For the clubs? Er, maybe not
treestamp | 06/08/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Sherwood has been around a long time, and considering his experience, if he's going to put out a solo album now, it had better be good. I think Sherwood has a very good album here, although I'm not sure it qualifies as moving dub/dancehall reggae a step forward. It's apparent he's trying to out do himself and the artists he's previously worked with, and ends out striking an intriguing balance between dub and electronica. What we get out of this is tracks that are as musical, entrancing and laid-back as the best dub around, but it's intertwined with robotic, slightly alienating electronica elements. The resulting "worldly" hybrid is a bit neither/nor: this seems to be a genuine experiment at making new music. The most pressing problem I find with this is, I don't think Sherwood really had in his mind any audience as he was making this album, and thus this particular mix of dubbing, juxtaposing and tweaking seems better suited for home listening than the clubs, as is the case with other experimental electronica. Before I was through the first track, I feared that the rest of the album would spin in place on its techno-beat heels, but in fact the music of the album is surprisingly diverse. This includes a helping hand from a couple Real World artists that adds even more color. However, this tracks suggest that Sherwood is only as good as the samples he has to work with, and it's the album's saving grace that he collected some very choice ones. Another saving grace is that, unlike some experimental music, it's musical and inviting rather than pretentious and antagonizing. Regardless, this album's experimental, hybrid nature won't make it a hit among the purists, but more open-minded and adventurous dub and techno fans will likely find it to be an enjoyable head-trip."
The Return of Dub...
Martin Essex | Where I've Gotta Be | 03/06/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"when i saw that adrian sherwood put out his very first solo disc, i was a bit surprised that i hadn't seen it out any earlier. after purchasing the cd, i was pleasantly surprised and changed my mind to reflect that perfection takes time.in short, all the reggae and dub sounds that fuel the sherwood fire seem to expose a newer audience to classic sounds. the influences that sherwood has had on others is exactly what he's had placed upon him and the result is a dub trip through time and space electronically. recommend NTAH? you bet i do. it's the freshest sound you'll find since the groups sherwood has had his hands in."
Dub goes global
Jeevan | San Francisco, CA USA | 02/26/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Traditionally dub has been relegated to the realm of reggae, but Adrian Sherwood has changed that. He takes beats and rhythms from across the world from Africa to Asia and beyond, and interprets them through his trademark dub style to create a trance-like global sound that breaks geographical barriers while simultaneously uniting the sounds through his work. An excellent collection from a dub-master of well-earned repute."
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1