Sly & Robbie: Underwater Dub

Exactly two years ago “Blackwood Dub" from Sly & Robbie and triggered conflicting feelings in me: Recorded in the legendary Harry J-Studio and produced by Alberto “Burur” Blackwood, the album largely avoided the classic one-drop reggae scheme and presented “progressive”, intellectually demanding but ultimately somehow unsatisfactory Dub-Creations. The joy of innovative sounds conflicted with the frustration of having to do without my beloved one-drops. Underwater Dub (Groove Attack) continues at exactly the same point - you could almost think that both albums were made in the same session. Again the old companions of the Rhythm Twins are on board: Mikey Chung, Dalton Brownie, Daryl Thompson, Robbie Lyn, Sticky Thompson and Skully. Concept, sound and setting are identical: Again, a crazy combination becomes more hypermodern Dub-Beats presented with sound samples from Sly & Robbie recordings from the 1980s. Sly had probably unpacked his good old Syndrums and enjoyed loading the sound presets from the floppy disks that were still there. The result is striking: you can hear new, somewhat bulky, abstract beats, between which these familiar bits of sound from the past suddenly flash. A clever maneuver to receive the listener on familiar territory and from there to carry them off into the realms of the unknown. While two years ago I learned about the perfect craftsmanship of “Blackwood Dub"Paid sincere respect, but the overall result left me largely indifferent," Underwater Dub“To be a little more accessible, a little more harmonious and, yes, a little closer to reggae. In the interview, Sly Dunbar is already looking forward to the next album. On the other hand, I look forward to the next one, when the concept is mature and finally a real one Dub-Album will be available that you will not only hear, but also feel.