On-U Sound

A limited edition Record Store Day 2015 Disco plate 10” of sci-fi themed dubs from the On-U vaults. Cut by CGM at Dubplates & Mastering in Berlin for maximum bass pressure. Full picture sleeve in the style of the original early 80s On-U Sound Disco Plate series.

Kicking off with a cover of Ron Grainer and Delia Derbyshire’s theme to the long-running British programme ‘Doctor Who’; this 1984 Doctor Pablo version retains the eerie beauty of the original whilst anchoring the far-out FX to a more roots-oriented low end pulse. Next a 1982 Dub Syndicate track (from their debut album The Pounding System (Ambience In Dub)) references the musical vogue at the time for incorporating sounds from the Space Invaders arcade machine into tracks – Scientist based a whole album around such a concept, and even The Clash got in on the act! The Mothmen track is a real rarity, having not seen the light of day since On-U’s second ever album release in 1981 and never before reissued.

Meticulously transferred from the original tapes, this eviscerating blast of Manchester post-punk (featuring former members of The Durutti Column, and future members of Simply Red!) combines primitive rhythm, free jazz saxophone, liberal use of delay and wild guitar noise. Finally, Creation Rebel weigh in with a track from their 1980 sci-fi-themed concept album Starship Africa; backwards tape effects and shimmering layers of percussion bringing proceedings to suitably spacey finale. Only 2,000 copies worldwide.

The 10" vinyl is now sold out but the digital version is available.