MAKYO CONJURES HAUNTING DUB REDUX OF TALISMAN’S ‘THINGS AH GET TOUGH’
Tokyo’s sonic alchemist Makyo has unearthed a brooding reimagining of Bristol legends Talisman’s Things Ah Get Tough, and it cuts deep. Released through Dubmission Records, this sparse, bittersweet cover strips the roots reggae classic to its bones while honouring its prophetic soul.
The track’s meditation on corporate greed and societal collapse feels unnervingly prescient. “I’ve listened to this song for years,” Makyo explains, “and it just felt more relevant than ever when I started working on it in 2024, with all the wars, election madness, wildfires, inflation and nuclear posturing.”
Since the early ’90s, Makyo has carved a distinctive path through dub’s undergrowth, collaborating with Bill Laswell, Natacha Atlas, and Muslimgauze. However, this release signals a fresh chapter. After years battling crippling tinnitus and hyperacusis, conditions so severe he couldn’t even listen to music, the producer is rediscovering his craft.
THE MOOD JUST SEEMED TO REFLECT WHERE PEOPLE WERE AT
This haunting interpretation marks the opening salvo in a planned series of covers. Makyo is finding joy revisiting the past while simultaneously forging ahead. Moreover, the timing couldn’t be sharper. His dark, dreamy take transforms Talisman’s warning into something urgently contemporary, a spectral transmission from Bristol’s roots scene, refracted through Tokyo’s underground.
Essential listening for troubled times.
ABOUT MAKYO
Makyo stepped into Tokyo’s electronic underground in the mid-90s and pursued a path shaped by ambient dub and global textures. As his vision grew, he released Rasa Bhava and then pushed further with Shringara and Vismaya.
Soon after, Yakshini revealed his gift for long-form atmospheres with striking vocal work. He moved through deeper moods on Swara Mandala and Purnima. Along the way, he joined key compilations that carried his exploratory sound to wider listeners.
