The melodica is a children’s instrument, the technological offspring of a tiny keyboard and a saxophone, which produces a sound more reminiscent of the union between an accordion and a harmonica. I remember the one in my pre-kindergarten class being oft-chosen by whatever kid had first pick of toys for the day---thankfully for all the lovers of dub and reggae music out there, Mr. Augustus Pablo never put his down. Eschewing the more common trend within dub to be spacey and effects-laden, the style of dub that Pablo created always comes across as more mature and meditative in nature. He envelops the listener in breezy harmonies, his trusty melodica taking the place of sung vocals and almost coming across like a gentler version of someone whistling or humming a tune. If Tubby was the king of dub, then Augustus Pablo was without doubt the head priest!
