High Tone

French dub collective High Tone formed in Lyon in 1997. Co-founded by Lionel “DJ Twelve” Dumas, guitarist Julien “Aku Fen” Oresta, bassist Fabrice Oresta, keyboardist Antonin “Antok” Chaplin, and drummer Dominique “Selekta Dino” Peter, the quintet emerged from the same burgeoning dub community as Le Peuple de l'Herbe, Brain Damage Sound System, and Meï Teï Shô. Drawing upon influences ranging from Lee "Scratch" Perry to ambient music to drum’n’bass, High Tone developed a rabid live fan base prior to signing to the independent label Jarring Effects to release its 2000 full-length debut, Opus Incertum. The 2001 follow-up, Bass Temperature, proved the group’s commercial breakthrough, although Live, issued two years later, remains the definitive representation of their music. High Tone also issued a series of acclaimed collaborations with dub brethren including Kaly Live Dub (2003′s Kaltone), Improvisator Dub (2004′s Higvistators), and Wang Lei (2005′s Wangtone). ~ Jason Ankeny