In Distillation of Sound: Dub and the Creation of Culture, Eric Abbey provides a rich account of the beginnings of dub from the studios and streets of Jamaica, through its development with the advancement of recording technology, and its ‘distillation,’ or global adaptation, in London, New York, and Japan. . . . Distillation of Sound is well thought out and well researched. Abbey draws from established cultural and music theorists (e.g., Raymond Williams, Simon Frith); Jamaican music scholars (Marvin Sterling, Michael Veal); published interviews (with Erroll Thompson, Dennis Bovell); and his own interviews with producers (Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, Adrian Sherwood, among others), sound system operators (Tony Myers), and Jamaican cultural and music scholars (Donna Hope, Sonjah Stanley Niaah). In short, Distillation of Sound serves as a reader’s guide to a genre that has been incredibly influential despite its relatively small following. Anyone interested in dub would do well to seek it out.
— Popular Music and Society
Distillation of Sound serves as a great introduction to dub as a musical practice and music culture. Although Abbey’s work primarily stems from a musicological and aesthetical analysis perspective, the references to the equipment used in the studios during the production of the records discussed are always interesting. [...] An important contribution to the study of dub music and its cultural impact. Abbey’s passion for the subject is evident throughout, and his detailed analysis of key records and figures in the genre brings new insights into the world of dub. Music scholars, fans of dub and those interested in the interplay between music and technology will undoubtedly find much to appreciate in this insightful work.
— Maël Péneau, Popular Music