Indubb

Album Review

Indubb is just what the title implies: a remix outing of a handful of songs from Sanacore and Animamigrante, plus several other tracks from unknown sources. Almamegretta takes its sound science seriously — Indubb is constructed like an extended suite with a musical flow so smooth (and sequenced with virtually no between-songs breaks) that you won't notice one piece has segued into the next without paying attention. The Italian quartet handles most of the mixes themselves, with dub underground mainstays Adrian Sherwood and Bill Laswell chipping in on "Aiza" and "Glossolalia Dub," respectively. The On-U Sound influence is clearly evident on the opening "More Love," and the spare, mysterious "Alma Dub" sets the moody emotional tone for much of the disc. Arabic string melodies enter the equation on "Aiza" over a slow rhythm track that drops melodic elements and keyboard sound effects in and out of the mix as it builds. Tablas come in on the ten-and-a-half-minute "Glossolalia Dub," while rap vocals and a hip-hop beat strip down "Bbuono o Malamente?" "Maje Dub" picks the pace up a little — and "Se Stuta 'O Ffuoco" takes it right back to dub dreamland — before an energetic finale anchored by the complex "Scioscie Viento (Red Ghetto Dub)" and its strong, intriguing bassline. Even though the sound here is largely built around electronic rhythms, the stately classic dancehall bass-and-drum charge of the live "O Cielo Pe' Cuscino" proves that the Almamegretta dub sound system isn't just a studio creation. But using the studio as an instrument is precisely Almamegretta's forte, and dub underground fans will find that Indubb demonstrates just how creatively and intelligently the group can use it.