Roots Tonic Meets Bill Laswell

Roots Tonic – Roots Tonic Meets Bill Laswell (ROIR)
Reviewed by Sadie O., 5/246/06
Attn: Dub lovers! DIS IS DA SHIT! Roots rock dub instrumentals with electronica from Matisyahu’s band and producer. Gets more electronica-laden as it goes along. All tracks at least 5 minutes long, and all tracks are godlike (although track 6 has so much electronica it gave me a bit of a headache!)
No FCC. I guess I like 3 and 5 best, but it’s really all good.
1. 5:34 slightly downtempo, dubby and meaty but spare. Solid beat and odd noises.
2. 5:23 slightly uptempo – starts with sucking on a bong. Rather more energetic and full sound.
3. 5:10 bright and march-y dance-y, great riddim.
4. 6:35 slow, a bit swingy and a bit scary, somehow.
5. 6:10 extremely spare, midtempo, cowbells and chimes and… insect noises? Oh, there’s the beat. Fun!
6. 6:29 somewhat uptempo, driving drumbeat, lots of electronica.
7. 5:48 a bit downtempo, squeepy, some nice drum bits towards the end.
8. 6:09 uptempo with a bit of crazed electric guitar, nice riddim.