 Zion Train are Dub/Dance pioneers and have been undisputed leaders in the genre for more than 15 years. The band are heavily involved in alternative and DIY underground culture and have been since the 90s as well as being purveyors of the finest Roots Reggae music throughout this period. They are one of the finest live dub acts in the world and promoted the practice of dynamic onstage dub mixing which they perform alongside acoustic instruments and the best live vocalists.
Zion Train was founded by Perch (live dub mixing/production), in 1990 and he was later joined by Cod (melodica/production), Tench (production), Molara (voice), Hake (trumpet), and Forkbeard (trombone). Between 2001 and 2005 Dubdadda added extra live vocals and Bigga replaced Forkbeard on trombone in 2001. The live line-up has always been very flexible, varying from Perch and a vocalist for sound-system gigs, to the full lineup for larger events. From 2006 Molara concentrated on her solo projects and Zion Train live features a variety of renowned vocalists including Dubdadda and Earl 16 alongside Omar Perry, and YT.
Zion Train have been one of the planet's most prolific groups, along with a mammoth recorded output and innumerable production credits, remixes and song writing collaborations they have produced magazines, CD-ROMs, Internet sites and built sound systems. Their early releases were on their own Universal Egg label, until in 1995 they signed to China Records. They released the world's first promotional dub music video for the 'Get Ready' single and caused a furore with the publicity campaign for their ‘Homegrown fantasy’ album.
Back on their own Universal Egg label since 1999, they have continued to release quality dub, electronica and world dance music. Their work from the past decade and a half still sounds fresh to today's discerning ears.
2005 saw the reissue of the bands seminal and long unavailable first and second albums; 'A Passage To Indica' and 'Natural Wonders Of The World In Dub' remastered and redesigned. 2006 saw the re-release of the third album 'Siren', which was thought by many to herald the birth of the dub-dance vibe that swept the globe in the 1990s. A new album entitled 'Live As One' was released in September 2007 to great critical acclaim and was showcased in a 20 nation world tour. This album won the 2008 Jamaican Recording Industry grammy for 'Best Dub Album'. A 'Live As One' remix album was released in September 2009 featuring remixes from a global selection of producers including participants from Mexico, Brazil, Japan, Croatia, France, Poland, Holland, Italy, Germany and England. Zion Train toured Europe and Japan to support this release in the autumn of 2009.
Line-up:
DJ Perch – multitrack live mix
Dubdadda – singer/MC
Dave Hake - trumpet
Richard Doswell - saxophone
Links:
http://www.ziontrain.co.uk
http://www.myspace.com/ziontrainindub
videos:
"Terror Talk" clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WpbNrGcGvA
„War in a Babylon” live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjtU4d2EzPs
live CDQ Warsaw 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HovkTuewvgQ
live France 2007
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z564cY-yXL4
discography – albums:
“A Passage to Indica” Universal Egg
“Natural Wonders of the World in Dub“” Universal Egg
“Siren” Universal Egg
“Homegrown Fantasy” China Records
“Grow Together” China Records
“Love Revolutionaries” Universal Egg
“Secrets Of The Animal Kingdom In Dub” Universal Egg
“Original Sounds Of The Zion” Universal Egg
“Original Sounds Of The Zion Remixed” Universal Egg
“Live As One” Universal Egg
“Live As One remixed” Universal Egg
Zion Train – co-operation, remixes, production for (among the others):
Prince Allah, Chumbawamba, Rootsman, Salmonella Dub, Afro-Celt Sound System, Dub Syndicate, The Shamen, Ozric Tentacles, Gary Clail, Junior Reid, The Ruts DC, Merzbow, Loop Guru, Coil, Maxi Priest, New Model Army, Muslimgause, Headmix, Kava Kava, Luciano, Gentleman, UB40, Fermin Muguruza, Vavamuffin… |
