Dub JayDub Jay - Mai EP [kpu048] (0)

The Kikapu-Ohio link grows even stronger with this latest release from our friend Warren Sulcs, otherwise known as Dub Jay. You might remember Warren from his remix on the algorhythm ep we released here last winter (kpu.027); consider that remix a warm-up for what you are about to hear now.

The Mai EP is actually a sort of collaboration between Dub Jay and a few of his close friends. Contributors include Pat Kabat on clarinet, Geoff Kelly on didgeridoo and tapping, and Steve Neola adding some of his drum recordings. Dub Jay has taken this original source material and constructed and produced it in such a way that is truly remarkable. Discussion of styles and genres is superfluous when describing Dub Jay's output; it is such an amazingly beautiful mixture of acoustic and electronic sounds and instruments that one cannot pigeonhole it into a corner. This is deeply poignant music that should be enjoyed by everyone.

This item is part of the collection: Kikapu

Author: Dub Jay
Date: 0000-00-00 00:00:00
Keywords: Electronic

Creative Commons license: Attribution-NoDerivs-NonCommercial

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Reviewer: gratisvibes.com - - September 16, 2006
Subject: Reviewed on Gratisvibes.com

Hereâs a release from 2003 that I just came across by Warren Sulcs aka Dub Jay. The EP demonstrates a style of music thatâs a fusion of electronic and traditional/folk elements like clarinet, didgeridoo, piano and others. Jayâs friends Pat Kabat, Geoff Kelly and Steve Neola contributed the parts on clarinet, didgeridoo and drums respectively.

A great thing about listening to this EP is that each instrument in the music seems to echo a certain sentiment that is as much a part of each specific musician that contributed as it is a part of the music. These are things you can only get from live recordings of musicians who play with a certain passion and not easily achieved through computer sequencing. Jay himself does a fine job of putting all these elements together while adding ambient noises, pads and piano melodies. Throughout all four tracks, melodies and harmonies appear to weave in and out of the composition, each bringing some new musical aesthetic to the piece as it enters and leaves.

The only gripe I have with the EP is that it isnât mastered properly and the mix is off in some parts. Some mastering work would have surely given more space for the various instruments to express themselves fully and added a new amount excitement to each track.

Favourite tracks:
01. She Felt
She Felt is the most moving track of the whole EP giving rise to a host of emotions that we are all too familiar with. Although, it may express a cliche kind of tendency, it is nonetheless a very nice track. I liked the clarinet solos, interesting use of stereo imaging and the piano accompaniment. The track truly lifts off as the synths and drums come into play later on completing the experience. The sad thing about this track is that when everything plays, I canât hear the piano which is still playing but is drowned out by everything else. In addition, the clarinet is too loud in some parts demonstrating either a lack of control of dynamics on the musicianâs part or bad recording.

03. One4
A funky track featuring the didgeridoo. It features the sort of laid back floaty music that keeps looping while introducing short musical phrases in between. I also liked the mix much better this time around. In addition it reminds me of music from the film Mirrormask

http://gratisvibes.com/post/a-sensuous-ep/

Reviewer: Thinner/Autoplate - - April 3, 2004
Subject: Very nice

Dub Jay is a quite promising talent who has released twice on Kikapu so far. Here's the first batch of songs, called "Mai EP". "She felt" is a thoughtful and extremly beautiful pianopiece with very enjoyable background synth sweeps, that give that song an eternal touch together with the clarinette (?) solis. "Lost Toy Found" and "One4" are a behaving electronic indiepop pearls with both acoustic and electronic elements that simply sound beautiful together, while "Fend Lamb i X" more comesout of mysticland. Four songs that leave a carefully optimistic outlook for spring (although it's meanwhile older, I know).

Reviewer: sommona.com - - October 9, 2003
Subject: So smooth

This realy is a suprizingly tranquil EP. If your looking for thing melo and iteresting to listen to this evening this is it.

Reviewer: simon c - - September 29, 2003
Subject: Really beautiful electro-acoustic EP

Surprisingly tender EP using both real and electronic instruments to bring a really intelligent, beautiful, jam-based angle to the whole electronic music thing - highly, highly recommended.