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All Music Guide:
Multimedia acid-dub collective Zion Train comprised vocalist Molara, DJ/bassist Neil Perch, trumpeter David Tench, melodica player Colin Cod and trombonist Chris. Formed in North London in 1990, its members initially came together as a dub sound system; their first single, the limited-edition roots 7" "Power One" (issued on their own Zion Records imprint), immediately sold out, while its follow-up "Power Two" was a major favorite at shaka dances throughout 1992. For their next effort, Zion Train teamed with Studio One vet Devon Russell to remake his cult classic "Jah Holds the Key" -- the group's most successful record to date; it garnered airplay throughout Europe and led to the release of their debut LP, the mellow dub outing Passage to Indica.
Concurrent with a series of remixes including tracks from the Shamen, Chumbawamba, Afro Celt Sound System, Junior Reid and Loop Guru, Zion Train issued with their next single, the acid house-inspired "Follow Like Wolves." The acclaimed Natural Wonders of the World in Dub was next, debuting in the Top 20 of the U.K. indie charts; A series of limited-edition EPs recorded in collaboration with Knights of the Occasional Table, Diatribe, Conscious and Trancemasters followed in 1994, and were later collected on the Siren LP. After signing with the China label in early 1995, Zion Train issued the single "Get Ready," trailed a few months later by the full-length Homegrown Fantasy. After 1996's Grow Together, they returned the following summer with the two-disc hits collection Single Minded and Alive. Love Revolutionaries followed in mid-00.
Wikipedia:
Zion Train are a British dub reggae ensemble (not to be confused with Bob Marley's Zion Train). Initially formed in Oxford as a sound system in 1988 by Neil Perch and Ben Hamilton, Colin Cod and Dave Tench joined in 1990 upon relocation to London. The line-up was added to with vocalist Molara in 1992. Their initial releases were the 7" singles "Power One" and "Power Two", which became hits on the dub scene in the early 1990s. In 1992 they released the groundbreaking 'Follow Like Wolves' single which fused Dub and Acid House styles and spawned their reputation as innovators. Their second album, Natural Wonders of the World in Dub, hit the UK indie charts in 1994 and was followed by several small-issue EPs. Additionally, they worked on remixes for The Shamen, Afro Celt Sound System, Loop Guru, Kava Kava and others. They released both vinyl and CD material on their own label, Universal Egg, until 1995, when they signed with China Records. They returned to their own label in 1999. Much of their back catalog was reissued in 2005.
Lately, their early albums, such as A Passage To Indica, have been cited as primary influences on the minimal techno and minimal dub genres. There was a bitter feud within the band beginning around 2001, which led to Neil Perch continuing the band with an almost new line-up, comprising long-term trumpeter Dave Hake, trombonist Bigga and an assortment of international session players and studio vocalists. This line-up released the album Live As One, with which Zion Train won the 'Jamaican Reggae Grammy 2007' for 'Best Dub Recording'.
