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.