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Dub Symphony (Island, 1990) The first few times I listened to this album, I loved it; the jazzy, masterful musicianship had me transfixed; a definite five star--er, head album. But the next few times, it seemed sub-par; the beats were bland and repetitive; a two head album. The truth of how Dub Symphony is is somewhere in between these two extremes. The title is appropriate, as these tracks have a distinguished, airy feel, incorporating live instruments alongside digital elements. The title track is particularly symphonic, utilizing classical strings to great effect. Perhaps a better title for the album would be Dub Jazz, however, for the instruments -- from the melodicas to the strings to the horns -- are played with an improvisational, free-flowing flair, as exemplified on "Dance Wicked" and "Immortal Dub." Adding to the jazz style is the absence of standard dub sounds like echoed vocals, zany digital blips, etc. Because of this, however, the songs sometimes seem a bit dull and repetitive -- particularly "Come and Get Dub" and "Mystic Dub." The best tracks, then, are the ones with the strongest musical identities, like "Black Steel," "Sound Clinic Dub," and "Cryptic Dub." |
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