Few American record labels have done more to further the cause of modern
dub than New York's
ROIR imprint, which has not only reissued classic
dub recordings, but also actively encouraged contemporary artists to reinterpret the tradition according to their own vision. And since bassist and producer
Bill Laswell is among the most prolific and original modern exponents of
dub, it was inevitable that the two would find their way to each other.
Laswell has recorded four albums of progressive
dub under his own name for
ROIR, and this retrospective collection brings together one track from each of them to make a more-or-less full-length compilation. At just over 46 minutes, the program is a bit skimpy, but it does sell at budget price, and there's certainly no arguing with the quality of the content. The first track, which comes from the least interesting of his four
Dub Chamber albums, is the most
ambient and the least compelling, though it is very pretty.
"Thunupa" livens things up considerably by incorporating the ethereal cornet sounds of
Graham Haynes, the drumming of
reggae legend
Style Scott, and the tabla playing of
Bill Buchen.
"Cybotron" is a collaboration with fellow bass master
Jah Wobble, guitarist
Nicky Skopelitis and others, and is simultaneously spacier and funkier.
"Ethiopia/The Lower Ground," featuring vocals by the Ethiopian singer
Ejigayehu "GiGi" Shibabaw, is one of the most rapturous, lovely compositions in the
Laswell catalog. This album would make a fine introduction to
Laswell's work for
ROIR, but you really need to own all four albums (or at least the last three). ~ Rick Anderson
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