DUB PISTOLS
“Crazy Diamonds”
Reggae/Breakbeat/Drum’n’Bass
(Sunday Best Recordings, 2017)
Few phenomenal, but a lot of avarage moments as well don’t make this the best Dub Pistols album so far, but still show that this band is a bright spot of a modern Big Beat scene.
There is a lot of great, but a lot of average moments as well on a brand new album of British Big Beat crew. Dub Pistols are still maintaining a strong reputation as excellent showmen capable of mixing various styles such as jungle, breakbeat and drum N bass with fat and greasy reggae bass lines. Don’t expect anything more than that from “Crazy Diamonds”.
When it comes to great moments, pay attention to fantastic “Never Never”, which is as strong as “Bad Card”, “Gunshot”, “Mucky Weekend” and other d’n’b songs that made them famous. After hearing this song I am still wondering why there aren’t more similar moments like that. Their d’n’b potential has always been huge. Reggae is still present of course. The respect that band has to old-school Jamaican reggae from 70’s is something else. Just take a listen to a fantastic take on famous Jacob Miller‘s “Baby I Love You” and the bass line that was made famous by Augustus Pablo and King Tubby. Apart from that song, roots-inspired “Kingdom” might as well catch your attention. Jungle and breakbeat moments worth mentioning are present in songs “Boom” and “Mad On The Road”, both of which I see as big concert hits. However, the rest of album doesn’t bring anything too innovative or creative when it comes to melodies and arrangments. I even questioned two quite commercial songs, “Rising” and “Party’s On”, which I was really surprised with.
“Crazy Diamonds” has many satisfying moments for Dub Pistols fans, but is still a step backward after albums such as “Worshipping The Dollar” and “Return Of The Pistolero”. Nevertheless, Dub Pistols still have a feeling for good vibrations and are one of the brightest spots of the modern Big Beat scene.
Written by Nenad Pekez
Tracklist:
01. London Calling
02. Crazy Diamonds
03. Boom
04. LA LA LA
05. Rising
06. Baby I Love You
07. Lively
08. Mad On the Road
09. Never Never
10. Kingdom
11. Party’s On
Few phenomenal, but a lot of average moments as well don’t make this the best Dub Pistols album so far, but still show that this band is a bright spot of a modern Big Beat scene.
