Blue House Rockin’ is a unique collaboration between French keys player Soul Sugar and French trio Dub Shepherds (Jolly Joseph, Doctor Charty & Jahno), recorded live over two days at Blue House Studio using vintage analog gear and blending soulful roots reggae and dubby funk, featuring covers and original tracks.
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Blue House Rockin’ is the result of a unique collaboration between Soul Sugar aka French keys player Guillaume Metenier and French trio Dub Shepherds (Jolly Joseph, Doctor Charty and Jahno)— two projects united by a shared love for roots reggae, vintage studio gear, and warm analog sound.
The album was recorded live over two intense days at Blue House Studio by Christophe ‘French kiss’ Adam, using ribbon and tube microphones from the ’50s and ’60s, a Ham-mond organ, upright piano, Fender bass and Gibson guitars, classic amps and preamps, along with drums, syndrums and percussion. The sessions were transferred to a 24-track tape machine, and final mixes were crafted the old- school way by the Dub Shepherds at their own Bat Records Studio, using analog consoles and hardware vintage effects.
The tracklist brings together deep cuts, timeless classics, and original compositions. Curtis Mayfield’s “Give Me Your Love” and Aaron Frazer’s “My God Has a Telephone” (Colemine Records) — two soul gems, one vintage, one modern — are reimagined in reggae style, both featuring the great Jolly Joseph on lead vocals, working wonders with his falsetto. He also shines on “Hold My Hand”, a sweet and mellow original composition with lover’s rock flair, written on the spot during the session.
Other standout moments include the soulful fire of UK singer Shniece McMenamin, who lights up “Family Affair”, originally by Mary J. Blige and Dr. Dre — flipped into a fiery hip-hop-meets-reggae version packed with energy and attitude.
Instrumentals like “Disco Jack”, “Choice of Music”, and “Drum Song” — all originally com-posed by Jamaican organ legend Jackie Mittoo — bring Guillaume ‘Booker G’ Metenier’s Hammond work to the front. The playful exchange between organ, guitar, and a rock-solid rhythm section is elevated by swirling spring reverb, dub echoes, and filter sweeps.
The album’s explosive (almost) title track — “Blue House Rock” — was composed and rec-orded on the spot at the end of the session. A raw, greasy groove that sounds like The Meters jamming at Studio One or a lost instrumental from a Beastie Boys B-side.
Blue House Rockin’ is a vibrant blend of soulful roots reggae and funk, wrapped in the deep, dusty tones of analog tape. A joyful and authentic studio experience, captured live — and played loud.