Asian Dub Foundation - Community Music (FFRR)

Releasedate: Mon 20.March 2000

Third release from those Mercury-nominated, cross-cultural politicos.

By their very nature it could be argued that it's difficult for Asian Dub Foundation to vary the tone and texture of their music. While you could hardly regard this latest album as a serious detour, it certainly offers more than the confrontational hip hop/bhangra beats and Rage Against The Machine-style shouty vocals of its predecessor, 1995's Facts and Fictions. New Way New Life is almost radio-friendly, those spiralling, hypnotic hooks adding previously lacking light relief. There's also a growing confidence and imagination to their songwriting, too. The 21st Century psychedelia of Riddim I Like wouldn't feel out of place on a Chemical Brothers album. Even when they return to familiar ground on Crash, it's delivered with a deft touch that bodes well for the future.

[4 stars= Excellent. Definitely worth investigation]

Danny Scott, Q

Like this? Try these...
Rage Against the Machine - Evil Empire (Epic, 1996)
Badmarsh & Shri - Dancing Drums (Outcaste, 1997)
Transglobal Underground - Rejoice Rejoice (Nation, 1998)