San-Francisco-based cult DJ Bassnectar's latest album Underground Communication has a lot to recommend it. But I have a major reservation, which I will get to.
The album opens with a tranquil bamboo-wind-chime sound in the intro leading us into a pacey, energetic journey. In places this offers very danceable break-beats, and in others an atmospheric ambient chillout, such as is found in the languid, Orbit-esque "Fsosf." There are some edgy found-sound samples juxtaposed with sweet melodic passages, which make for a complex and satisfying mix.
Some of my quibbles are purely a matter of personal taste. The almost total lack of Jamaican accent in the vocal samples, for instance, jarred with me. But that is probably a personal prejudice based on my UK-based sensibilities. Underground Communication is an accomplished, eclectic dub-fusion overall. It includes elements of dance, trance, experimental electronic, drum and bass, trip-hop, hip-hop, ambient, reggae, wobble, bhangra and even a truly inspired rag-time piano loop — on the track "Carried Away."
Clearly this is the work of an eclectic and accomplished musician, one who has used his imagination and has a sense of humour. Most of the album is intelligently arranged, if a little overambitious at times. In my favourite track of the album, "Carried Away," — which I found very interesting for its use of ragtime piano and bhangra and which exudes joie-de-vivre, — there were enough motifs to make at least three, simpler and possibly more effective tracks. The effect as it stood was somewhat fussy, though it stopped short of being a mess. The later phases of "Ridiculous Wobble," and the track "Amorphous Form" show what can be achieved by this artist when he allows himself to follow a groove.
Which brings me to basics — or, more precisely, to the bass. The bass is an essential element for the enjoyment of dub. It's not enough to hear it, you've got to feel it in your feet, in your chest cavity, in your neck. The sub-bass must almost threaten to destabilize your heartbeat or it just doesn't work. That's my opinion.
Article comments
1 - Glen Boyd
Nice review Elaine. If you really can't get enough of dat bass though -- I'd direct you towards some old school hip hop like "Space Is The Place" by Jonzun Crew or "Everlasting Bass" by Rodney O and Joe Cooley.
Now dat be some bass.
-Glen
2 - High Heels
Thanks, Glen... I'll have a listen to those to see if I can get my fix. HH
3 - savannah
dude his shows are as electrifying as you've heard they are. the album does NO JUSTICE what so ever. bassnectar is a god.
4 - Taylor
I have to agree and disagree to a point on the comment on the heavy bass or lack thereof in this album. I think what is being described by most as being a heavy bass is actually a reference to synthetic undertones which I can only adequately describe as being extraordinarily synthetic and "fuzzy". That is to say that it doesn't actually manage to reach the lower registers but rather gives the feeling of a rumbling or vibrating sensation in the chest, head, etc...