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Dubmission 2: The Remixes (Island, 1997) This is a nice idea for an album -- taking popular reggae dubs (all of the ones on the first Dubmission album, except for the Linton Kwesi Johnson songs) and remixing them -- and it is at least partially successful. Easily the best remix -- and the one that carries this collection -- is Cottonbelly's version of Gregory Isaacs' "Night Nurse," into which he throws dominating, super funky deep bass that doesn't adversely affect the power or essence of the original classic. Kruder & Dorfmeister also remix the song, but with only moderate success. This brings up one problem with this album: I don't really need to hear numerous remixes of the same song. Chances are, if the tune is a popular one, I'll know it well enough that a lot of versions will get old really quickly. Another problem is song selection. Of the 6 original cuts remixed here, 3 are Black Uhuru songs. I like Black Uhuru and all, but get off of it already. What is it with dubheads and Black Uhuru? Anyway, the best BU song included, "Chill Out" (the dub being called "Destination Unknown"), should be sufficient, the Rockers Hi Fi version of which is pretty good. Third and final problem: two of the tracks -- Kid Loops' "Ion Storm" and Fila Brazilia's "Boof n' Biff" -- are less dub than trip-hop/jungle/dance, etc. I realize than these genres are becoming more and more intermingled, but I am a dub purist who doesn't like anything watering down the "reggae-ness" of my dubs. That said, Sub Dub's remix of Burning Spear's "I and I Survive" (or "Slavery Days") and Smith & Mighty's mix of The Tamlins' "Demolition City" ("Baltimore") are true to the dub genre, but they aren't much different from the originals -- just some extra bass and drums thrown in. Fairly uninspired work. |
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