REGGAE did it thanks to the burning star of Bob Marley - exploding into main-stream pop and rock from its West Indian roots - but dub, largely the domain of the producer, stubbornly remains to the majority of the music-listening public a deep and mysteriously echoing cave from which drifts a heavy aroma of the 'erb, neighbour annoying bass rumbles and the possibility of coma-inducing tedium.
Straight Roots Productions' new release from Latchkey, Dakini Dub, is a work close to the mouth of the dub cave, and one that might tempt a few intrepid travellers in.
When Massive Attack handed the controls to Mad Scientist for a dub reworking of their hit Protection album the resultant mix was true to the Bristolian's roots, but so deeply dubbed was it, I can't help thinking it did fellow dub acts with an eye on the mainstream no favours.
The disassemblage, disorientation, and saturation sounds of the heaviest dubmeisters will always remain the preserve of the keenest students of the form (and the heaviest smokers) but this commendably melodic release, maintains a light touch with its largely Latin American World music dub.
Don't get me wrong - I'm sure you could build a fat one and float beautifully away while listening to these 17 tracks, but its certainly no requirement.
Naga Reshi has thrown plenty of flavours into the stew - Latin guitars and percussion invent Bossa Nova Dub while synth swells and beeps also help lighten the feel. Sub-continental chanting brings something of the East to one of my stand outs Hindini Kush, and though the regulation depth charge bass and reverberating side-stick snare are both present and correct, techno beats are also deployed with a restraint and skill which will surely make this collection a hit with anyone who enjoyed Beyond Records Ambient Dub Collections and the works of Toby Marks' even further-ranging trans-global sound as Banco Da Gaia.
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