A review of "Facts and Fictions"

by Saurav Dutt

ASIAN DUB FOUNDATION: FACTS AND FICTIONS (1995) (NAtion Records)

In hindsight, Facts and Fictions may, on first listenings, be a much more downbeat and weaker effort compared to 1998's Rafi's Revenge, but this is not the case. THE LP has some undeniable flaws, but also signs of the band's versatility and some very good songs.

The overall musical attitude is far removed from the conscious beats in Rafi..., and chooses more to associate itself with pure Dub, techo-noodlings and brisk jump up beats. The result is a less captivating album than Rafi, but something altogether fresh and different.

The political message is by far, much more explicit and sometimes the melody is lost -most noticeably on "PKNB". But at times is the fulcrum of some of the better songs, such as the powerful "TH9".

Deeder's voice is of course of a younger rapper, but with mike skills honed to perfection on this LP, we hear his vocals in another light. The machine gun like delivery is excellent on "TH9", "Debris" and "Jericho" -but sounds a tad downbeat on "Rebel Warrior".

If the vocals can be flawed, the music can not. "Rebel Warrior" has soaring guitar lines, drums crashing to and from, and a melee of captivating and frantic bass lines. "TH9" is one of the stand out tracks-energy is everywhere, and the lyrical content is justifed by the brilliant b-line set to by Das. Deeder's pacy delivery is the best on this track, and justifies his crown as one of the finest Asian junglist MC's out there. "Debris" exposes reggae amidst relentless drums and other various combiantions that Pandit and Sun-J have concocted together.

My personal favourite track is "Journey" -a track that ADF persist to use at their gigs to this day-showing that it one of the best efforts on the LP. A slow build, uplifting chords and a final assault of guitar chords, frantic rapping and drums make this the best track on the album.

The problem with this LP is more that it seems weak in the light of Rafi's Revenge. Where as their follow up album was unflappable and unique, Facts and Fictions sounds distinctly unenergetic. But such accusations even come across as petty, becuase the album is great, and more than anything, show the progression of the bands music.

They have pushed the barriers back, Facts and Fictions was merely a platform for their musical endeavours. "Tu Meri" illustrates Das at his best and the effective use of sampling is perfect on the whole album -and this time, unlike some rap artistes -is actually a complement. With "Community Music" on the way, and sure to take the boundaries of "Rafi's Revenge" a step or two further, this LP may be one that hides in the shadows. But that is not where it belongs, it's a terrific album with some very good tunes, it may lack some consistency and a musical edge, but it shows the other side of ADF, in fact, it shows a more raw sound to the band, more ferocious. Basically, here in the late 90's "Facts and Fictions" may not have felt like it belonged, "Rafi's Revenge" sounds like the future ahead, "Facts and Fictions" sounds more like a journal of events at the time-the mid 90's. The parts are better than the whole. If you disagree, comment on this review.

Saurav Dutt