Bill Laswell : Radioaxiom – A Dub Transmission Review
by Illiam Sebitz
Bill Laswell was born in Salem, Illinois, and raised in Albion, Michigan. The American bassist, producer and record label owner has been involved in hundreds of recordings with many collaborators from all over the world. Laswell’s music draws upon many different genres, most notably funk, various world music, jazz, dub and ambient styles. He has also played or produced music from the grittier, more aggressive end of the rock spectrum, such as hardcore punk and metal.
Laswell’s latest endeavor is a collaboration with Jah Wobble titled Radioaxiom – A Dub Transmission a forward thinking offering featuring: Jah Wobble on bass; Bill Laswell: bass; Graham Haynes: cornet; Nils Petter Molvær: trumpet; Amina Claudine Myers: organ, electric piano; Nicky Skopelitis: guitar; Sly Dunbar: drums; Hamid Drake: drums; Aiyb Dieng: percussion; Karsh Kale: table; Ejigayehu “Gigi” Shibabaw: voice (#2, 6); Tigist Shibabaw: voice (#2, 6). The album is a forward-thinking exploration of deeply hues tunes with an adventurous spirit.
“Subcode” starts the album with a world beat that is built by percussion and Laswell’s bass. The trumpet floats over the world beat, giving the music an ethereal sound as the music builds and releases in arching waves. There are certainly elements of electronica in the music, but the main vibe has a world sound that builds an atmospheric sound texture, rather than traditional verse and chorus ideas of song structures. The rhythm, melody and harmony, meld to form a musical creation of layers and shifting patterns the generate the ambient territories.
The dub influence can certainly be heard on “Alam Dub.” Ejigayehu “Gigi” Shibabaw provided the African style singing and voice. The production is flawless, with electronic instruments and acoustic instruments both setting in the sonic mix in a natural sounding way. The music is textural, atmospheric and full of world rhythms. Laswell knows how to build tracks over time, allowing them to unfold in slow methodical sound painting that evokes emotion and musical enjoyment. The track is a collective collaboration by the musicians, the music is progressive with a strong foundation.
Each track has its own adventurous spirit, Laswell and Wobble have created a journey of memorable explorations that challenge the ear and sooth the hunger for ambient music with depth. A strong outing and engaging listen.
Bill Laswell : Radioaxiom – A Dub Transmission Review
Tracks to sample first: “Alam Dub,” “Subcode” and “Virus B .” The song to take a chance on is “Second Sight.”
Radioaxiom – A Dub Transmission
by Jah Wobble / Bill Laswell
- Release Date: August 19, 2018
- Label: Palm Pictures
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