Richard Norris’ Oracle Sound project has readied a new EP of, in his own words, “Outernational Psychedelic Rockers”. Due for release this Friday, so far 4 of the 6 new tracks have been shared.* Based on the available evidence, while rooted in dub’s delayed drums and deep, deep bass, it’s going to be a pretty varied affair. 

Connected Dub certainly skanks, marrying flickering, filtered percussion with a Mellotron-like melody, while a pitched down baritone intones “We’re all connected by tides around the world” and fanfares of righteous horns set about bringing down Babylon’s walls. All of the tracks boast these bold brass blasts. It’s the rhythms that are different. 

Earthsea Dub slowly shakes its stuff to more of a broken, modern R&B beat. Sonar blips signalling how low the bottom-end can go, and wisps of reed hanging in the air like Middle Eastern / North African flavoured bazaar hookah hashish smoke. The effect like a slightly smoother take on Elijah Minnelli’s Breadminster County sound. 

Flying Crane Dub’s snares rattle like snatches of a sampled jazzy break, and combined with its extravagantly echoed cinematic piano, make a suitable score for some sunset introspection. It’s dub, but it’s not reggae. More trip hop. Its blue melodica blowing a mood somewhere between Once Upon A Time In The West’s lonely harmonica and Jah Wobble’s versioning of Roy Budd’s Get Carter. The results recalling high points of the much maligned, mid-90s genre, such as the work of Haunted Dancehall-era Sabres Of Paradise or A.P.E.’s Snakes Pass (Out). 

Ceefax, a collaboration with Jon Carter, in contrast, is a forceful, very dancefloor friendly, house-tempo-ed forward march. A strong, militant stepping, warrior charge, with dub techno touches, crafty conga fills, and that’s rocked by a bionic bubbling. 

*The EP features 3 mixes of Ceefax. 

You can order your copy here.