ZamZam is proud to present a massive and mighty steppers tune from Ariel Tagar, better known to the worlds of reggae and electronic music as Kalbata.
Instantly addictive, “Brimstone & Lightning” is a collaboration between Kalbata and a veteran yet little-known Jamaican producer called Leon Electronics. Kalbata’s legendary reggae obsession led him to seek Leon out with the intention of rereleasing an obscure tune of his from the 80’s. After months of searching, Kalbata managed to track Leon down in Kingston Jamaica and met with him while recording his celebrated ‘Congo Beat The Drum’ LP. Going through the tapes at Boris Gardiner’s studio, the pair stumbled on this unfinished tune. Leon dismissed it, but Kalbata became obsessed with the rough gem, so Leon gave him his blessings to finish, cut and release it. Started in Jamaica in 1990 and finished in Tel Aviv last year, the 100% analog mix is like a message from the future to the past brought forth in the miracle of the present – a pounding steppers whose kick, bass & space dynamics have to be heard to be believed.
Voiced on the original tape from 1990, the identity of the vocalist remains a mystery, forgotten even by Leon Electronics. But he lives again in this scorcher of a tune, at 160 bpm one of the most relentless yet buoyant steppers you will ever hear.
Released last week of September 2015. Limited to 800 copies. No digital. No repress. Design & screen print by Polygon Press.