After this past summer’s acclaimed project with The Nextmen, Gentleman’s Dub Club return with the hotly anticipated album, ‘Lost In Space.’ True connoisseurs of blending influences from genres such as dub, reggae, ska, bass culture, jazz, and everything in between, the band has adopted a futuristic tone as they continue their mission to discover the ultimate bassline. Pre-orders for the record launch started on Oct 5th with first single, ‘Stardust’ and second single ‘Turning Back’ (Featuring Million Stylez) was released on the 7th December. Third single ‘Light The Fuse’ was released on January 11th, and the full album is out today!
Teaming up once again with the mighty Easy Star Records has resulted in only one outcome: a euphoric journey through time, space and bass. Diving straight into the deep end with the ruckus that is ‘Light The Fuse,’ the record is set up with rumbling heavyweight bass movements that naturally match the controlled chaos of ‘Eye Of The Storm’ and ‘Midnight Healing.’ Meeting every unique end of the spectrum, Gentleman’s Dub Club once again draw on their incredible ability to fuse sounds together until they feel like they’ve always belonged.
From the earth-rattling sounds of the first single ‘Stardust,’ to the blockbuster proportions of ‘Intergalactic’, the deep undulations of ‘Ground Shakin’ and onto the beautifully melodic and aptly titled ‘Out Of This World’ – no comet is left unburnt. Joining the band on this interstellar adventure are the equally awesome Million Stylez and Winston Francis, who feature on ‘Turning Back’ and ‘Walking Away’ respectively, both of which have feel-good, ear-to-ear smile vibes throughout.
The well-known role of a debut single from a forthcoming album is to set the tone and create an intro for the delights that are to follow – ‘Stardust’ did exactly that, announcing itself with a flourish of fanfare-like horns, and getting straight down to business as lead singer Johnny Scratchley delivers the anthemic chorus: “Stardust rushing through my bloodstream / I wanna get higher”. The tension builds as the horns come back in and we cascade into a heavyweight one-drop riddim, giving anyone within earshot no choice but to start moving to that irresistible GDC groove. We are then taken on a mission seen through a kaleidoscope, blasting off into outer space as the intoxication takes hold. Hedonistic scenes run alongside intergalactic imagery, until the post-chorus draws everything together with the declaration “I found myself lost in space”.
Gentleman’s Dub Club are firing themselves up for a big 2019, as second single ‘Turning Back’states: “There ain’t no turning back, get ready cause we’re on the attack.” Released on the7thDecember, this reggae masterclass takes it up a notch with the unmistakable eccentric vocals of Million Stylez. Overflowing with groove and an infectious rhythm, it’s impossible not to move to this track. Infused with the origins of rocksteady, whilst combining the explosive signature rhythms that GDC are known for, ‘Turning Back’ ticks just about every box there is to tick.
Third single ‘Light The Fuse’ kickstarts GDC’s year with explosive impact. The phrase ‘start as you mean to go on’ couldn’t be more apt with this deep dub roller. If there was ever a track to start an album this is it, a no nonsense, get-up-and-go banger that encapsulates the space theme and introduces the Gents with the energy levels set to maximum.
A colossal 2018 saw Gentleman’s Dub Club take their energetic, jaw-dropping live show across the UK, Europe, and beyond, with a hefty touring schedule including world famous festivals such as Bestival, Shambala and Boomtown, and gigs in such far flung places as Tunisia, Iceland and La Réunion. Add to that the devastating uppercut that was ‘Pound for Pound,’ where they teamed up with The Nextmen alongside the likes of Joe Dukie (Fat Freddy’s Drop), Chali 2na (Jurassic 5), Kiko Bun, and Hollie Cook (to pick just a few), and their call-up from the King himself, David “Ram Jam” Rodigan, for a special one-off takeover of his BBC 1 Xtra show, it isn’t hard to see why this year will be classed as a monumental 12 months for the band.
For now, it’s time to let the music do the talking – if you’ve been searching for an album to soundtrack a weekend of good vibes and a week of bouncing beats, countdown from 10 and find yourselves ‘Lost In Space.’
