Vibronics

Vibronics is a dub and reggae group from Leicester, United Kingdom, active since 1995. The project centres on Boney L, with Steve Vibronics also named in the group’s early history and studio work. Their music is built for sound system play and combines roots reggae, dub and electronically sequenced production.

Early development

The project begins when Steve Vibronics is inspired by the meeting of Aba-Shanti-I Sound System and digitally sequenced music. In 1995 he sets up a home studio with basic equipment including a worn 16-track mixer, reverb and echo units, a pair of synthesizers and an Atari computer, with recordings mixed down to cassette. Vibronics is introduced to the UK dub pioneers Zion Train in 1996, which leads to a long-running association with the Universal Egg label.

Releases, collaborations and live work

After appearing on the Egg Files compilation in 1997, Vibronics contributes “Awakenings”, described as the first commercially released track by the group. The same period brings an invitation to join the Universal Egg Experience, a four-week European tour with 22 dates in four countries. Deep Root, a Universal Egg subsidiary focused on roots 7-inch releases, then issues “Jah Light Jah Love”, a downbeat seppa track associated with earlier dubplate versions played by Jah Shaka Sound System.

In 1998 Vibronics records Outernational Dub Convention with dub activist Jah Free. Jah Free provides vocal tunes, while Vibronics contributes six low-fidelity, bass-heavy dubplates. The album leads to a year of live dub conventions with Jah Free and MC Richi Rootz across the UK and Europe, including dates in Southend, London, Summerjam and Lowlands.

Studio, label and albums

By this stage the studio becomes the Bathysphere, a Leicester-based joint venture where collaborations take place with Alpha and Omega, Wayne McArthur, The Disciples, The Dub Factory, Jah Free and Zion Train. The voice of Boney L becomes more central on the singles “On Jah Side” and “Positive Direction”, both of which sell out quickly and help establish the group in the roots scene. Live performances expand to include Boney, Steve Vibronics, Richi Rootz and melodica player Vitamin M.

The first full album under the Vibronics name, Dub Italizer, is recorded in February 2000 in the Bathysphere studio using a G4 Mac, a Soundcraft Ghost mixer and a range of other equipment. It includes Boney’s “Jah Music”, which is singled out as a notable track, and leads to performances in Helsinki, Warsaw and Lisbon as well as regular UK shows in Glasgow, Brighton and Leicester.

In late 2000 Steve and Richi form the SCOOPS label while touring in France. The name comes from the Scooped bass bin, reflecting the group’s focus on powerful sound system bass. The label’s first release features a vocal by Tena Stelin, voiced at Disiples Backyard studio and mixed and arranged at Bathysphere in Leicester.

In 2004 Vibronics releases Dubliftment, described as a more developed dub record. It features contributions from Madu, Boney, Vitamin M and Stevie Splitz, and is mixed and produced in the Vibronics Vibrations studio, which uses modern computer hardware alongside vintage dub effects.