Covering all the Music You Didn't Know About Since '96

True dub that is actually good is a rare gem these days. So much dub is littered with has-been electronica or reggae “artists” that couldn’t scrub a sink let alone sink their teeth into wobbly bass or sparse techno bits. Teleseen is one of those special groups that combines the raw techno rhythms with that sweat-soaked club bass with a Zen-like nod to reggae, dancehall, and two step. There are elements of hip-hop and ragga that are firmly stirred together for a raunchy rumble of bass-driven sparseness with a cute wink at Afro-beat for good measure. Intriguing reminder of a less-involved PlateaU album.

We all know that one of Jamaica’s best exports this side of Red Stripe is reggae, but to New Zealand? Who would have thought that it would make its way to Auckland and beyond? So you may be surprised to find out that New Zealand is a new Mecca for Rastafarianism and its adopted music, even an MP, the Green Party’s Nandor Tanczos is a Rastafarian. Mighty funky bass chords rage on through dub and reggae tunes that are handcrafted for hipster appeal. Recording out of a studio called The Surgery that was once a karate dojo, the Black Seeds populate their sound with island funk, jazzy brass horns, dancehall rhythms, and retro pop off-shoots all packaged neatly with post-African rhythms. Respect indeed.