Rum & Coke by Dub Pistols
BBC REVIEW:
Excitable West London crew Dub Pistols made their name with a heady concoction of dub, ska and hip hop on ace tracks hectic skater fave Cyclone.
On their fourth album they've kept the quality control high and retained their magpie approach to song writing. It's fitting that an album named after one of the most underrated drink mixes in the alcoholic world is such a likeable combination of genres that mesh so well.
From the very start Billie Jean beats are tempered with a distinctively rich vocal from freak Power crooner Ashley Slater on the terrific Back To Daylight. The song's a welcome introduction to an album of genres working together sees funk layered with moody electro synths.
Beats International singer Lindy Layton soon tops Slater's soul with seduction on I'm In Love. Nimble bass, ska horns and a savvy set of rhymes from Rodney P complete a great package on this album standout track.
On Everyday Stranger the sun comes out with Slater back to sing a big Gnarls Barkley-influenced number replete with plaintive piano, string stabs and Brooklyn MC TK Lawrence's quickfire spitting.
The spectre of Ricky Martin can be ignored on She Moves, for even if the title recalls the latino heartthrob, the song itself is great salsa poolside fair.
Reggae hero Gregory Isaacs links up with Rodney P on Six Months to provide a beautiful vocal, while the happy, driving ska horns and 4/4 beat of Keep The Fire Burning are mixed with a Spandau Ballet-derived vocal from Lionrock frontman Justin Robertson.
The effect is akin to receiving jam in the post - a pleasant, if slightly unusual experience.
It's an album of sterling work from Dub Pistols and particularly recommended to those interested in the connections between reggae and rap and the past and present of urban music. --Lou Thomas
