Greensleeves Records, the legendary U.K. label, has teamed up with the
‘Roots Defenders of Notting Hill Carnival’, Channel One Soundsystem to
head ‘Down In The Dub Vaults’. The enigmatic selector Mikey Dread has been
let loose in the Greensleeves archives, curating a serious set of Roots & Dub
gems that have featured over the years on Channel One’s unique handbuilt
Soundsystem.
Revered Jamaican vocalists such as the Wailing Souls, Michael Prophet,
Linval Thompson, Hugh Mundell and many more feature on this collection plus
on the second disc we enter the Echo Chamber with their Dub counterparts from
the likes of Sly & Robbie, Scientist, Augustus Pablo and The Rockers All-Stars
et al to complete the listening experience.
After taking over the family Soundsystem ‘Admiral Bailey’ in 1979, Mikey Dread &
his brother Jah T began playing Blues dances and Shebeens all over the U.K.
Roots, Dub and the emerging sound of Rubadub carried the swing during this
period so Mikey renamed the Sound ‘Channel One’ after the famous Jamaican
studio, located on Maxfield Avenue in Kingston, responsible for many
Greensleeves’ classics of the era which Mikey has hand-picked for this exclusive
compilation. This is the first time a British Soundsystem has been involved with a
project like this since Greensleeves Records released Jah Shaka’s ‘The Positive
Message’ in 2010.
Notting Hill Carnival stalwarts since 1983, Channel One have been uplifting
the people with their conscious music for decades, breaking down barriers via
Reggae Music. They were the first Reggae Soundsystem to bring their Sound to
Wembley Arena when they competed in the Redbull Culture Clash, emerging
as winners after beating Goldie’s Metalheadz, Souljazz Soundsystem plus
Dubstep heavyweights Skream & Benga. They have been cited as an influence
by the new wave of London’s musicians including Rudimental, Joe Armon-
Jones and Nubya Garcia, plus they regularly share line-ups with the likes of
Gilles Peterson, Mala and Nightmares On Wax and many more. Channel One
have travelled all over the world, often as the first authentic Reggae
Soundsystem to play in various countries. Australia, Japan, Brazil, India, Gambia,
Dubai, Mexico and the U.S.A are just some of the countries Mikey and the crew
have played and in 2023 their hectic tour schedule shows no signs of letting up.