I just found out today that Cork's greatest record shop Plugd will close it's doors shortly !! It is a huge blow to their  legion of loyal regulars who will be devestated at this news.Jim and Albert not only have one of the best shops in Ireland but are also two of the nicest and most helpful guys one could hope to meet. We need shops like Plugd ,my wife Eileen and I have been introduced to a lot of new music through the guys' recommendations -always spot on. No trip to Ireland's REAL capital is ever complete without a visit to see the lads and pick up new sounds.What can be done to help ? Any ideas ?Let's Not allow this to happen !Go out and buy cds /vinyl in your local independent retailers .They provide a service  beyond any online source ,a service far beyond sales . Simply put they provide us with a sense of community a  sense of being on a mission to find and share great music . It really is up to us to support our local /independent retailers.Hold on in there Jim and Albert ,you guys have huge amount of support among music lovers in Cork and all over the country.

Dub a sub-genre of Reggae, has become an entity of its own. It's influence on hip-hop,trip-hop,techno and general rock music cannot be underestimated.A dub record from Co Kerry is a rarity ,but this new offering is catchy and charming.Created by writer James kennedy and acclaimed studio engineer Tony O'Flaherty,Like River To Ocean is a delightful fusion of ambient sounds ,jazz and reggae.
There's an organic feel to this music,despite the fact that the project relies on studio effects,with echo and reverberation to the fore .Kennedy's bass and guitars ,plus reliable percussion ,lay down a solid vibe enhanced by brass,keyboards,and sporadic etheral vocals.With strong melodies adding to the appeal,Avatar are surely on a winner with this their second release.
A sublime trumpet line pilots the opening track,Sunrise Dub,through calm and tranquil musical waters ,while Joyful Dub does just what it says on the tin-it's a ska infused floor-filler.The title track chugs along with an infectious beat ,supporting an inspiring flute /guitar/trombone lead melody.
Mellowness Dub segues seamlessly back and forth,from a tune like The Archies Sugar Sugar to what sounds suspiciously like Bob Marley's I Don't Want To Wait In Vain .Throughout,earthy and simple grooves abound,accentuating Kennedy's obvious gift for melody. At all times ,the brass section lends a richness of tone.Original,tuneful,danceable,and highly entertaining,Like River To Ocean is a most enriching experience.(Gerry Quinn/Irish Examiner 17th Oct 09). 

I am delighted to say that our new cd 'Like River To Ocean' is finaly available on cd baby !Just press on the button and it should bring you directly to the cdbaby site !I hope anyone who buys the album will enjoy it !!It is a genuine 'Labour of Love '.Once again thank you to all who bought Summa Iru ,your support is greatly appreciated !Love and Light ,James!!!!Ps I can now start on cd no.3!

Influences

On the Dub and Reggae front :King Tubby ;Scientist;Jammy(Prince/King);Agustus Pablo; Joe Gibbs ; TETRACK;The Wailers ;The Gladiators;Joe Higgs; Horace Andy : Lee Perry ; The Wailing Souls ; Israel Vibration; The Congos ;Max Romeo; Soul Syndicate ; The Aggrovators ; Dub Syndicate ; Black Uhuru;LKJ;Ryan Moore /Twilight Circus;Big Youth;Johnny Clarke;Sizzla;Sly and Robbie ;Dennis Brown ;Don Drummond ;Rico;Tapper Zukie;The Skatalites;Dr.Alimantado;Prince Buster ;Denis Bovell/Blackbeard/Matumbi;Steel Pulse ;Aswad;The Roots Radics;The Mighty Diamonds;Burning Spear; The Upsetters;Jah Wobble; U Roy;I Roy;The Heptones;Yabba You;and all the greats!Jazzwise:Miles Davis ;Chet Baker;Art Pepper;Cannonball Adderly;Ben Webster;Clifford Brown and many more!Special mention goes out to legendary Kerry Drummer Richard (Dick )O'Shea .
BASSwise:(Reggae Dub Ska ) Familyman Barrett ;Val Douglas ;Lloyd Parks ;Flabba Holt ;Fully Fulwood ;Bagga Walker ;Robbie Shakespear;Jackie Jackson;Lloyd Brevett;Boris Gardiner; Jah Wobble;Denis Bovell;Leroy Sibbles and many more !All other styles: James Jamerson ;Pino Palladino ;John Giblin ;John Paul Jones;Francis Rocco Prestia ;Bernard Edwards;George Porter;Chuck Rainey;and  many more !
One thing all of these Bassists have in common is their unwavering Dedication to the Groove ;all these guys could sit in a pocket all night long while laying the foundation for countless classic recordings !RASpect for this wonderful Bass Culture ;shake walls ,move feet on the dancefloor ! Irie Vibrations for the  Healing of  All Nations !BOOM BOOM n OUT !

A toad who lived in a well was once visited by a toad who lived in the sea .'How big is your well?'asked the first toad ,'Is it as vast as mine?'.The second toad smiled and tried to explain,'My well is so huge that it has no edges.It contains so much water that it could never run dry in a million hot summers.It is so deep that perhaps it has no bottom.'The first toad looked incredulous,'You are either boasting or your imagination has run away with itself!'he complained.
'Come with me said the second sea toad and I will show you.'
                                                                                       (An old Hindu teaching story )

                               The Supreme Wisdom is 
                               the Oneness of things;
                               the Supreme Compassion
                               is the Manyness of things.
                                                                   (DT Suzuki Zen Master)

'Like the bee gathering honey from different flowers,the wise man(woman) accepts the essence of different scriptures and sees only the good in all religions.'
                                                          (The Srimad Bhagavatam--The Wisdom of God).

'Abandon the search for God and the creation and other similar matters.Look for Him by taking yourself as the starting point .Learn who it is within you who makes everything his own and says:'My God ,my thought ,my soul ,my body.' Learn the source of sorrow ,joy ,love ,hate....If you carefuly investigate these matters you will find God in your Self.
             (Gnostic Master Monoimus)

                     ' The experience of beauty is the discovery of unity in variety.'
                                                                                 (Samuel Taylor Coleridge)

'Christ could be born a thousand times in Galilee---but all in vain until He is born in me .'
                                                                                             (Angelus Silesius)