TICKLAH VS. AXELROD is Ticklah's third full-length solo album, following Polydemic (1997) and Hi-Fidelity Dub Sessions: Roots Combination (2001). Beyond these critically acclaimed releases, Ticklah has had a huge impact on a number of important groups and records in the past decade. He is a founding member of the Easy Star All-Stars, with whom he co-produced Dub Side of the Moon; he played keyboards on that release and contributed to its follow up, Radiodread. He has played keys with Antibalas since 1999, co-writing and co-producing much of that celebrated Afrobeat band's output since joining the group. He collaborated on hit remixes with DJ Spinna and was an original member of Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings. He appeared on a number of Mark Ronson productions, including tracks with Robbie Williams, Lily Allen and Amy Winehouse's Back To Black album, including the mega-hit "Rehab." In the midst of all of these projects, he kept coming back to his personal labor of love, finishing the tracks that became this record.
Ticklah plays multiple instruments on TICKLAH VS. AXELROD, in addition to collaborating with members of Antibalas, the Victor Rice Octet, the Easy Star All-Stars and Dub Is A Weapon. The production is heavy on dub effects and experimentation, especially on the instrumentals "Two Face" and "Descent." He also calls on a number of friends to add vocals, including reggae stars Mikey General and Rob Symeonn, Vinia Mojica (best known for her work with De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest and Jungle Brothers), Tamar-Kali (of the Easy Star All-Stars), and Mayra Vega (who sang on Antibalas' "Che Che Cole" single). Two highlights are reggae re-interpretations of Eddie Palmieri salsa classics: the ultra-catchy "Mi Sonsito" and the sultry "Si Hecho Palante."
TICKLAH VS. AXELROD is a hip dub chill-out record that defies expectations at every turn. It is the epitome of the Brooklyn dub underground, a scene that has quietly influenced reggae, electronica and even pop music for the past decade or more.
TRACK LISTING
1. Two Face (23:11)
2. Want Not (19:53)
3. Scratch To Win (19:02)
4. Mi Sonsito (7:07)
5. Rescue Me (18:36)
6. Pork eater (18:04)
7. Nature Loving Dub (9:31)
8. Descent (19:28)
9. Si Hecho Palante (25:06)
10. Answer Me (14:11)
11. Queen Dub (17:51)
12. Deception (20:19)
13. Nine Year (17:06)
