Dub Chamber 3
Dub Chamberis the third chapter in bassist-producer Bill Laswell'sSacred Systemtrilogy. Like its predecessors (Chapter Oneand, aptly,Chapter Two),Dub Chamberincorporates elements of ambient jazz, world percussion, and dub reggae. Two tracks, "Cybotron" and "Devil Syndrome," are constructed loosely around the central riff fromBob Marley & the Wailers' "Could You Be Loved." British bassistJah Wobblelends his experimental postpunk imprimatur to the former, while on the later, jazz keyboardistCraig Tabornlays down some electric piano reminiscent of former Laswell clientHerbie Hancock. Norwegian trumpeter Nils Petter Molvær adds an icy ECM vibe to "Beyond the Zero," and guitarist Nicky Skopelitis is also on hand. Yet, like so many studio productions that attempt to redefine dub apart from the immediacy of its original Jamaican context, it all adds up to something less than the sum of its parts. There's just no substitute for starting with a real song, even when the intent is sonic deconstruction.--Rick Mitchell