Dub or Die Volume 2 (ROIR Europe, 1994)

With a mix of big names and more obscure artists, this collection gathers together some strong examples of good old-fashioned rootsy dub music.  There are some stale, repetitive entries -- Lee Perry's "Satan Dub" and Dub Syndicate's "Overloader," for instance -- but these are eclipsed by the molasses-like (i.e., thick, sticky, sweet, funky) "Love & Fire" by Ruts DC and Mad Professor or the light, airy flute of Prince Far I & Dub Syndicate's "Encounter," the African drums and electric guitar (courtesy of Peter Tosh) of Ras Michael's classic "Truth & Right," and the bluesy guitar and catchy roots refrain of Oku Onuora's "Echoing Dub" (Onuora also contributes the strong "Telling Dub."  Also solid are Niney the Observor's "Space Flight Dub," Chicken Chest & Leslie Thunder's funky DJ version "Hafe Stan Up," and Gato Negro's slow, bass-heavy, melodica and horn-laden "Armageddon."