Dr Trippy - Invasion by Osmosis (2014)

This is for anyone who’s been to Glastonbury. Described as Punjabi swamp music, it’s the debut album from Dr Trippy. There’s lots of dub, some Eastern exoticism and lots to move your feet, as if you were at Glasto. Dive in, the music’s great.

Dr Trippy is Martin Corbett, who started playing electronic instruments at 14, when he built his own analogue synthesiser. How is that possible? I had enough trouble with puberty, let alone building anything beyond Lego. During the 1990s, Martin slowly entered the computer age and added digital sampling to his music. Combining Indian vocals, the rhythms and resonance of dub reggae and a battery of synthesisers and effect units, it’s hardly surprising that the dr trippy sound caught the attention of Toby Marks (Banco de Gaia) who persuaded him to play his music outside of a cellar. Dr Trippy first appeared here last summer, when remixing Banco de Gaia’s Apollon, when his psychedelic dub style was already apparent.

What of his debut album? Opener Dr Trippy Meets The Mad Professor sets the tone. Swirling synths blend with dub-style beats and some Eastern vocals to bring a heady stew. Lovely stuff. Granny takes a Trip to Hebden is a harder, more electronic, concoction with Middle Eastern and Ragga vocals. Dancing in the Dhol Queue may be a terrible pun but it’s tablas, brass and phased guitar make for a great West meets East tune. Closer, Welcome to Babylon is a great track (with more than a little Banco de Gaia about it). The dub dominates in a classic skank groove. A sense of fun is sometimes missing from dance music, and this album’s a lot of fun.

Tracklist:

01. Dr trippy meets the mad professor
02. Cistern Chapel
03. Let Me In (I'm A Doctor)
04. Bollywood Boulevard
05. Elephant talk on the dancefloor
06. Granny Takes A Trip To Hebden
07. My dubious musical acronym
08. The Lonely Sound Of Dub
09. Dancing in the dhol queue
10. Protean Fire
11. Invasion By Osmosis
12. Welcome To Babylon