Search - Bill Laswell :: Version 2 Version

Not up to Bill's standard.

Moyashi | Brooklyn, NY USA | 02/10/2005

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Version 2 Version: A Dub Transmission, in name, personnel and nominal genre is "Book 2" in the set begun by Radioaxiom: A Dub Transmission, but is also the latest example of Bill's ongoing exploration and redefinition of "Dub." Radioaxiom was produced and distributed under the financial auspices of Chris Blackwell's Palm Pictures, whereas V2V is issued by the cool but certainly less pecunious ROIR. I suspect this fact may have something to do with the qualitative differences between these recordings. There are fewer musical minds at work on V2V (no Skopelitis, no Haynes, no Gigi), which leaves the sonic terrain timbrally denuded; there are clear instances of recycling from previous projects rather awkwardly and ineffectively dropped-in; and the overall processing and mix is far less polished, seamless, musical and inevitable than on Radioaxiom. This indicates either a rushed job or simply a lack of care or attention to the details. All of this could easily have been the result of a drastically reduced budget when Palm declined to back the follow-up. The material itself suffers in comparison to Bill's other recent dub releases. Even the one he did almost entirely alone - Book of Exit: Dub Chamber 4 (ROIR) - is rather superior in its elegance, focused power, and production. Gigi - a kind of world-pop-dub - was superbly realized from top to bottom, incredibly musical with not a wasted sound or note. V2V's basslines are often too note-y in ways that detract from the surge of the riddim, and the "extra beats" just don't cut it. A true gelling riddim doesn't occur until track 4, from which point - at least on a rhythmic level - the set begins to improve. The first few tracks may have been better off left on the cutting-room floor, or else re-worked. If you are a musician or mixer (or both, in my case), you may be as disappointed as I was to hear V2V. I deeply admire Bill and the work he has been doing in this space, and I wanted to like this CD, but better that this had come out first and Radioaxiom next - that would have shown real improvement! Unfortunately, this is just the opposite.

HOWEVER, if you are the sort of dub apostle who prefers the old-school, strip-to-the-bone approach, who ONLY wants heavy bass and not much else, you may dig this set. The bass is mixed farther forward than in any of Bill's other recent dub releases, though it's also a bit less phat and more midrange-y at times. I would like to rate this CD at 2.5 stars. It has some good moments, but simply is not up to the standard of which Bill is quite capable...or Jah Wobble, for that matter (check out his Molam Dub set)."

HEAVY DUTY

Kenneth M. Goodman | Cleveland, Ohio United States | 01/31/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a heavy dub CD that (thanks, Mr. Laswell) is heavenly vocal-free, unlike other Laswell CDs that, in my humble opinion, have great dub but are ruined by vocals. Bernie Worrell provides a cooly exotic display of keyboard magic and there's some excellent guitar...but mostly it's the sort of heavy dub Laswell did on his CD "Dub Melt Down," but better. Your sub-woofer will be so happy."

MASIVE DUB SIMULACRE

yajdubuddah | cheboygan,michigan usa | 10/12/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"By far one of the best releases from laswell in the actual dub format. Now i realize that dub chapter 2, chamber 3, and radioaxiom were dub but dubjazzy more like. Althought i love all those records im trying to establish that this is of the roir dub transmission releases but this album is actually cut and dry a dub album in the scence of dubmeltdown, dub chapter 1 book of entrence actually he uses the word simulacre on the cover and as a song the definition is to have or take on the appearance, form, or sound of: to make an imitation or a substitute for. I think that these are combletelly redone forms mainelly from dub chapter1, and the last song is an edit from molan dub by wobble. song 4 is called babylon site. Anyway the album itself dosent give credit to who on the album does what but Bill Laswell im pretty sure does bass on every song but the first im pretty sure its wobble on 1. And does guitar on the 2nd and 3rd track. Then jah Wobble is credited with all but 2 songs for actual writing but im sure he playes the bass on track 1. Karsh Kale: acoustic drums. Bernie Worrell piano/keyboard. And Abdou Mboup Tablas on track 1, percussion

The album does have a very dub chapter 1 feel due to it being an actually all out dub album, the first track is the only eastern esk feel from the whole album and its just light tablas and an ocassional bell sound but its all cut throught dub. All new reworkings. It has a lot of the old school electric piano stuff from bernie, he sticks to some of the standard reggae/dub signiture piano hits but no real soloing from bernie, laswell does an excellent guitar solo on track 2 and 3. Its not that its any better than the other laswell releases but its a bit more from the past but respecting the future and taking advantage of it. I love the jazz/afro feel and eastern reworkings he puts in his music i love the variety but this is more of the original stric 9 dub with all of its delay glories. And i know theirs a lot of dub fans out their that have been waiting for this batch, and lots who dont like vocals in their dub. Im not much of a fan unless they are really good which laswell always does but its cool without. But i find it imposible not to enjoy this newest laswell release. The most cronic beats in sound."