Be With Records extend their already considreable library music catalogue by now releasing a set of film and TV cues originally composed by Dennis Bovell for relative new library platform, FOLD. Titled cLOUD Music, the LP contains 5 new compositions, and their corresponding dubs, all conceived while Bovell was watching the skies. Taking notes as the heavens shifted. 

Bovell, nicknamed “Blackbeard” or “Dubmaster”, is a legendary producer who helped shape UK reggae and also created the lovers rock genre. It’s no surprise then that 2 of the tracks come in skanking. Wind Up Dub Down gently rolls, and is melodica-led. Callaloo You has a great groove, reminiscent of Bunny Wailer’s Love Fire, and chops and changes between tropical steel pans, squelchy synth, flute and bright soca / calypso brass hooks. 

Too Funky To Be True, however, packed with horns, strings and synth effects, builds, falls, builds, falls, always threatening to burst into a big band thing akin to Johnny Pate. Imagine if Brendan Lynch met Isaac Hayes. 

Rebel Funk and Raw Soul are uptempo disco, dance floor version excursions. Opulently orchestrated, and riding tight, Chic-like rhythm sections. Big bouncing B-lines and wickedly licked wah-wah guitar. Dramatic saxophone blasts punctuating the latter, while the former features an eccentrically mixed gospel choir. Both are as barmily buoyant as Peaking Lights transformation of Tom Noble’s House Of Spirits.*

The dubs are stripped back, making more space for the bass. Drums and congas tumbling to the fore, while the remaining instrumentation is reduced to flying fragments and feedback flashes. Waves of delay sending out ringing sax and axe spirals. 

Dennis Bovell’s cLOUD Music is due in January, but you can preorder a copy now from Be With Records.

*Bovell, though, is no stranger to the world of dub disco. Check his track Heaven – reissued by Optimo and the mighty JD Twitch – or his work with Maximum Joy, The Raincoats and Weapon Of Peace. More recently his terrific take on ex-LCD Soundsystem man Tyler Pope’s Jump In The Fire.