Review
Genre and Mood
JPattersson’s track Elevator delivers a smooth blend of dub, reggae and electronic influences, wrapped in a laid-back groove that is both relaxed and uplifting. Discogs files its EP under deep house and dub, and that is the mix you hear: a dance pulse with a Caribbean sway.
About the Artist
JPattersson is the project of Johann Beger, an East German producer who calls his style “progadub”, because, as his press text puts it, he is not from Jamaica but from East Germany. He names heavyweight bass lines, Caribbean riddims, vintage groovebox sounds, bicycle rides and kids playing in the street among his inspirations, and some of his tracks add a hint of Balkan music or jazz. He has released on Acker Records and 3000° and remixed for both, and appears on compilations from Iboga Records and Riddim Magazine.
Song Summary
“Elevator” is built on a deep, dub-infused bassline with soft melodies layered above. The interplay between reggae rhythm and electronic production makes the track feel both groovy and effortless, and its unhurried tempo keeps the mood warm. It is the title track of the Rühn EP, released by Acker Records on 22 July 2016, which also includes an “Elevator Dub” and remixes by Dole & Kom and Mollono.Bass.
Sound Breakdown
Intro: Smooth and Simple
The track opens with soft, atmospheric sounds, immediately setting a relaxed tone. A gentle melody weaves in and out, creating an inviting space that pulls listeners into JPattersson’s groove.
Bassline and Rhythm: Dub-Driven Groove
As the track progresses, the dub influences become more apparent. The deep, rolling bassline pairs with an off-beat reggae lilt, and the other parts arrive and retreat around it, so the track feels open even when it is full.
Concepts in Focus
JPattersson’s music descends from dub, the Jamaican studio practice of stripping a record back to drums and bass and treating what is left with echo and drop-outs. Elevator carries that idea into a club setting: the bass is the centre, and much of the interest comes from what is left out. The EP even includes an “Elevator Dub”, a version made by taking the original further in that direction.
The same EP shows the remix at work. Dole & Kom and Mollono.Bass each rebuilt Elevator for longer dance-floor versions of five and a half to more than seven minutes, while the original stays at about three and a half. Hearing all four tracks in a row shows how one idea can be pushed toward deep house or back toward dub.
Everything rests on the bassline. In dub and reggae the bass is not a support but the melody people move to; listen to how it stays steady while the lighter parts float above, and compare the patient bass of DJ Fitchie, Joe Dukie – Midnight Marauders.
Release and Remixes
Elevator was released on the Rühn EP (Acker Records, Germany, 2016), written by JPattersson, with the original, its dub, and the two remixes on one record. The video embedded here was uploaded by the channel Music SENSES rather than by the artist. Elevator later reappeared on the 3000° compilation One World Our Future, and in 2022 as a single on the Gans Anders Festival label. It is a sunny, low-pressure track: put it on, let the bass do the work, and enjoy the ride.
