Album Notes

From downtown Sacramento, California, Justin DeHart, a.k.a. doctor echo, has long been involved in reggae, dub, and other trance styles from various cultures. doctor echo's first release in 1999 on Jumpstart Records, "Cure for the Dubless", featured dubs from the bands that he was playing drums and recording with at that time. Bands such as the rock-steady/reggae titans; Steady Ups, live dub band; The Defendants, and world music Who Knows, as well as some of the doctor's original tracks. Other bands that he has worked with include Blackalicious, Filibuster, Frank Jordan, and The Original Heads.

2004 marks doctor echo's long awaited self-titled follow up album on Anicca records. The entire album was recorded on a 1/2" 8-track machine, between the years of 1997-2002. All rhythm tracks were laid down without sampling/sequencing, and only a few were tracked with the help of a metronome. Featured musicians on the album include international recording artists Nkosazana Divine on vocals, Tyler Pope, and Harley White Jr.. Despite the fact that some final mixes have been edited in the digital realm, the album largely remains a truthful representation of the doctor's live mixing aesthetics. Although obviously steeped in the legacy and tradition of dub masters such as King Tubby and Lee Perry, doctor echo's music is forever moving to transcend genres by allowing various musical styles to be represented.

“… a submarine bass and a good dose of intensity…like a secret or clandestine musical practice…passages that are alike a kind of vodoo-dub ritual.”
She Divine

“Rub-a-dub-dub, Doctor Echo’s got the grub…Doctor Echo fuses contemporary dub sounds, big bass, downtempo drumwork, and spacey atmospheres with enlightening grooves on the dub side of reggae. Get this album now and chill to the groove.”
Smother

“…each tune stands as well constructed and executed…”
The Wire

“…I dare say none can dub like Doctor Echo. His is an eclectic sound rooted in classic ‘70s dub but updated with a modern twist, including touches of dancehall, jazz, hip-hop and some indescribable things that simply must be heard…this is one of the best dub albums I’ve heard in recent years and reason to look forward to more medicine from the Doctor.”
Reggae Reviews

“Dub today with deep respect to the dub foundations of yesterday...timeless sonic imagery that is deeply sensual and strongly spiritual...”
Beat Conscious

“His presence on the controls is immediately felt as the sonic bombs of echo and reverb shake the very foundation of consciousness within those who are at an earshot. With mixes that are dark, sonic, sensual, and spiritual, his music puts the listener on a sedated matrix inner exploration. … a sound landscape ready to be explored.”
Reggae Vibes

“…Doctor Echo collects DeHart's own instrumental performances and those of other musicians with whom he's worked and mixes them up into a potent stew of dubwise instrumental reggae. … this is a wonderfully heavyweight collection of nicely crafted modern dub. Recommended!”
Nice Up