually is in the context of P-Funk– How Parliament use groove, chants and comedy to talk about consumer culture– Why Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome is one of the most important funk records of the ’70s– How this album fits into the larger P-Funk universe and Parliament’s run of classics.🔊 Support & follow:• Patreon – bonus episodes & ad-free audio• Black Market Dub on Bandcamp – our original music• Escape Hatch Records – label family & collaborations• Instagram – clips and episode updatesChapters: 00:00 (Intro) 00:16:13 (Brief History of Parliament - Funkadelic)00:41:56 (The Concept and Music of the album)01:21:27 (Standout Songs and Deep Dive)02:12:041 (Final Thoughts)
• 
  Third World – 96 Degrees in the Shade | Reggae Summer Finale ft. John Roy 18.08.2025 2h 28min

  We close out our Reggae Summer series with a deep dive into Third World’s classic album 96 Degrees in the Shade.As reggae musicians ourselves, we talk about why this record hits so hard: the roots foundation, the crossover melodies, the political fire in the title track, and the band’s unique place between Kingston and the broader “world music” market.We’re joined by special guest John Roy of Escape Hatch Records and Smoke and Mirrors Sound System, who brings a label owner/producer perspective to the songwriting, arrangements and performances on the album.In this episode:– Track highlights and musical deep dive on 96 Degrees in the Shade– Third World’s role in roots reggae vs crossover reggae– Politics, history and the vibe of 1970s Jamaica– How this album influenced our own approach as Black Market Dub🔊 Support & follow:• Patreon – bonus episodes & ad-free audio• Black Market Dub on Bandcamp – our original music• Escape Hatch Records – releases & collabs• Instagram – clips and episode updatesChapters:00:00 (Intro)00:12:36 (The Music of 96 Degrees in the Shade)00:46:47 (History of Third World)01:01:23 (Standout Songs)01:37:46 (1865 and The Morant Bay Rebellion)02:05:23 (Final Thoughts and John Roy Plugs)
• 
  The Congos – Heart of the Congos | Lee “Scratch” Perry & Black Ark Masterpiece 05.08.2025 3h 13min

  In this Reggae Summer episode we dive into The Congos’ Heart of the Congos, widely considered one of the greatest roots reggae albums ever recorded – and we treat it primarily as a Lee “Scratch” Perry story.We talk about the Black Ark era, Perry’s production style, and how he used tape, echo and atmosphere to create a spiritual, otherworldly sound around Cedric Myton and Roy “Ashanti” Johnson’s voices. We also get into the history and mythology around Black Ark, stories from the book People Funny Boy, and how this record fits into Perry’s wider body of work.In this episode:– Track and moment highlights from Heart of the Congos– Lee “Scratch” Perry’s studio experiments at Black Ark– The Congos’ harmonies, Rasta themes and biblical imagery– How this album shaped our own approach to reggae and dub as Black Market Dub🔊 Support & follow:• Patreon – bonus episodes & ad-free audio• Black Market Dub on Bandcamp – our original music• Escape Hatch Records – label family & collaborations• Instagram – clips and episode updatesChapters:00:00 (Intro)00:17:46 (Who is Lee "Scratch" Perry?)00:50:38 (The Black Ark, and effects demonstration)01:42:03 (How did The Black Ark burn down?)02:03:20 (The Music of Heart of the Congos)02:32:48 (Standout Songs)03:02:24 (Final Thoughts)
• 
  Wailing Souls – Fire House Rock | Channel One & The Four Horsemen of Reggae 22.07.2025 2h 40min

  In this Reggae Summer episode we dive into Wailing Souls’ Fire House Rock and lay out our theory of the “Four Horsemen of Reggae” – the four forces we think are responsible for some of the greatest reggae music ever recorded.Using Fire House Rock as a case study, we talk about the combination of Channel One Studio & the Hoo Kim brothers, producer Henry “Junjo” Lawes, engineer Scientist, and the Roots Radics band – and how all four converge on this record. We break down the rhythms, the vocal performances, the dub aesthetics, and why this album still feels so heavy and alive today.We also connect Fire House Rock directly to the classic Scientist dub records and to our later interview with Scientist himself, showing how this era of Channel One / Junjo / Roots Radics / Scientist all fits together.In this episode:– Track and moment highlights from Fire House Rock– What we mean by the “Four Horsemen of Reggae”– Channel One, Junjo, Scientist & Roots Radics in their absolute prime– How this sound shaped our own work as Black Market Dub🔊 Support & follow:• Patreon – bonus episodes & ad-free audio• Black Market Dub on Bandcamp – our original music• Escape Hatch Records – label family & collaborations• Instagram – clips and episode updatesCHAPTERS:00:01:02 [Intro discussion]00:16:11 [The Hoo Kim Brothers and Channel One Studios]00:45:14 [Henry "Junjo" Lawes and the role of the Producer]00:59:08 [Scientist and mix breakdown of Fire House Rock]01:36:05 [Roots Radics and Bass Demo]01:48:09 [Wailing Souls and Vocal Analysis]01:57:24 [Standout Songs and "Word, Sound, and Power"]02:30:17 [Final Thoughts and Upcoming Episodes]
• 
  Culture – Two Sevens Clash | Marcus Garvey Prophecy & Apocalyptic Roots Reggae 08.07.2025 2h 19min

  In this Reggae Summer episode we dive into Culture’s classic album Two Sevens Clash, one of the most important roots reggae records of the 1970s.We use the album as a jumping-off point to talk about the Marcus Garvey prophecy behind the title track, the apocalyptic fear around July 7, 1977 (when “the two sevens clash”), and how that shaped life in Jamaica at the time. We get into how Joseph Hill turns prophecy, politics and Rasta teachings into songs that are still catchy and deeply spiritual.We also zoom out and look at Garvey’s wider influence on reggae – repatriation, Black Star Line, judgment day themes – and how Two Sevens Clash sits alongside other Garvey-inspired records in the roots canon.In this episode:– Track and moment highlights from Two Sevens Clash– The story behind the “two sevens” prophecy and 7/7/77– Marcus Garvey’s impact on reggae lyrics and Rastafari– How this album shaped our own approach as reggae musicians in Black Market Dub🔊 Support & follow:• Patreon – bonus episodes & ad-free audio• Black Market Dub on Bandcamp – our original music• Escape Hatch Records – label family & collaborations• Instagram – clips and episode updatesCHAPTERS: 00:00:50 Intro and Punk Rock00:31:17 Garveyism and The Religiosity of Reggae01:08:44 The Music and Production of Two Sevens Clash01:38:29 Standout Songs02:03:53 Final Thoughts
• 
  Gregory Isaacs – Night Nurse | Roots Radics & The Best Reggae Album of the 80s? 24.06.2025 2h 12min

  In this Reggae Summer episode we dive into Gregory Isaacs’ 1982 classic Night Nurse and ask whether it might be the best reggae album of the 1980s.We talk about The Cool Ruler as one of the most prolific and distinctive voices in reggae, his lovers rock style, his tragic personal decline, and how Night Nurse captures him at a creative peak. We also dig into the musicianship of Roots Radics, the sound of Tuff Gong and Compass Point, and why this record feels so smooth and effortless while dealing with some heavy emotions.In this episode:– Track highlights across Night Nurse (including “Night Nurse,” “Cool Down the Pace,” “Sad to Know (You’re Leaving)” and more)– How Roots Radics’ playing and the production choices make the album so hypnotic– The arc of Gregory Isaacs’ career: genius, output, and the cost of addiction and legal trouble– Where Night Nurse sits in the lovers rock / roots reggae canon and our own reggae playlists.🔊 Support & follow:• Patreon – bonus episodes & ad-free audio• Black Market Dub on Bandcamp – our original music• Escape Hatch Records – label family & collaborations• Instagram – clips and episode updatesCHAPTERS:00:25:00 Who Was Gregory Isaacs?00:40:27 Producing 'Night Nurse'01:17:42 Roots Radics and Flabba Holt01:36:06 Standout Songs01:56:53 Final Thoughts
• 
  Bob Marley & The Wailers – Exodus | Best First Reggae Album? ft. Dub Robot 10.06.2025 2h 15min

  TWe kick off our Reggae Summer series with Bob Marley & The Wailers’ 1977 masterpiece Exodus and ask a big question: is this the single best album to give someone who’s never heard reggae before?We’re joined by Brian “Dub Robot” Wallace – LA reggae/dub musician, producer and mastering engineer – to talk about Jamaican culture, Rastafari, the political moment around the album, and why Exodus still feels like the perfect gateway into Marley’s world.In this episode:– Why Exodus might be the ideal “starter reggae album”– Breakdown of both sides of the record: the heavier spiritual/political first half vs the uplifting second half– Track highlights: “Natural Mystic,” “Exodus,” “Jamming,” “Waiting in Vain,” “Three Little Birds,” “One Love / People Get Ready”– The Wailers as a band and what Dub Robot hears in the production, bass, drums and arrangements🔊 Support & follow:• Patreon – bonus episodes & ad-free audio• Black Market Dub on Bandcamp – our original music• Escape Hatch Records – label family & collaborations• Dub Robot – find his music and projects by searching “Dub Robot”• Instagram – clips and episode updatesChapters:0:3:35 (First Impressions of Exodus)0:25:10 (Jamaica and Rastafarianism)01:01:20 (Exodus Deep Dive)01:35:03 (Standout Songs)01:58:45 (Final Thoughts)