We Are Many Versions

Having released nine albums over the course of twenty years, Afro-dub specialists Soothsayers are something of a South London musical institution. Their most recent opus, entitledWe Are Many, was released in late 2020 and was recorded in both London and Sao Paulo. The result was a fascinating blend of the band's trademark dub and Afrobeat flavours mixed with some distinctly Brazilian inflections. Not only that, it represented a positive and uplifting statement in challenging times - the overriding power of the music leading the band to continue forward, ever pushing their musical boundaries and concepts. The album received much support from a host of DJs onBBC 6Music, as well as reggae legendDavid Rodigan,Jazz FMandWorldwide FM.

"It's complex, also fun, tickling your ears in all the right spots… Let Soothsayers soundtrack your journey across the winter and bring melodic colour to steely days ahead."Backseat Mafia

"An album that only feels like it could arrive in 2020. It is of the times and for the times."Louder Than War

As we set forth in 2022, and with clubs reopening and dance floors refilling across the globe, we thought it was time to revisit the album and let a selection of our favourite producers interpret it in their own way. We've also taken the opportunity to unleash a number of previously unreleased dubs from the LP. The remixes and dubs come together in the form ofWe Are Many Versions, with re-interpretations coming not only from the reggae world, with acts likeGeneral Roots,Prince Fattyand DarrenJamtoneadding their own dubby DNA to the mix, but also the forward thinking worldwide electronic scene, with rising stars likeDutchie,Lawn,K3:lu,Samuel Sharpand family membersIll ConsideredandWu-Lucontributing with more eclectic offerings. In addition, well respected U.S. producerVictor Riceis also on board with a number of never heard before mixes and dubs that add a distinctly tropical touch to the Soothsayers sound.

Kicking the album off, London reggae donsGeneral Rootsre-work the always upliftingLove And Unitywith band members James Mckone (Bass), Joe Price (Guitar) and Cyrus Richard (Keys) tracking new parts live in the studio. The result, mixed by band leader Ben Mckone, takes the tune into more rootsy territories and provides a sultry alternative to the inspiritive original.

The Truth & Lies mix ofWe Won't Lose Hopeby Brighton based reggae royaltyPrince Fattywas released as a single early last year and caused something of a stir on BBC 6Music and beyond. With keys from none other than British soul legendOmar, those stunning vocals from Soothsayers' very ownJulia Biel, and a message that's sadly just as relevant this year as it was in 2021, Fatty's mix is a timeless and thought provoking beauty.

"A vibrant new dub treatment from Prince Fatty"Steve Lamacq (BBC 6Music)

One Step Awayis the first of several re-works on offer from legendary Nuyorican producer (now based in Brazil)Victor Rice. Having been instrumental in the recording of theWe Are ManyLP (much of which took place in Sao Paulo, Brazil) Rice had a number of alternate mixes and dubs tucked away which we're now able to share with you on this album. As well as this raw and rugged mix, Victor lays down a very special, spaced out dub of not only this track, but of album favouritesRat Race,RollingandLove And Unitytoo.

On that tip, DarrenJamtone- erstwhile producer for our other reggae and dub outfitResonators- is also on hand to provide a pair of gorgeously deep dubs ofWe Won't Lose HopeandNo Sacrifice; the latter of which also receives a stunning remix from one of UK's most exciting, burgeoning music-makers.

Young Bristol based producer and DJDutchiesteps up to the plate, reinterpretingNo Sacrificefor the more modern, discerning dance floor. Shades of jungle, dubstep and bruk echo throughout her production taking Robin Hopcraft's pleaful vocals into new spaces and places.

Light The Way, featuring the amazing Senegalese singerModou Toure, who performs the song in the Wolof language, was a big favourite from theWe Are Manyalbum. Modou's lead vocals, combined with Soothsayers' harmonies, layered trumpets and a flute improvisation, created a rich and evocative tapestry of sound. It's a lament on the suffering in the world, and a call for love and light to show us the way out of the darkness.

K3:luis the alter ego of established guitarist, remixer and producer, Patrick Hatchett. His remix manages to subtly and respectfully take the original to the dance floor. A process best explained by Hatchett himself:

"Whilst in the depths of a strict and isolating West Cork lockdown, I escaped my 2km restrictions, crossed borders, met with old friends and transported myself to a place of positive, connected and uplifting vibes, adding my own little nod to disco, 70's Afro-funk, free parties of the 90s and dancing at dawn in this remix."

Elsewhere,Move In Silenceis remixed by up-and-coming South London duoLawn. Formed in 2019, Lawn is a collaboration between multi-instrumentalists and friends, Joe Nicklin and Joe Martin. Combining live, acoustic drums with electronic and synthesised elements, their music fuses their love for jazz, disco, psyche and hip hop. The pair released their debut singleTinaon our sister label Allison Recordings in 2021, and they were very keen to get their teeth into this remix ahead of more releases this year. "Move In Silenceis our favourite track on the record. We love how the vocals grow in intensity but then soften and refrain in all the right places. It was amazing to work with a part that offered so much range in feel that in the end it almost became a guide for how we should shape our arrangement. Our music is usually a mixture of electronic sounds and live drums. With lots of organic instrumentation and vocals to work with from the original, we felt we had to go heavy on the synths to make our remix really sound like a Lawn tune."

Another producer, this time from the other side of London, who's making waves with his productions is woodwind playerSamuel Sharp. His full blown rework of the album's title trackWe Are Manyis already something of an underground hit on the dance floors of the capital. After rejigging the pitch and speeding up the tempo Sharp reuses many elements of the original. These include the horn section's melodies and rhythmic patterns, a newly warped melting pot of the original synth parts and some select chops of the drums. He then crafts a fresh groove around a pulsating sax bass line with live percussion, beats and analogue synths as the track builds towards the vibrant climax, leaving us with a haunting piano bed and woodwind quartet to finish things off. Here you'll find a contemporary yet club-friendly piece that sits well within the recent UK jazz scene, encapsulating the raw energy of the original while taking things in a whole new direction.

And talking of the UK jazz scene, highly regarded ensembleIll Consideredcome through with something very special via their reworking of the anthemicSlave. The core trio of bassist Liran Donin, drummer Emre Ramazanoglu and Soothsayers saxophonist and frontman Idris Rahman mix the track with one of their more recent songs, entitledDervish. As Idris explains: "Combining the two sets of stems together resulted in a surprisingly coherent blend of raw energy that adds depth to both tracks.Dervishwas improvised over a pre-written bassline in 7/4, whilstSlavewas written collaboratively by Soothsayers' three vocalists, Idris, Robin and Julia, about rising inequality, unpaid corporate tax, the injustices of low-pay zero hours contract jobs versus the rising wealth of the billionaires who profit.Dervishwas created after six months of covid lockdowns and expresses some of the anger and frustrations of this time in a raw, unbridled burst of energy. Both tunes share a similar uncompromising attitude, and putting them together was something that just seemed to work. Emre Ramazanoglu's mix (and subtle addition of some Middle Eastern percussion) is raw and deep, and the combined firepower of drums from Kwake Bass and Ramazanoglu give this a brutal punch."

And rounding things off, family member and rapidly rising starWu-Lu is something of a silent partner in the Soothsayers band. Here, he joins the fray to add some bottom end to the band's very own refit ofMove In SIlence. With a more urgent and percussive feel, this short but beautifully formed version provides yet another hue and level of intensity to this wonderfully diverse collection.