ASIAN DUB FOUNDATION - GARAGE, GLASGOW

Gig Played: Thu 25 May 2000

'More dance moves than Steps', claims the bassist. Tongue planted firmly-in-cheek, the ADF's front line of Dr Das, Deeder and Chandrasonic embark upon a brief discussion of the obvious Steps comparisons that borders on an in-joke. It makes you wonder what really goes on within the Asian Dub Foundation camp…

There's a commonly held belief that the ADF have, somewhere along the line, suffered a collective humour bypass. Often depicted as a faction treading the fine line between guerrilla warriors, literary scholars and rock stars, with little time for the indulgences, affectations and downright hedonism of the music industry, there's little such pontificating tonight.

Effectively opening with 'Real Great Britain', an apparent excitement surges through the audience, proving there is now more than one crowd-pleaser in this band's repertoire. The depth, volume and versatility of the sound is astonishing, played with a vigour blissfully ignorant of the complex, dextrous nature of the rhythm. A degree of confidence is obvious, an evident self-belief that has appeared lacking in the past.

Das, Deeder and Chandrasonic prowl the stage, driving the sound and aurally attacking the crowd. Sun J and Pandit G strengthen the sound from behind, generating an astonishing fusion of, at least, dub, funk and metal, a combination the stage is barely big enough to contain. Literally. On occasion, only the bouncers can stop certain members scaling the speaker stacks.

Accessibility is tonight's key word. The sound has previously suffered from a degree of self-indulgence, but tonight it's clear that the mutation into a fully realised visceral confrontation is complete. Described by Dr Das as "Bollywood Motown", 'Collective Mode', in particular, shows that lazy punk comparisons are, especially now, entirely redundant. This is a set as fluid as anything we have been led to believe the Asian Dub Foundation were capable of, transcending all expectations.

A rampant politicisation has been both ADF's finest attribute and, at the same time, their greatest weakness but it's somewhat contained tonight. Dedicating 'Crash' succinctly to those, "who combat the IMF", a potential rant is concentrated into a clear, efficient tangent. As a banner sweeps across the crowd, towards the stage, reading, "MUMIA MUST LIVE", in a scene more reminiscent of a football match, the effect of the conviction filtering through every note to the crowd is truly overwhelming.

In the past, the sheer force of 'Free Satpal Ram' has been difficult to surpass, but while tonight it remains as primitive as ever, an incredible rendition of 'Rebel Warrior' closes the show, liberating a degree of adoration so compelling that the band find it hard to leave the stage. Deeder wanders aimlessly bemused, while Chandrasonic shakes the hands of almost the entire front row. Despite the clichés, it's not often a crowd is genuinely, in one voice, seen to beg for more. Fortunately, for those forced to resign themselves to the end of tonight's gig, you can't help but feel ADF have much in reserve.

Aaron Scullion, Dotmusic