Dennis Bovell – Mek it Run
Reviewed by Sadie O., 12/25/12
Thick, gooey Roots Rock Reggae Dub from the British master producer and bassist. Bovell’s credits are serious and decades long – from Linton Kwesi Johnson to Bananarama and the Slits. He’s dubbed up some tracks from the 70’s and 80’s, and lo, it is good. Only two tracks with vocals – tracks 9 and 13. Really fine, fine dub.
1. 3:43 ***slow super-dub with randome noises, howls, nitrous-like reverb.
2. 2:40 ***a bit downtempo, with slight bits of old vocals, grunty bass bits.
3. 4:17 ***midtempo rock steady feel, horn section.
4. 3:45 ***midtempo pretty chimes and bass grunts – gnarly!
5. 4:01 ***jaunty, but disjointed, midtempo.
6. 3:34 ***underwater horns! Midtempo hip-wiggler.
7. 3:49 ****slow, blatty, rubbery, with horns and poinks.
8. 3:47 ***uptempo with percussion and randomosity and bits of bebop sax.
9. 3:37 ***goofy yell, big drum build-up, nice midtempo dub with a bit of nyahbinghi feel and a lot of I-Roy.
10. 3:36 ***instrumental version of the previous track, handdrums.
11. 3:45 ***upbeat but glitchy, with flutes flying by occasionally.
12. 3:55 ****great combo of chimes and bass grunts, upbeat, with disturbing little human laughs.
13. 4:47 ***midtempo, jittery, feat. I-Roy toasting and singing “Down by the Riverside”.
14. 4:45 ***dub of previous track, midtempo, upbeat, lots of drum and bass.
15. 3:14 ***slow and swingy with happy horns.
16. 5:05 ****sirens, slow dub with lots of percussion, bit of melodica, very evocative, trance-y… This and the first track are inspired by the Arab Spring.