JAH WOBBLE Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Former Public Image Ltd. bassist and later ambient dub artist Jah Wobble returns to an old sound and project for this fun little dub rerub. Metal Box, the PiL album that yielded him much of the lasting praise that he has garnered since 1979, now sees a complete reinvention in 'dub', with Wobble metamorphosing the meaning of the word, and delivering his own take on the rude steppers' sound. Most of the remixes - 'Memories' and 'The Suit' being prime examples - occur in double the drummed time than we are used to with most dub, but as much should be expected from a post-punker. Blaring hard rock solos and lavish synth interludes adorn this LP, all while Wobble's original bass licks against the front and centre of the mix, and only short filterings of each original song's lyrics appear before echoing out. Deserving of its metallic silver vinyl pressing, this is a stunning revisit.

Review: REPRESS ALERT: Jah Wobble's biography is a long and winding one, and he's achieved a lot both in collaboration with others and of his own accord. Emotional Rescue know a talented auteur when they hear one, and in the case of Wobble they've chosen to shed light on one of his less well documented phases, when he started his own label called Lago. Drawing on recordings made between 1981 and 1985, The Lago Years is a captivating listen that touches on post punk and no wave all the way through to dreamy psychedelia and the kind of world music Wobble would become so well known for later on in his career. An essential collection for any lovers of leftfield music and mysticism.