Monkey "Barrel of Dub" LP

PRE-ORDER - Available on banana yellow 12" vinyl with brown splatters.

I first encountered Monkey shortly after their initial club performance at the Cactus Club on January 31st, 1996. Back then, they were young, fun, and a little rough around the edges. Over the next few years, the band honed their sound, with each release surpassing the last.

I began promoting Monkey in California’s Central Valley and advocated for them to talent bookers and labels around the world. Monkey quickly transformed from a fresh young band into a well-oiled machine. They’ve shared the spotlight with legends like the Skatalites, the English Beat, Voodoo Glow Skulls, The Slackers, Let's Go Bowling, and Bad Manners.

For almost 30 years, I have had a front row seat to see Monkey delivering tunes that make us move, think, and feel. Now, as the band ventures into the depths of dub, they invite us on a new journey – a sonic expedition into uncharted territory. “Barrel of Dub” has unearthed a deeper, more introspective layer of their music. This collection of reworked fan favorites showcases the band’s transformation, blending their signature ska energy with the hypnotic, meditative vibes of dub.

The album features nine tracks from their archives, remixed and re-imagined by some of the best dub artists in the business: Crazy Baldhead, Roger Rivas, Dubrobot, Dubmatix, and Victor Rice. When you put on this album, the familiar melodies of Monkey emerge, but now they're draped in the mist of reverb and the shadows of delay. Each track becomes a journey into the unknown, where every echo and bass line reverberates with new life. The songs you love are reborn, their essence stripped down and rebuilt.

Why should you listen to this album? Because it's more than music – it's an experience. “Barrel of Dub” invites you to step away from the chaos of the modern world and lose yourself in the depth of sound. It's a chance to hear Monkey as you’ve never heard them before, to feel the raw emotion and introspection that only dub can deliver.

This album is a testament to Monkey’s journey – from the heart of the ska scene to the pioneering edge of dub. It’s a tribute to their fans, a thank you for the years of support, and a promise of new horizons. Let the dub rhythms guide you through the story of Monkey, re-imagined and redefined. Welcome to the next chapter. I can’t wait for you to hear where their journey has taken them.

Pick it up, drop the needle, and groove.

Middagh Goodwin
Host of This is SKA
June 2024

Tracklisting:

Side A
1. Bassinet Dub Remix (4:38)
    Roger Rivas
2. Unity Re-Dub (4:31)
    Black Market Dub
3. Sugartown Dub (3:31)
    Dubmatix
4. In Dubmand (4:57)
    Dubrobot

Side B
5. Dub Sound System (3:32)
    Wise Owl Dub
6. Dub Vibration (3:34)
    Roger Rivas
7. Dub de Amor (4:24)
    Crazy Baldhead
8. Bryan Ryan Dub (3:10)
    Victor Rice
9. Lovers Dub (4:23)
    Dubrobot

All songs by Monkey
Artwork by Michael Buchmiller
Mastered by Brian Wallace

In Memoriam: Matthew Leon Kolb 
(drums on #7) Riddim, laughter, and love love love forever.