From Rgeary2 Sent Sun, Nov 1st 1998, 08:22
From Rgeary2 Sent Sun, Nov 1st 1998, 08:22
Asian Dub Foundation: Sampler from "Rafi's Revenge" (Slash/London) All I had seen until yesterday of the Asian Dub Foundation were some ridiculously priced import singles, and I was a bit scared off by the name, assuming they were one of those groups that would be neither Asian nor Dub, or a lame attempt to cash in on Talvin Singh's recent success. So I cracked open the promo tape with a bit of reserve. The first track,"Buzzin", allayed those fears a bit. Nice, slightly surf- guitarish riff, lightning quick jungle drums underneath, some upbeat electronics. Good stuff, if not exactly groundbreaking. Then the vocals kick in. You're either going to love them or hate them: I can't place this guy's accent, but here he delivers a rapid-fire rap in an imitation Rasta style, but his vocal tones make him sound about sixteen. The best bits of the track come when he shuts up and lets the drums do their work. "Black White" follows, which I think has some sort of positive message. Sounds a little more big beat, rockish, especially the 'na na na na' background vocals on the chorus. Another light-jungle, upbeat tune, marred by somewhat strange vocals. At least he drops the reggae accent for more rap/singing style here. "Free Satpal Ram" sounds like electronic Rage Against the Machine with less omnipresent (and less interesting) guitar work. In fact, this song most reminds me of the group that seems to have blazed the path for Asian Dub Foundation: the early nineties band Urban Dance Squad, who stole freely from rock, rap, reggae, psychedelia and slapped strangely accented rapping and singing over the whole thing. Asian Dub Foundation seems like an end-of- decade update of the UDS sound, swallowing drum and bass and electronics along the way. Overall, ADF is a try-before-you-buy, mostly because of the vocals. My suspicions were confirmed in that ADF hasn't got an especially pronounced Asian or Dub feel to their sound, but it appeal if you're into funky cross- genre stuff and don't mind waiting for some odd vocals to grow on you. A good one to introduce to your rocker friends. -Rob Geary Asian Dub Foundation's "Rafi's Revenge" is due out on November 3rd.