Dub Zoo help lead us through 'Strange Times' with new single, with guest vocals from Mitch Davis

The Sunshine Coast’s purveyors of deep dub and groove, Dub Zoo present their latest offering, ‘Strange Times’; an epic cinematic journey through one of the darkest subplots of the human experience.

‘Strange Times’ is the latest offering from a new era of music for Dub Zoo and the third single from their upcoming first studio album. ‘Strange Times’ (re)introduces Lord MD a.k.a Mitch Davis, a talented vocalist and lyricist who makes his return after an extended break from the music industry. MD’s powerful and emotive performance sets the tone from the first bars of the song. Also featured is Dub Zoo’s own Queen Lizzie who delivers a haunting chorus inspired by the poetry of Hafiz, a mystic Sufi poet who lived during the 14th century in Persia (Iran).

‘Let your intelligence begin to rule whenever you sit with others using this sane idea: Leave all your cocked guns in a field far from us one of those damn things might go off’

- This Sane Idea by Hafiz (1320-1389)

There has always been much debate over whether the poetry of Hafiz should be taken literally or metaphorically and his short poem ‘This Sane Idea’ is a perfect example. Hafiz suggests using this sane idea – leave all your cocked guns in a field far from us. In a time where when we’re experiencing an epidemic of violence and gun crime the literal comparison is obvious, but so too is the metaphor of cocked guns as emotional triggers or preconceived beliefs in an era where opinions are weaponised both to divide and to recruit.

‘Strange Times’ also features a monster guitar solo from guitarist/producer Paddy Kiernan which begins as a mournful melodic journey before descending into a darker expression of anger and frustration. The whole track is underpinned by the heavyweight rhythm section of Bradley ‘B-Dubs’ Wenham on bass and ‘Doctor’ Leon Tussie on drums as well as the haunting ethereal melodies of Lee Hardisty on keys and Queen Lizzie on theremin.

The music video for ‘Strange Times’ takes an atmospheric look at Dub Zoo in the studio. During lockdown, the members all went into the studio separately, one at a time to add their parts. The visuals focus on the juxtaposition between the dark and the light, yin and yang, the masculine and feminine elements of the song and the lyrical journey.

When the Dub Zoo collective went into the studio to start work on this album in 2020, they never intended to make such an introspective record, but it’s said that art can’t help but to react to the environment in which it is created. ‘Strange Times’ is a dark yet hopeful tour de force from a band whose most powerful work is yet to come.

‘Strange Times’ is available now on all digital platforms.