Rhombus In Dub @ Meow Cafe

A lot of you reading probably know Rhombus from ‘Clav Dub’, a song from around 2002. However, that was eight years ago; which is a long time. Circa May 2010, Rhombus have spent the last two so years performing in a configuration they call Rhombus In Dub.

Rhombus In Dub is a live performance trio made up of Rhombus beatmakers Thomas and Simon, and their manager/live DJ Koa; who some of you will remember from The Roots Foundation.

In Rhombus In Dub, Simon and Thomas utilize a mixture of keyboards, samplers, laptops, mixing desks and effects pads to re-create the Rhombus studio experience live. Koa compliments this soundscape by Djing on turntables and CD-Js (aka CD turntables). As Rhombus In Dub, Thomas, Simon and Koa have had the luxury of performing to sell-out crowds across New Zealand and Australia, and even as far afield as Japan. Working in this format they’ve also had the pleasure of writing songs with respected English-Jamaican singers and rappers such as Rodney P, Warrior Queen and Deadly Hunta.

Rhombus in Dub are currently touring New Zealand to promote their new promo CD, Rhombus In Dub: Volume 1. You can hear (and also download) some of the music here. In a way, Rhombus In Dub is actually a return to Rhombus’ roots back in the early 2000s, when they were a two-piece (Simon and Thomas) live electronica act.

What I like about Rhombus In Dub is the way it allows the listener to recontextualise their view of Rhombus’ signature dub’n’bass sound. The low end pressure and dubbing effects are emphasized; and teamed up with vocal performances from world-class overseas artists, it becomes clear that Rhombus still have plenty of tricks tucked away. Check them out this Saturday night at Meow Cafe on Edward Street in Wellington.