For its 50th release Ran$om Note Records team-up with French duo, Froid Dub. The Parisian pair, of Stéphane Bodin and François Marché, have been making music together since the start of the 1990s. Experiencing significant levels of commercial success under the aliases Bosco, Prototypes and Blackmail. Froid Dub, however, is a much more underground, experimental project, which nonetheless, in the space of 3 albums has earned them a committed cult following. Taking a sabbatical from their own imprint, DELODIO, also bringing bon ami and close collaborator Kirkor Kouchian with them – to oversee mastering – and delivering a terrific 6-track EP. A lucky few have been teased with 3 tunes so far, and these alone should be more than enough to convince discerning ears to part with their money.

Control is a shot of slow, electronic skanking, that comes from the same musical school as Om Unit’s Acid Dub Studies. They surely excelled at this alma mater, since the sonics are clinically, precisely pared back. The dynamics created with deft touches of detail, such as echoed synth washes and congas. Tears Maker produces something more mediative from a mix of percolating programmed percussion and dubbed-out melodica. On The Nose, the current single, and definite standout, is a dynamite dose of deviant digital dancehall. A mutated Sleng Teng riddim, rocked by weird, warped effects that recall The Radiophonic workshop’s Dr. Who Theme, and with monotone vocals a la Annika Henderson or Christine Carol Newby. Imagine a Delia Derbyshire versus King Jammy soundclash. 

Froid Dub’s Tears Maker Chant can be ordered directly from Ran$om Note Records.