Ticklah vs. Axelrod


Ticklah vs. Axelrod is the third full-length solo album released September 2007 on Easy Star Records by musician, producer, engineer and DJ, Victor Axelrod aka Ticklah of New York City. The album features guest vocals by reggae stars Mickey General and Rob Symeonn, Tamar-kali, Mayra Vega and Vinia Mojica. This album features instrumental contributions from members of Antibalas, Easy Star All-Stars and Dub Is A Weapon as well as fellow New York dub musician/producer Victor Rice. Ticklah vs. Axelrod was recorded and engineered at Don't Trip Studios in Brooklyn, New York. The final track "Nine Years" was featured in an episode of Breaking Bad.

Song composition

Ticklah has created his own kind of dub record with Ticklah vs. Axelrod. The dub production is obvious in its heavy use of dub effects and experimentation employing heavy reverb, delay and effects however, Ticklah also approaches each song composition, paying close attention to each individual component of reggae music to craft each song: rhythm, melody, harmonies, arrangement and sound. There are also unique dub twists found within the album; The melody on “Answer Me” was inspired by a simple piano piece by the innovative 20th-century Russian composer Vladimir Rebikov. A ska twist can be heard in the Latin track, "Mi Sonsito," as well as a reggae interpretation of another Eddie Palmieri Latin classic "Si Hecho Palante."

Track listing

  1. Two Face
  2. Want Not
  3. Scratch To Win
  4. Mi Sonsito
  5. Rescue Me
  6. Pork Eater
  7. Nature Loving Dub
  8. Descent
  9. Si Hecho Palante
  10. Answer Me
  11. Queen Dub
  12. Deception
  13. Nine Years

Vinyl releases

There have been two 7" single vinyl releases from this album. The first single released in 2008 of “Rescue Me” has an unreleased, non-album dub version of the song on the B-side, called “Rockers Salvation.” The second single released in 2009 is a limited edition pressing of "Pork Eater" with an instrumental version on the B-side.