High Tone

High Tone

High Tone is a dub group from Lyon, France, active since 1997. The group develops a style that combines traditional dub with drum’n’bass, hip-hop and oriental influences, and it also uses turntables and samples alongside guitar, drums and bass guitar.

Early work and recording history

The group begins by self-producing vinyl EPs, including Bot Bud Seasons and Low Tone, before signing to Jarring Effects. Its first full album, Opus Incertum, appears in 2000 and is issued on vinyl and CD with national distribution. In 2001, High Tone releases Bass Temperature, which includes new material and reissues the first two productions on one disc.

Collaborations and releases

High Tone becomes known for collaborative releases with other dub acts and related artists. These include work with Kaly Live Dub, Improvisators Dub, Wang Lei and Zenzile, as well as projects titled Kaltone, Higvisators, Wangtone and Zentone. The group also releases Acid Dub Nucleik, Live, Wave Digger, Re-processed number 1 and Dub Invaders, all on Jarring Effects.

Style and membership

High Tone is associated with the French dub scene and with novo dub, a branch of dub music it helps establish. The line-up includes Aku Fen, Dino, Fabasstone, High Damage, Zentone, Led Piperz, Natural High Dubs and Twelve. In earlier line-ups, Julien Oresta performs as Aku Fen, Fabrice Oresta plays bass guitar, Dominique Peter performs as Selekta Dino, Lionel Dumas performs as Dj Twelve, and Antonin Chaplin appears as Antok on keyboards.

Label affiliation

The group records on Jarring Effects for much of its catalogue and is also associated with Black Dub.