Brief Reviews: J-L

Jah Wobble and Bill Laswell: Radio Axiom - A Dub Transmission

Axiom

Spacious dub from a pair with plenty of history in the genre, and sonically quite lovely. The only problem is that the music's boring, and generally goes nowhere, unclurling like an old piece of paper. When Laswell hits, he hits hard - unfortunately this is one of his misses.

Jake Andrews: Jake Andrews

Antone's

Hardly surprising to hear a Texan guitarist influenced by Stevie Ray Vaughan. Not as common to come across one who also seems to idolize Free, but Andrews seems to, even trying to sing like Paul Rodgers. While imitation might be the most sincere form of flattery, however, it's definitely not all good. Often slow, sludgy, and uninspired.

JJC & 419 Squad: Atide

Self-Released

British-Nigerian hip-hop that demands to be judged as a hip-hop rather than a world music album, although it stretches its base into R&B and pop, too. Essentially a collective, it's a good record, but any effect that makes you think of Nigeria first seems to be muted.

John Martyn: The New York Sessions

One World

A US radio sessions from the late '90s. Martyn sounds out of it in the interview segments, and the music is, at best, lackluster - even the classic "Solid Air" has no tension or beauty to it. Sad to say, but this seems remarkably like the sound of someone who's lost the plot completely.

Julio Padron Y Los Amigos de Sta. Amilia: Descarga Santa

Real Rhythm

Cuban jazz, brilliantly played, a "descarga" (jam session), with some brilliant talents - but the emphasis is very much on the jazz end of the Cuban spectrum, with no compromise - in other words, if you like that music, you'll adore this. If not, well, definitely not your cup of tea.

Karen Tweed & Timo Alakotila: May Monday

Northside

Just in time for the warmer weather comes this, from Britain's Tweed and the keyboard player for JPP (aided and abetted by sundry others). Sunny, airy tumes, played with leisurely grace, like the sliding by of a lazy summer afternoon. Traditional and modern slip together in loving fashion.

Karl Zero: Songs for Cabriolets

Naive

Hipsters, flipsters, and jeepsters. It's sort of world music for the trendy lounge set, and fine as far as that goes. Which isn't far.

Khaled: Ya Taleb

Mondo Melodia

More repackaging of early, Cheb era Khaled. Cracking stuff, in perfect voice with daring, driving arrangements, but sod all information beyond a brief bio (which first appeared on another album 11 years ago). Just get it for the wonderful music inside.

King Tubby: The Originator

2B1 II

Collection of old Tubby dubs, but from when and where you won't discover in the sleevenotes. Seeming late '70s/early '80s, and far from his most distinguished work, although a few moments do catch fire. Not the best place to start, by any means.

Kraja: Vackert Vãder

Drone

Four young women, four voices. nothing more than that. Weaving harmonies like strands of hair on material from several places in europe (as well as their own compositions). It's compelling, thrilling stuff, and it reminds you why the human voice is so powerful, and, as here, so beautiful.

Lady Bianca: Rollin'

Rooster Blues

Adequate set from Bianca Thornton. But you have to wonder why there's so much uptempo material on here when she's more effective and emotive with the slower stuff. At times the guitar work is over the top, and it degenerates into bad band land. But when she's good, she's very good indeed.

Lee "Scratch" Perry: Cutting Razor

Heartbeat

Fabulous '70s material, virtually all of it from Perry's Black Ark Studio, when he was at his producing peak. Much of it is previously unreleased (you have to wonder why, given the quality), including one track Perry voiced himself. The Junior Murvin material is brilliant, and the only lapse of taste is in Sharon Isaacs's cover of the execrable "Feelings."

Linda Thompson: Give Me a Sad Song

Fledgling

An odds and sods collection from a singer who's spent too long MIA (and who's working on a new disc). Some lovely cuts, and of real archival interest, five tracks done with Martin Carthy in 1970, including covers of James Taylor (!) and the Beatles. However, this is for Thompson-philes only. For everyone else, it's not exactly essential.

Los Pleneros de la 21: Para Todos Ustedes

Smithsonian Folkways

New York Puerto Rican music that works around the plena and bomba rhythms but with some modern touches (like the electric guitar on the opening "Angelito." Rhythm heavy, as it should be, but with sparkling melodies, too.

Luther Wright & the Wrongs: Rebuild the Wall

Back Porch

The idea is either seriously twisted or a wonderful joke - remake Pink Floyd's godawful The Wall as a bluegrass album. The shock is that it works so wall, especially on the most familiar tracks (you know which ones those are). Yes, it's also a barrel of laughs, but there's some damned good music here too.