Music Reviews

“dreams_of_freedom”

Dreams Of Freedom

Ambient Translations of Bob Marley in Dub

Axiom/Island

The purists are already cringing. To them, I say do as Bob would: fire up a big spliff, put it on and lay back. Marley’s music was certainly full of elements made for dub. And in a return of the favor, his melodies (at least in the hands of this team, led by Bill Laswell) lend the otherwise sparse and sterile space of ambient music a warm solidity. The angelic choral sound of “No Woman No Cry” works particularly well, as does hiding the instruments of “Waiting In Vain” in the distant jungle. Bill Laswell nails it right on the head with this one. This spectacular effort transcends the genres it mixes, and is not just for fans of reggae or ambient music.


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