Dialog - DOT 4 (feat. Benji) - Dialog DOT Records

Dub Techno is so back!
Marked by Paul St. Hilaire’s new nine-tracker album, released on Kynant w/ The Producers at the end of September 2025. Few have shaped this sonic aesthetic like Tikiman, infusing mechanical yet atmospheric Dub Techno beats with unique, Reggae-rooted vocals. But the new dawn of this genre brings a bunch of new producers and vocalists. The production and live performance collaboration between Finnish producer Rasmus Hedlund and Dutch artist Samuel van Dijk (well known for his output as VC-118, Multicast Dynamics and others) is a good example.

Following their debut release, a wonderful Dub-infused 2x12 journey on Ambient institution Astral Industries, they teamed up with Jamaican vocalist Benji in 2023. Their mix of meditative Dub sounds and hypnotic murmur-improvisations really resonated deeply. Since DOT 1, three releases followed, again with Benji but also his vocalist partner Josei and, lately, an instrumental live recording from French Pe:rsona festival. Now they return with a new release on their own imprint DOT, which stands for Dialog Of Thoughts. On DOT 4, they are again joined by Benji.

Chant binds together a minimalistic Dub Techno jam and Benji’s poignant chants, which encourage the listener to raise their voices and strengthen their self-belief.  Heavy Bass and sustained horns in the distance on the one hand and empowering lyrics on the other hand work in perfect harmony on this tune. On Chant’s version, the Dub Chors and several delayed sounds stand out even more.

Silence is a dreamy halftime stepper that really draws you into its sonic depths. Slow but clear drum work is surrounded by warm bass and bubbling sounds, whereas levitating, moving chords meet Benji’s emotive soaring vocals. The Version drifts even deeper into the hypnotic and wonderful submerge into the abyss. Scape feels like a reminiscence of their (previously noted) AI-record, which is the essence of meditation, now where crackles, bubbles synths and sparse shakers find their way into the center of attention.
By releasing all Silence versions with (nearly) the exact same duration as the vocal tracks, the synergy between Dialog and Benji is brought to the fore, allowing for a deeper appreciation of every fine detail. This approach also honors the heritage of Reggae and Dub in an authentic way, inviting the listener to drift deep into the sonic abyss of their collaborative work.