Heretofore, San Francisco’s Tussle was the answer to the question, “What if Liquid Liquid and Neu! jammed in Lee Perry’s studio?” That may be reductionist, but Tussle are reductionists extraordinaire. Masters of minimalist funk and motorik mantras, dons of disorienting dub, Tussle reaches a lofty peak with Telescope Mind. The band achieves a fruitful synthesis between psychedelic tone exploration (bells, buckets, bottles, bicycle wheel, and cowbell) and its patented, mesmerizing, Möbius-strip funk jams. The music is simultaneously regimented and free, making you want to propel yourself with unabashed speed and efficiency. And that’s a noble thing to inspire.
Various Artists Maga Bo: Confusion of Tongues
Challenge the Dominant Monoculture is world citizen Maga Bo’s credo, and it runs across the top of this mix CD, my favorite of 2006. Confusion consists of half original tracks (either Bo’s collabs with MCs or his Sonar Calibrado partner Filastine) and half music from kindred souls like Enduser, Slaughter Mob, Nettle, and Timeblind. He blazes through it all stunningly-like a next-generation Bill Laswell, he manages to touch on every conceivable musical and lyrical style, reaching across South America, Africa, and Europe, through jungle, dub, and hip-hop. Grab your local ethnomusicologist or corner-rhymin’ kid and play this for them-repeatedly.
Various Artists Mary Anne Hobbs Presents: Warrior Dubz
This is the definitive statement of where bass music stands at the end of 2006. BBC ultra-maven Mary Anne Hobbs has culled the year’s best unreleased cuts from her radio show and collected them for this stunning compilation. The focus is heavy on dubstep (DMZ, Benga, Burial, and Kode9), but long unavailable grime gems (Plastician’s “Cha” and a great Terror Danjah track), outsider dancehall (The Bug with Flowdan), post-jungle jungle (Amit and newcomer Spor), and even dubby techno (Andy Stott) are represented. A real winner from bass music’s most consistent label and one of its most influential selectors.
Bonobo Days To Come
“Simon Green’s musical palette of organic sounds and silicon beats takes shape on his second proper outing for Ninja Tune. Days To Come veers down the melancholic path that’s characteristic of Bonobo’s previous efforts with a maturity that comes from repeatedly venturing between the studio and the decks. “”Walk in the Sky”” is an exotic affair with songstress Bajka’s classy vocals complimenting some smoldering bass. “”Ketto,”” one of several instrumentals, possesses melodic beauty, warm strings, and a daydream vibe embedded within its moodiness. Perhaps the years have gone by, but Bonobo is no less compelling.”
Big Bang Way In Jazz
With more grey days than blue ones in England, it makes sense that Londoner Simone Serritella (of production duo Cuica) embraces musical sunshine. Serritella’s second Big Bang album delivers a heat wave of near-perfect Afro-Latin and Brazilian-tinged tunes. The Arision boss recruits instrumentalists Jessica Lauren and Nathan Haines, plus vocalists Rasiyah and Xan Blaque, to enliven the samba rhythms of “Dancing Nights” and waltzing triplets on “Summer Fields.” Opening with “My Favorite Things” and swinging straight through “Batucada Mondiale,” with plenty of blazing Seiji-style sidestepping beats in between, it’s clear that Serritella’s found his way.”
Various Artists Dub Selector 3
Turn up the bass to set the vibe for this smoking collection of dub-flavored downtempo music. DS3 starts appropriately enough with one of the year’s finest songs, Boozoo Bajou’s “Take It Slow” featuring kiwi crooner Joe Dukie (Fat Freddy’s Drop). Dukie’s band follows with their brand of jovial, horn-laced reggae and from that point on there’s little doubt that you’ll be roped in by these crucial tracks from Ms. Dynamite, Seven Dub, Sly & Robbie, and Freddy Cruger. This international assembly’s common language is that of headphone-friendly beats colored with classic Jamaican motifs. Make this selection.
Luciano Child of a King
Luciano, reggae’s spiritual leader, has become an international roots elder much like Dennis Brown or Burning Spear. It’s a position he doesn’t take lightly, as revealed by his songwriting’s moralistic slant. He offers wise counsel to governments (“This One is For the Leaders”), his own community (“Brother Man”), and the world (“So Much Goin On”). Luciano’s superb soul-drenched voice makes his messenger lyrics easy to digest while production by Stephen “Gibbo” Gibson, Byron “In the Streetz” Murray, and Donovan “Don Corleon” Bennett ensures superior musical accompaniment. Child isn’t a masterpiece, but it’s another strong addition to Luciano’s bountiful discography.
Various Artists Reckless Breed: Reckless Roots Rockers
This minimalist dub album, one of Bullwackies’ most subtle and elusive releases, first surfaced in limited number in 1977, although its origins lie in sessions cut at King Tubby’s studio with the Soul Syndicate band circa 1974-75 (before New York became Wackies’ permanent home). Oriented towards the presentation of bare-bones rhythms, tracks such as “Underworld” and “Reckless Roots” are dub counterparts to material that surfaced in vocal form on Reggae Goodies Vols. 1 & 2, while the wonderfully named “Explosure” and “Creation” feature extreme spatial balancing, plus Don Carlos’ exclusive roots vocal, “Prepare Jah Man.”
Jackie Mittoo Wishbone
Studio One legend Jackie Mittoo, whose expressive organ talents made him Jamaica’s equivalent to Jimmy Smith, migrated to Toronto in 1971. Wishbone, his debut Canadian disc reissued here, cloaks Mittoo’s dynamic keyboard in funk and soul, but some songs ultimately suffer from over-production and gratuitous, schmaltzy strings, symptomatic of the time and place of recording. Nevertheless, strong numbers such as “”Grand Funk,”” the soulful “Soul Bird,” a re-working of “Totally Together” called “Groovy Spirit,” and the atmospheric title track outweigh the weak moments, and the fine packaging and excellent notes add to the appeal.”
Alton Ellis (Featuring Hortense Ellis) I’m Still In Love
Alton Ellis’ entire Studio One catalog of reggae classics is compellingly beautiful, so you know you’re onto a winner here: Emotive tracks like “The Picture Was You,” “Wide World,” and “You Said It Again” are exceptionally rendered, and original first cuts of treasures such as “I’ll Be Waiting” and “Deliver Us” are equally superb. While sister Hortense’s contribution is less crucial, she’s at her best on takes of “Willow Tree,” “People Make the World Go Round,” and “Why Birds Fly,” though a desultory “Breakfast In Bed” spoils an otherwise unblemished collection.
