Dubar Sound – Dream Reality LP (PDV)

It’s not so big of a secret that we passionately love good old dub music, and we all get excited when some fresh music hits our doorstep. And what’s not to love when it always sounds good? You get all those reverby, echoic, delayish orchestrations empowered with loads of various manipulations and steady, well-accentuated grooves. Maybe even some deeply emotive, enchanting vocals over the top, and you’re always in for a treat. With “Dream Reality,” Dražen Čižmek, a man behind a marvelous Croatian dub music outlet, Dubar Sound, combines years of experience with deep knowledge about one of the longevious genres Jamaican cultural heritage has to offer. On top of all that, he also crafts music deeply immersed in his boundless creativity, talent, and tremendous knack for assembling meaningful, passionate, soulful dub compositions where each sonic and rhythmic maneuver has its spot and purpose. Across ten incredible songs, he explores not only fundamental elements of dub, but also steppers and roots reggae, atmospheric dub, and electronica, chasing a colorful, distinctive, versatile sound that entirely differs from the vast sea of same old, repetitive, predictable dub recordings. What makes “Dream Reality” so appealing to the ears is this genre-pushing, forward-thinking, innovative dynamic that really stands out through a comprehensive collection of carefully, thoughtfully, stacked, marvelously manipulated sounds. Besides all that lush sonic experimentation and manipulation, you’ll notice how the sound quality meets all the contemporary trends in music production. It plays a significant role by forcing listeners to focus on music endeavours crafted by a true dub aficionado. Even the tiniest details, nuances, accentuations, enhancements, and layers are vividly audible here, making “Dream Reality” such an exceptional dub piece that will definitely get a dedicated space in your record collection. It’s one of those records you should not miss if you love dub music from the bottom of your heart.

Dubar Sound wisely incorporates all the vital effects into his compositions. He creates calm, soothing, relaxing, ethereal, enchanting, nearly cinematic soundscapes by expertly using effects such as reverb, echo, and delay, but you may find some other effects and manipulations along the way that certainly enhance this listening experience on an entirely new level. Whether implemented over rhythmic patterns, basslines, guitars, or keys, they all sound incredibly good and well placed, without spoiling the ambiance. Besides incorporating many catchy, memorable, engaging orchestrations, Dražen Čižmek also understands the importance of space in his songs. Sometimes, the less is more, while, in other instances, it plays as more than necessary separation between those complex instrumentations and various segments of his compositions. On the other hand, he also understands how some sonic manipulations, no matter how subtle or audible they might be, operate in the grand scheme, and he uses them sparingly or accordingly to create an even more detailed sonic experience. The interplay between all those echoic and reverby layers is so carefully stacked together, so you’ll hear everything with such ease. Although many layers and instrumentations are on stake here, they do not overwhelm each other. Quite the contrary, they operate together harmoniously, always working in advantage of the overall ambiance. Each guitar and synth chord progression, intricate basslines, and complex rhythmic pattern is so carefully, thoughtfully, and wisely crafted, placed, and produced, showcasing the marvelous experimentations of a true craftsman. Another thing worth pointing out is how Dubar Sound’s music continuously levitates between modern and retro dub aesthetics, steppers, roots reggae, and electronic manipulations. They all play a significant role in constructing a bigger picture where everything works quite well and invites you to spin this dub masterpiece all over again.

“Dream Reality” should be on your music radar as soon as possible. It’s a record you should not miss if you nurture a deep appreciation for good old dub music. With this record, Dubar Sound positions himself as an innovator in a niche where artists always chase similar sounds and rarely showcase any exploration. In Davor Čizmek’s case, he pushes this genre forward into uncharted territories by delivering ten exceptional compositions that will immediately end up on your next dub gig or party. Highly recommended piece of sonic artistry. Head to the PDV webshop and purchase this gem.