Meat Beat Manifesto
"In Dub" CD / 5.1 Surround Sound DVD
audio
Lakeshore
Records / :/run recordings
Genres: dub, electronica
Lakeshore Records
5555 Melrose Ave
Gloria Swanson Building #209
Los Angeles, CA
90038
Jan 26 - Feb 1 2004 |
Jack
Dangers is no stranger to experimentation. You need only
look back on Meat Beat Manifesto's massive discography
to confirm this. In Dub is his newest project, a
full-length disc featuring dub remixes and reworkings of the tracks
from his 2002 R.U.O.K.?
album. And it seems as if he's gone full-out for this record, even
enlisting the talents of DJ Collage on
vocals to add to the album's Jamaican influence. The results of this
dub experiment are certainly successful, but may not be
appreciated by everyone. Those allergic to what pretty much
amounts to straightforward electro dub will not be impressed, but
those who can dig it will definitely enjoy themselves. Much of this album is pretty
homogenous; though there are variations upon the theme, for the most
part MBM keeps things consistent. Songs like
"Caramel Dub" and "Happiness Supreme Dub" are fine
examples of the album's instrumental content - laidback, groovy
melodies are laid over simple rhythms and smooth, squiggly basslines.
"Echo In Space Dub" and "Super Soul Dub," meanwhile, represent
some of DJ Collage's contributions. The former is
exemplary of his fantastic voice, which adds a successful
accessibility to the song's funky, bass-heavy structure.
In Dub is not for everyone. What can you expect?
Jack Dangers has never been afraid to try new things, even if
it risks alienating a few of his fans. Most MBM diehards
will see the assets in this album, and in the meantime Dangers
should find himself a whole new crowd of dub-heads to please. MBM
proves once again that you can't get anywhere if you don't try new
things.
87%
Matt Shimmer
[Vitals: 12 tracks, distributed by the
label, released 2004] |
