Search - Various Artists, Bill Laswell, Sly & Robbie :: Axiom Dub

Monique R.
Reviewed on 6/10/2011...

Nice beats

Filling aural space

05/08/1998

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Smooth, seamless bass rhythms lay the foundation for the ambient-reggae instrumental stylings of Bill Laswell and his ever-growing stable of musicians. Going beyond the Jamaican dub tradition, the musicians seem to push out from the speakers in an effort to fill the space with their presence. This is strong stuff."

Amongst my most Favourite 'Axiom' Releases...

fetish_2000 | U.K. | 02/19/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"An experimental 2 Disc Dub-derived journey, via the composition of Dub & downbeat artists "Sly & Robbie/Lee "Scratch" Perry/The Orb/Mad Professor/King Tubby". With exceptional contributions from "Jah Wobble/Bill Laswell/Nicky Skopelitis". Obviously those expecting a fusion of traditional reggae-tinged Dub, with the more World music fusion/Space Dub end of things are going to have a hell of a time listening to this, as the music balances precariously between the two styles of Dub, never fully committing to either....and yet managing to be more than the sum of it parts, with a uniquely cutting edge sound. In fact this album feels more concerned in presenting the listener with the many facets of Dub. Be it the Ambient Dub of "DJ Spooky's - Anansi Abstrakt" or the reggae Dub of "Dub Syndicate's - Gun Too Hot", a wide variety of Sub Genres of Dub are expertly explained here via music. But, the utter standout track with an album full of exceptional tracks has to be "Beta One/Assyrian Dub" is a 11 minute cosmic space Dub journey, with Bass guitar, and bongo drums mixed with what can only be described as reverberating synths twisting and turning the sound inside out, with a inescapable Asia sound. That is not only exceptional for it's compositions but for it's extremely well orchestrated instrumentals. And fleshes out an album that is arguably a far more substantial proposition than the popular "Buddha Bar" series of albums."