Dub Syndicate

Originally issued in 2006 as the first disc in the Rasta Far I two-fer, Overdubbed finds the mighty Dub Syndicate benefiting from the ministrations of two beat-minded producers: longtime colleague Adrian Sherwood, and DJ Rob Smith (of Smith & Mighty). Sherwood's raw, extreme dub sensibility informs the bedrock of these grooves, while Smith's somewhat more hip-hop-inflected approach gives them a subtly different flavor from what the group's fanbase may be used to. The result is always powerful if not always very aurally challenging: the solid but straightforward rhythm and repetitive vocal snippets that underlie tracks like "Togetherness" and "Dubbing Is a Must" are comfortingly familiar while still being heavier and more compelling than 98-percent of the reggae recordings made since 1985. As always, the secret of Dub Syndicate's sound is the deep musical comradeship that has developed between Style Scott and Sherwood over the years; since his days with the Roots Radics Scott has developed one of the most solid and powerful drum sounds in all of reggae music, a deceptively effortless-sounding blend of precision and weight, and Sherwood has made it his calling to take advantage of that strong foundation and stack it with brilliantly eccentric dubwise elements. Smith's sonic accretions are fun but respectful, and the album is deeply satisfying overall. Highly recommended. ~ Rick Anderson, All Music Guide