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By Dan Grunebaum
ASIAN DUB FOUNDATION
Tank
(Toshiba EMI)
Anyone who’s followed British-Asian jungle-punk outfit
ADF will know not to expect any deviations in the road that
has taken them from an estate youth group to outspoken anti-globalization
music machine. Tank marks another mile in their journey, with
outspoken screeds against the war in Iraq, environmental destruction
and racism in songs like “Oil” and “Take Back
the Power.” ADF’s feral blend of breakneck jungle
beats, ragga rhymes and punk attitude are in evidence in songs
like the opener “Flyover.” But with the addition
of sweet-voiced reggae singer Ghetto Priest, they’ve
taken a slight turn towards the mellow. ADF returns to an
adoring Japanese crowd at Shibuya AX on April 10.
VARIOUS ARTISTS
Beatwave Japan
(Sonic360)
Some promos, believe
it or not, still arrive in cassette form. Others, like this
compilation from England’s cyber-hip Sonic360 imprint,
take the form of a download-only release. A smorgasbord of
unknowns sent in demo tracks to Sonic360, with the resulting
sampler taking in styles from Elektel featuring Tomoko’s
fluffy Shibuya kei, to Pyokn’s UK 2-step, to Kousuke
Ogawa’s dreamy downtempo, to TreMoReLa’s off-kilter,
J-pop-influenced house. The overall quality of the production
is high, and the names provide a refreshing alternative to
more familiar, brand-name Japanese club artists. If Beatwave
Japan produces enough downloads after its February 21 release
on iTunes, the album is slated for release in plastic, CD
form.
ROOTS MANUVA
Awfully Deep
(Beat/Big Dada)
Now that mainstream US rap/hip-hop has turned into a kind
of adolescent dick-measuring contest, Roots Manuva, aka British
rapper/producer Rodney Smith, can be relied on to keep it
dark, dangerous and deep indeed. Just take a peek at the album
cover—no gold chains, gangster poses or expensive sportswear,
and that looks more like a theater than a crack house. Ragga,
dancehall, dub, even calypso…it’s all here, but
to categorize is to miss the point. Just file under “listen
repeatedly at top volume.” Edgy steppa “Mind 2 Motion”
is a classic, with “Move Ya Loin” and “Babylon
Medicine” supplying that dub fix. Yes, it’s British,
but how can you fault a man who sings about “knobbly
knees” on an album that ought to go platinum? Peter
Courtney
SPITZ
Souvenir
(Universal)
For a band to remain relevant for 18 years tells a story
in itself. Each new release by Spitz comes with daunting expectations,
but 11th album Souvenir bears the hallmarks of a band with
nothing left to prove. Opener “Haru no Uta” is a
jangly pop number, casual but with enough impact to lock in
new listeners. “Arifureta Jinsei” sees touches of
orchestration induce Masamune Kusano’s vocals to soar,
but it’s on “Amattare Creature” that the group
really excels. By the time we reach “Nanpra Biyori”
Spitz are indulging themselves by mimicking traditional shamisen
on a guitar, seemingly having too much fun. At once adventurous
and familiar, Souvenir should be a candidate for best domestic
rock album of the year. Robert Poole
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to the editor at letters@metropolis.co.jp.
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