Dos

Culver City Dub Collective - Dos

07/31/2007 | Everloving 

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All Music Guide Review

When a band calls itself the Culver City Dub Collective, you immediately think you know what to expect: laid-back SoCal reggae with a loopy "whoa, dude" groove. In this case, the reality is a bit more complex. Led by transplanted Bostonians Franchot Tone (guitar) and Adam Topol (drums), the band is actually a loose aggregation whose music ranges from smoky dubwise reggae to Afro-Latin grooves, jazz, and abstract soundscapes that dissolve into an almost Brian Eno-esque ambience. And there's more: "No More My Love" is what a ska band would sound like if it were fronted by Tom Waits, and "Bad Reaction" sounds an awful lot like a Bedouin Soundclash song -- probably because the guest singer is Jay Malinowski. Other guests include Ben Harper, Jack Johnson (in whose band Topol regularly plays), Studio One legend Winston Jarrett, and keyboardist Money Mark. And a number of the tracks featured here are remixes of songs originally issued on the Collective's self-titled debut EP -- a considerate gesture to their fans who already bought the original version, and an effective teaser for those whose introduction to the band is this full-length album. Very highly recommended. ~ Rick Anderson, All Music Guide

Dos Notes

Dos, the debut full-length album from the Culver City Dub Collective, unites an all-star cast in a captivating blend of Jamaican roots reggae, Afro-Cuban rhythms and West Coast bossa beats. It's an intoxicating breeze that rattles the brain in all the right places, a simmering soundtrack to a thousand road trips and hazy summer afternoons.

Released by Los Angeles-based Everloving Records (Cornelius, Metric, Inara George), Dos represents a truly "collective" approach to music making. The album features stunning appearances from such luminaries as Ben Harper, Jack Johnson, Money Mark, Studio One vocalist Winston Jarret, and Bedouin Soundclash singer Jay Malinowski. Despite the group's amorphous nature, the Culver City Dub Collective (CCDC) is ultimately assembled, produced and creatively grounded by two individuals: drummer/songwriter Adam Topol and guitarist/engineer Franchot Tone.

Dos is an impeccable studio album that reflects the eclectic nature of the players. Joey Altruda's upbeat remix of "The Cave" and the melodic reggae of "Lel's Sweet Inspiration Dub" soon give way to the haunting "Waltz for Tomahawk," an exploration of the Gil Evans big band sound. On "Eloise (Baghdad Remix)," Ben Harper's snake charmer guitar coaxes the melody out of the sonic basket, while Jack Johnson contributes an infectious, radio-ready vocal take to "Crying Shame." And "Big Long Gun," featuring Winston Jarret, is just a curried-goat-and-Red-Stripe away from the dusty streets of Kingston.

Credits of Dos

  • David Ralicke
  • Bass, Melodica, Engineer, Soundscape, Sounds, Horn Arrangements, Producer, Saxophone, Trombone, Trumpet, Keyboards, Horn
  • Adam Topol
  • Percussion, Marimba, Engineer, Synthesizer Bass, Soundscape, Sampling, Producer, Drums
  • Joey Altruda
  • Bass, Keyboards, Producer, Engineer, Soundscape


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