Channel One Sound System: Roots and Culture At Village Underground

Photo by the author.

For over half a century, Channel One Sound System has carried the fire of the Caribbean sound system movement: reviving dub and reggae whilst passing the culture's communal spirit onto new generations.

Of course, music is always more than just entertainment. The group have been at the core of translating dub music into a political language; echoing resilience and featuring lyrics that call for justice and repatriation. And exactly that rich history translates into the authentic energy they conjured at the Village Underground as part of their ongoing residency series.

Walking into the repurposed concrete warehouse, the Rastafarian vibe of the room was glowing. A stall for Caribbean food, dub plates and vinyls being sold, red and green lights warming the space: you know this isn't their first time bringing people together to heat up a dance floor. 

The crowd was an endearing mix of sound system lovers of all age groups (but of course lovers in the relaxed, cool type you'd associate with reggae) - a real coming together. This oneness was at its peak in the collective swaying and rocking throughout the dance floor. Then again, what else do you do when tracks like Ezra Collective's 'Ego Killah' reverberate around you?

With Mikey Dread swiping through the dub plates and Ras Kayleb as the MC in the centre of the room, the two are a perfect match. In between rasta lyrics, rolling bass melodies and bubble-esque keyboard sounds, Ras spreads words of peace and love with an echo pedal cranked up high at just the right moments. "Roots and culture". Yes, exactly that.

But, it would be wrong to review Channel One Sound System without paying homage to their custom stacks - tuned for clarity and physical impact. The 18-inch subwoofers definitely know how to do their job, providing a clean, rounded bass that makes you feel like you're swimming in sound. Rightfully so, the mid boxes don’t just give volume, but also balance. Sat on top you’ve got the tweeters, which deliver the special crispness you need to pump out tambourine sounds drenched in reverb. 

A highlight of the evening was Danny Red's 'Zion' - a track that embodies the deep, spiritual nature of reggae music. Exploring themes of black liberation movements and Rastafarian faith, only a sound system like this one can do it justice. Smiles and open arms danced around the room.

Music always has a message, and Channel One Sound System embodies that: breaking down barriers through reggae music. Unity wasn't just chanted by the MC, it was felt in the whole room. It’s safe to say, they know how to get their message across, and more importantly, how to drive it into the future for the next generation of sound system culture lovers.

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Edited by Gia Dei, Co-Music editor