Given the Ruts' love for and incorporation of reggae into their most strident punk material, it shouldn't have come as much surprise that they would eventually jump headlong into dub. Dedicated to Malcolm Owen, the band's lead singer who passed away two years prior, [wimpLink albumId="241459991"]Rhythm Collision[/wimpLink] pairs the remaining Ruts in a sound clash with the then-upstart [wimpLink artistId="3600982"]Mad Professor[/wimpLink]. The liner notes claim that no one was successful at the fusion of punk and dub until this record came out, which is a false proclamation. Three years prior to this release, [wimpLink artistId="64519"]PiL[/wimpLink]'s Metal Box, [wimpLink artistId="17491"]the Slits[/wimpLink]' [wimpLink albumId="3632995"]Cut[/wimpLink], and [wimpLink artistId="19822"]the Pop Group[/wimpLink]'s [wimpLink albumId="114342038"]Y[/wimpLink] were each released, all of which -- among other earlier releases -- were rooted in dub. Unlike the other post-punk bands who were influenced by dub and mutated it into something of their own, [wimpLink albumId="241459991"]Rhythm Collision[/wimpLink] sticks closer to the origin sound, rarely coming off like anything other than a late '70s Trojan recording act. Buried piano motifs, melodica bleats, random percussive effects, head-spinning production techniques, and those deep, deep, deep basslines load the bases. Aside from sporadic vocal phrasings, it's all instrumental. Most everything unwinds at a relaxed pace, save for "Push Yourself," which would fit comfortably in a DJ set between [wimpLink artistId="3521179"]Liquid Liquid[/wimpLink] and [wimpLink artistId="3614042"]Grandmaster Flash[/wimpLink]. The most uncharacteristic track of the record, its handclaps, funky bassline, and [wimpLink artistId="8112"]Chic[/wimpLink]-like guitar flicks are capable of making the most dedicated Ruts fan forget who is playing. As far as an homage to a style that's provided inspiration, [wimpLink albumId="241459991"]Rhythm Collision[/wimpLink] couldn't have done much better. Thankfully, a couple labels -- most notably ROIR -- have kept this still-exciting record in print throughout the years. ~ Andy Kellman