Alpha & Omega in Wrocław: a London duo, meditative dub and ambient sounds

London duo Alpha & Omega have been at the forefront of dub since arriving on the scene in 1990, creating both original productions and remixes for other electronic artists. Their music blends dub, ambient sounds, an unusual vocal style and trance-like textures into a distinctive sound sometimes described as meditative, chill-out dub. Their often extraordinary use of keyboards, melodica and studio effects lends the music a subtlety rarely encountered in contemporary music.

Much has changed since Alpha & Omega released their debut album, “Daniel In The Lions' Den”, in 1990. The project helped advance an entire style of newly emerging, distinctly British acts rooted in roots music, with Massive Attack, trip-hop and jungle at one end, and rave, On-U Sound and ambient projects such as The Orb at the other.

Among them all are Alpha & Omega’s own heavy sounds, helping define new territory. As meditative, top-class chill-out dub, they slip into the home stereo, yet they also thunder from the speakers of more orthodox reggae sound systems such as Jah Shaka, whose continued support has cemented Alpha & Omega’s position as favourites within the roots community. Within these hypnotic sounds lies a wordless message, every passage as important and compelling as those created by their Jamaican mentors.

While Alpha & Omega's sounds could aptly have been described a few years ago as “restless, raw and unrepentant”, their current work also contains a distinctive, developed style and a strong sense of purpose.

The driving force behind their heavy rhythms is insatiable. They should finally at least begin to gain the wider popularity they deserve.

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