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Elijah Minnelli, known for his unique blend of folk and dub, has captivated listeners with “wheezy, forlorn odes” to his hometown, Breadminster. His debut album, ‘Perpetual Musket,’ was critically acclaimed, with KLOF Mag noting it would make listeners “never think about reggae or folk music in the same way again.” Now, a new chapter unfolds with The Alien Dub Orchestra: Plays the Breadminster Songbook (September 19th, 2025 – Alien Transistor), an album that breathes new life into Minnelli’s cumbia-infused dub reggae.
The collaboration began in 2022 when Minnelli was invited to remix tracks for The Notwist. This led to a burgeoning relationship with the Munich music scene, culminating in the formation of The Alien Dub Orchestra (a ragtag collective of Bavarian musicians, featuring members of The Notwist and G.Rag y los hermanos Patchekos). The seeds were sown during a Notwist support gig, where musicians joined Minnelli for an encore, reinterpreting his dub remixes with an eclectic array of instruments including guiro, accordion, melodica, sousaphone, and trumpet. Minnelli found it “quite overwhelming” to hear “competent professionals” interpret his work, calling it “a real joy and privilege.”
The resulting album showcases the shared musical vision between Minnelli and the Orchestra. Tracks are reimagined with fuller instrumentation, expanding their sonic possibilities. The tactile nature of the music is evident on ‘Vine and Fig Tree,’ where layered vocals and a bassline transform into a cavorting sousaphone.
The album’s second half features dub versions of the Orchestra’s renditions, with Minnelli joined by Raimund Wong, known for his ambitious live sets. Their collaboration, fueled by a shared love of dub, resulted in one-take dubs where Minnelli rode the faders and Wong supplied chaotic, unique effects. ‘Pundit Dub,’ for instance, stretches the material into a new, psychedelic realm, highlighting the benefits of “recycling sound.” This album is a profound love letter to folk tradition, dub ideology, and the joy of uninhibited collaboration.
Featuring:
Elijah Minnelli – voc, guiro, perc.
Philip Gross – accordion, meldodica
Cico beck – electronics
Sascha Schwegeler – congas, steel drum, perc.
Micha Acher – sousaphone, trumpet
Markus Acher – drums, voc.
Dub mixes performed live by Elijah Minnelli & Raimund Wong at Breadminster County Council Studios
The Alien Dub Orchestra: Plays the Breadminster Songbook (September 19th, 2025) Alien Transistor
Pre-Order via Bandcamp: https://thealienduborchestra.bandcamp.com/album/plays-the-breadminster-songbook
