Though the psychedelic, electronic music world in which Interchill Records founded itself was never very far from dub, it's still surprising to see how strongly and effectively the label has jumped into dub music. It seems like it all started with the release of work by UK reggae and dub artist Gaudi, but showing us their dedication to the roots sound comes Ashtech with his debut solo album "Walkin' Target". Even though this is his first solo endeavor, this is far from Ashtech's first work and his musical experience definitely displays itself.

1. DNA
2. Imaginary World
3. Earthforce
4. While the Music Plays
5. Essential Credential
6. R.E.M.
7. Sun Shines On You
8. Individuality
9. Walkin' Target
10. Plain Speaking
11. Beat da Drum Gringo!
12. Mahayana
13. Buzz Dub

Among the 13 tracks on Walkin' Target you may recognize the voice of an MC who calls himself Cheshire Cat. If either his voice or name don't ring any bells for you, he was among the contributing vocalists, alongside Roots Manuva and Afrika Bambaataa, on Leftfield's second and final (but no less astounding) album Rhythm And Stealth.

If the style of sound manipulations and engineering quality of Ashtech's music feels familiar it's because Interchill's dub maestro Gaudi both produced and co-wrote the music.

On the instrumental tracks you're going to hear deep, bassy chillers that are sure to put your mind at ease, riding on slowly undulating basslines and percussion that rolls with a meandering pace that's sure to coincide with your slowly nodding head.

As Ashtech's muted guitar melodies play out beneath percussive hits that echo into space at their own free will, you'll hardly realize time's been passing until you reach the third track, "Earthforce". This is the first track with vocals, but besides this auditory cue to wake up, the beats come in heavy and are backed with some nice pulsing synth bass. In truth it reminds a lot of Leftfield's sound, though it is ever so slightly less edgy. Cheshire Cat's vocals give this one a really nice build.

After that, we drop back into the rub-a-dub rhythms, surfacing only every once in a while with a vocal track. Even though there are only four songs here with vocals they are spaced out so perfectly, and make such an impact, you're as likely to finish the album feeling like it was a nice trip through instrumental, electronic dub as you are to feel as if every track was graced by Cheshire Cat's MC skills.

As a demonstration of Ashtech's experience as a musician, Walkin' Target takes its time to unfold with some of its most memorable tracks, like "Beat da Drum Gringo!" and "Walkin' Target" not coming in until you're well into the second half of the album. Maybe they're just so memorable because of the vocals? No matter, this is a really nice trip through Ashtech's electronic dub sound.

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