One Drop Rhythm #2 : Dubwise & Indiscretions Rhythms

This one-rhythm album breaks the rules a bit by actually offering two rhythms: "Dubwise" (a horn-heavy and rootsy rhythm with dubby sound treatments) and "Indiscretions" (built on an acoustic guitar lick with a rather choppy beat and texture). Of the two, "Dubwise" is the more compelling, so it's too bad that it is given only six interpretations while "Indiscretions" gets twice as many. Several singers and DJs appear on both rhythms: Assassin is at the top of his form in both cases, displaying a cool and nimble lyrical flow on "Priority" and a fine singjay style on "If Men Were Bees"; Busy Signal also makes an impressive dual appearance, especially on "Spliff Tail," for which producer Shane C. Brown creates a particularly dubbed-up version of the "Dubwise" rhythm. Other highlights include Cherine Anderson's beautifully sung romantic plea titled "20 to Life" and Capleton's horticulturally minded "Acres" (a welcome break from his usual Bobo Dread fire-and-destruction theme). Jah Cure is a bit whiny on "Searching," but that's probably the weakest track on a generally very strong program. The songs built on the "Dubwise" rhythm, in particular, are uniformly excellent. ~ Rick Anderson|