The first session of the
African Roots series from the Wackies imprint rerubs tunes from legendary producer/keyboardist Clive Hunt. Featuring a veritable who's who of dub music (not to mention the man, Bullwackie himself). For the first half, Hunt works through dubs that are heavy on the electronics and reverb but spare no expense at getting it right. It's consistently pure instrumental joy for anyone who is a die-hard fan of dub, but it's also instantaneously accessible to the casual listener. The second half brings in a set of proper tunes that are heavier on the dub and reverb accents than the first half, especially the intense percussion workout during "Always Dubbing," where Hunt's elaborate treatments make the drums sound like heavy artillery fire during wartime. With sparse, open arrangements and some of the best dub compositions around, this is a highly recommended release worthy of your hard-earned dollar. ~ Rob Theakston