A journey through electro dub

ROOTS AND BEYOND: Ready to rock the Dome with their dub, reggae, drum ‘n' bass, hip-hop, trip-hop, jazz and funk sound two days after Christmas, is five-piece act Knights of the Dub Table. File Picture

Electro Dub collective Knights of the Dub Table blend dub, reggae, drum ‘n' bass, hip-hop, trip-hop, jazz and funk to deliver the roots sound but often go even further than that.

The five-piece's album Way of the Dub is familiar territory but works in harmonies in tracks such as Don't Speak Out, while We Are the Knights draws on more electronica and funk and mixed-up beats that recall Salmonella Dub's, Dancehall Girl.

The single, The Journey, though, steps outside the Pacific reggae vein to combine syncopated beats overlaid with a sailing, floaty melody and even includes a Joe Satriani-ish lead break.

Dub, reggae, drum ‘n' bass, hip-hop, trip-hop, jazz and funk is blended together in the Knights of the Dub Table sound.

They are a treat to watch on stage, a Gisborne Herald reviewer enthused in 2009.

“A strong element of improvisation, with lengthy, indulgent interludes that raise energy levels among the crowd before they hit the heavy bass lines. The mish-mash of dub, reggae, drum ‘n bass and rock is a surprising one, but it works well.”

Originally from Huntly, the five-piece's original three members Mr Samy'samson (vocals, guitar), Sax'imus (MC, sax) met in 2007 while studying music at the Waikato Institute of Technology. In 2008 they joined forces, becoming Knights of the DUB Table and began to craft their sound.

In its most recent iteration, the collective is made up of Mr Samy'samson (vocals, guitar, dub table, sax), Sax'imus (MC, saxophone, vocal and horn dub effects), Cy (bass, synths), Frank'anello (rhythm guitar, bvs), and BlackJack (keys, percussion, trumpet).

Since forming more than 10 years ago, Knights of the D­UB Table have performed alongside some of New Zealand's best-known reggae/dub acts — Katchafire, Tiki Taane, dDub, Rhombus, Cornerstone Roots, Opensouls, Optimus Gryme, Black Seeds, popular Australian dub outfit The Versionaries and Groundation.

Knights of the Dub Table, the Dome, December 27. Tickets — early bird from ticketfairy.com $22, general admission and door $27.50.