desert-dub

The Sun-Baked Sounds of Desert Dub: From Sun Ra to The Orb

The sun beats down, the sand stretches out endlessly, and a hypnotic groove pulsates through the air – this is the sonic landscape of desert dub, a genre born of the scorching heat and expansive vistas of the Sahara, the Mojave, and other arid regions.

This unique sound, a blend of dub’s spacious echo and reverb with the hypnotic rhythms of North African and Middle Eastern music, can trace its roots back to the psychedelic journeys of the 1960s. Sun Ra, the cosmically-minded jazz composer, is often cited as a pioneer, infusing his music with African and Middle Eastern influences. The psychedelic experimentations of artists like Pink Floyd and Tangerine Dream further paved the way, exploring the sonic textures and hypnotic potential of electronic music.

The 1980s saw the emergence of the dub scene in London, with artists like Adrian Sherwood and On-U Sound Records pushing the boundaries of dub music. This period also saw the rise of the “world music” movement, which brought traditional music from around the globe into the spotlight. This fusion of influences laid the groundwork for the birth of desert dub.

In the 1990s, artists like The Orb and The Chemical Brothers embraced the spacious sounds of dub and blended them with electronic textures and rhythms, forging a new sonic territory. This experimentation led to the development of a distinct desert dub aesthetic, characterized by its slow, hypnotic grooves, layered instrumentation, and evocative soundscapes.

Funny Facts:

• The Orb’s Alex Paterson: While not a desert dub artist per se, Paterson’s love for the genre is legendary. He once declared that “desert dub is like the sound of a camel crossing a desert on a hot day.”
• The Chemical Brothers: The duo is known for their wild live shows. In one particularly memorable performance, they accidentally set a giant inflatable camel on fire, creating a truly “desert” experience.
• Brian Eno: The pioneer of ambient music, Eno is also a fan of desert dub. He once said, “I find the emptiness of the desert incredibly inspiring. It’s a space where you can really listen to the subtle sounds around you.”

Desert dub continues to evolve, incorporating influences from contemporary electronic music, global rhythms, and the ever-changing sounds of the desert itself. It’s a genre that embraces the vastness and mystery of the arid landscape, inviting listeners to embark on a sonic journey through its sun-baked soundscapes.