| Product: |
Asian Dub Foundation (ADF) in general |
| Date: |
30/07/00 (34 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Some great songs, great musicianship and lyricism - a taster of the future from a formative ADF
Disadvantages: Too long, most songs are unmemorable and hard to swallow
Not everyone knows this, but I'm sure the majority of ADF fans know that 'Rafi's Revenge' is not the first album by ADF, and neither is it the second (RAFI was the second - out-of-print too, and 'RR' was the revamped version).
The band's debut album was the now-out-of-print (and temporarily re-released) 'Facts And Fictions', which was once nominated for the Technics Mercury Music Prize.
But is it good? Um, it's alright. It either has songs on it that are really good, or songs that are a bit too politically inclined, meaning there's more focus on the lyrics than the tunes, and then there's 2 remix dub versions thrown in which are a bit of a disposable novelty. ADF are also a band who use their music as a voicing tool, but maybe in the early days they spoke more and rocked less. Atleast they recitified this on future albums. If you want politics, this album gives it.
Their musicianship and use of technology has been strong since day one. Deedar is the new answer to Johnny Rotten, in spitfire rap-form; rapping at times, cynical and hilarious takes on nursery rhymes. All pinned down by fat and groovy bass lines courtesy of Dr Das, backed up by the sonicness and backed up electro work of Chandrasonic and Pandit G.
However, out of all the songs, the most classic tune has to be 'Rebel Warrior' (which later re-appeared on 'Community Music', and re-recorded). It's danceable, it's energetic, and it makes you move and think! A formula ADF stuck with on their follow up album(s).
Opener 'Witness' is a good dance track with minimalist lyrics and makes you think the rest of 'F&F' will be this good, if not better. Sadly 'PKNB' forces the listener to choke on lots of lyrics rather than music. It's not that I dislike the lyrics, but they should be evened out! 'Jericho' however is another gem, and it preceeds 'Rebel Warrior', so you think that things
may build up!...But, no, not really. I'm quite fond of 'Strong Culture' and 'TH9' somewhat, but nothing else really grabs me. The album may keep you hooked on a couple of listens to see if you can unravel anything more you like, but really, it just stops at the classics, and really is such a long album to take in and swallow. You're best bet is just to skip through to the gems. And the best song here is now available again on their latest album (though the original has slightly better vocal production). So, if you do even find this album, you'll only really want it if you want to be an ADF completist, in honesty.
ADF were, and always will be a great band - that's a fact! But this is the skeleton in their closet, with still some fine fresh bits of meat on it. If you're new to ADF, try 'Rafi's Revenge' first.
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