King Tubby's - In Fine Style (Trojan Records) Album Out July 14.

Imagine if the first space flight came not from the cold war super powers but from a tiny island in the Caribbean. Powered by a half-dead battery. In a chasis dreamt up by Oliver Postgate. Well that's exactly what Osbourne Ruddock did in one of Kingston's toughest districts in the 1960s and 1970s. On a rudimentary console, in his King Tubby's alter ego, he set off for outer space. Colelcted on two highly packed discs is a comprehensive overviw of King Tubby's explorations.

Taking off from little more than instrumental extensions, Tubby added sound effects, echo chambers and faders to sepaarate drum and bass from the rest of the song and the use of space and time is truly head turning. The last three tracks on CD one - Youthman, King Tubby's meets Rockers Uptown and Tubby's Dub song - collectively are the tipping point and highlight Augustus Pabnlo's eastern influenced melodica to wonderful effect.

CD two sees further explorations infused with the spirit of Jah. A natural extension of dub into progressive sounds followed. Listen to Conquering version and it's like Gabriel's Genesis struggling to play it straight through a haze of industrial strength sensimilia. Happily, no drugs are required to enjoy this wonderful collection. Enrich your life. Go buy.