Watch & Pray - Overstanding

Album Review

Alpha & Omega emerged as part of the '90s U.K. dub school, but the approach favored by Christine Woodbridge and John Sprosen is far more deeply grounded in dub's original Jamaican bass & drum roots foundation, than 'better modern living through sound science and mixing board effects.' It's dub as a rhythm of life to live by, minimal grooves with a sparing but savvy application of electronic touches, and melody instruments to avoid sameness. At 75 minutes, the two-LP/one-CD Watch and Pray: Overstanding offers a good-value-for-money introduction to early Alpha & Omega, for anyone interested in exploring modern '90s U.K. Anglo dub.

The duo work with vocalists Tanernishka and the Exile on Overstanding. and the understated female vocal and chorus hook makes "Jah Jah Protector" an excellent opener. "Protect I Dub" dubs out the same song with bass throb and minimal keyboard. before switching to keyboard-bass for "A Homeless People," with Tanernishka's light-touch vocals adding a melancholy wistfulness reflecting the repatriation theme. "No Man's Land" is a more active dub that gives good atmosphere creation behind the bassline spine, deep moody keyboard burbles, and forceful drums.

The songs seem to be paired up, but the dub versions here are different takes on the rhythm, not just a "Part Two" extension of the same groove. The female voice intoning human rights' heroes on "Freedom Fighters" gives way to the Mutabaruka-like interjections (Exile?) of "Dub Is Mightier Than The Sword," though you wonder how he feels about the Robert Mugabe reference now.

"Solomon And Sheba" drives along on a consistent backbeat, and "In The Beginning" closes more militantly, with melodica carrying the melody. While the dominant musical mood on the Overstanding tracks is wistful and sorta downbeat reflective, it never gets oppressive.

The Watch And Pray LP half introduces variety in its own way, with a thinner, less-present sound, more reliance on sonic effects, and far fewer vocals. "Respect To The Warrior" goes heavy with effects (as in background synth washes, not echo and reverb on the instruments), while the dreamy "Who Is The Ruler?" is more fragmentary, with bird chirp synthesizers as the background sound.

The chirping birds return in the company of melodica and bass throb for "Rastafari," and "Wicked Man Drop" alternates an Arabic-sounding reed with a minimal keyboard melody. "Prophecy Fulfilled" is a very strong groove with prominent percussion, swirling melodica, and vocal comments. Beginning with "Dub Flute," though, the music begins to float along and sorta just fades away.

But the relative quality drop is nowhere near far enough to keep from recommending this disc. Alpha & Omega don't use a lot of different elements, but they know how to get the maximum out of the musical arsenal they employ, and have good instincts on how long to stretch out little changes. And the duo are always convincing at laying down the dub as rhythm-of-life-to-live-by foundation; foundation stone number one for any musician or fan of dub, modern or roots variety.