Preorder of Dreadsquad – Reggae From The Desert (LP)
180 gram, 33 rpm, black vinyl. Limited edition 300 copies. Estimated release date: end of November 2024
A1. Yekermo Sew (feat. Don Fe, Craig Crofton & Piotr Zabrodzki)
A2. Ethiopian Rhythym (feat. Piotr Zabrodzki, Kubix & Alex Hazas)
A3. Snake Charmer
A4. Double Trouble
A5. Dub Forged in Metal
B1. Wailing Dub
B2. Bun Dem Dub (Brass mix) (feat. Alex Hazas)
B3. Pharaoh’s Revenge (feat. Craig Crofton)
B4. Hibisco (feat. Don Fe)
B5. Caravan (feat. Piotr Zabrodzki)
Artwork: Krystian Żelazo
After a seven-year hiatus, Dreadsquad is back with a new album that immerses listeners in a unique blend of dub, jazz, ethio-jazz, and classic reggae sounds. Reggae from the Desert is a sonic journey in which Marek “Dreadsquad” Bogdański explores new musical territories, combining his roots with his fascination for African jazz. Some might say it’s been seven lean years, but Marek has managed to build a house where his new production and recording studio are successfully operating, and he has traveled halfway around the world, honouring hundreds of events and festivals with his sets.
The concept for the album was born back in 2015 at Prince Fatty’s legendary studio, where Winston “Horseman” Williams, an icon of the British reggae scene, recorded drums, and percussion for several tracks. A lifelong jazz fan, Marek found inspiration in the work of Mulatu Astatke—the father of ethio-jazz—among others, and created his own interpretation of Astatke’s track “Yekermo Sew,” which has been igniting the senses of listeners for the past few months. When you add “Ethiopian Rhythm” in the classic tizita minor (Amharic for nostalgic) musical scale, so characteristic of Ethiopian jazz and local classical music, you begin to understand the essence of this release. The album also features jazz-dub versions of well-known Dreadsquad rhythms, such as “Bun Dem” and “Caravan,” enriched with subtle melodic and instrumental flavours that create a unique sonic mosaic.
The undeniable strength of this album lies in the presence of excellent instrumentalists who are well-versed in jazz and reggae styles. They include Horseman (drums and percussion), Don Fe (flute), Craig Crofton (saxophone), Alex Hazas (saxophone, trumpet, flute), Kubix (guitar), Piotr Zabrodzki (piano), and others. Each of them has contributed a recognizable element, forming the musical house that Marek Bogdański has expertly constructed into a cohesive and habitable whole.
What sets Reggae from the Desert apart from previous Dreadsquad releases is the minimalist approach to vocals—only two words are spoken throughout the album, delivered by Marek himself. This instrumental masterpiece demonstrates that the strength of Dreadsquad’s music lies in its rhythm, atmosphere, and finely crafted details, taking the listener on a fascinating, meditative journey through the sands of the sonic wilderness.
Marek Bogdański: bass A2, A4, A5, B1, B4, B5 guitar A1, A4, A5, B2, B5, piano A3, A4, A5, B1, B2, B4, B5 melodica A3, A4, B2, B5 Hammond organ B1, B4, clavinet A4, B2, keys A1 , metalophone A1, A3, A5 percussion A1, B3, drumsynth A2, quica B1, drum programing: B2, B5
Przemyslaw Sokalczuk Hammond organ A3, guitar A3, B1 piano B3, bass B2
Winston Horseman Williams: drums A3, A5, B1, B4 percussion A3, A5, B1,
Craig Crofton: sax (A1, B3)
Piotr Zabrodzki: piano A1, A2, hammond organ A2, B5
Don Fe: flute A1, B4,
Alex Hazas sax A2, B2, flute A2, B2, trumpet B2
Robert Horvath bass A1, B3,
Jakub Skibiński drums A1
Adam Brzęczek drums A2, B3,
Mikey Shaw drums A4
Yotam Sigwalt flute B1, sax B1
Kubix guitar A2
Przemysław Typiak guitar B3
Rafał Trafalski guitar B3
Mix / Mastering : Marek Bogdański @ Superfly Studio
