Album Reviews

The absolutely stunning, immediate and transparent sound is the first thing that hits you about this double LP, 3 sided record, which documents Daniel Lanois’ touring band. That’s partly a result of the stunning sound, yes, but it’s also partly because so much else recorded these days, just plain sucks sonically. The recording has "jump" quality, meaning a few vocals have such verisimilitude you might jump up and feel an adrenaline surge thinking a live human has invaded your listening room (watch out for that on "Sing.")

The bass line is so deep, tight and tactile! Then you notice the three dimensionality of the picture and the cleanliness of the drums, the clarity of the attack and particularly the way the cymbals decay. Then you pick up on Trixie (daughter of the late Chris) Whitley’s Merry Clayton like pipes.

Oh, then you notice that the drummer is Brian Blade, who has played with everyone from Herbie Hancock to Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan, which helps explain the clarity of the attack and the perfection of the cymbal shimmer. Blade is a master of the cymbals.

Finally, you realize that Lanois has incorporated into Black Dub elements of many of the artists he’s recorded and produced. You’ll hear elements of The Edge’s drone, Neil Young’s fuzz lines and Robbie Robertson’s entire first solo album.

The more you listen, the more you appreciate the production’s thick, slow reggae-like atmospherics and Lanois’ juicy, oozy, reverberant, shimering guitar parts. There’s a great deal to sink one’s ears into here and much to apply to one’s gut, with not much input to the intellect—not that there’s anything wrong with that!

Between the luxuriant instrumental beds, Ms. Whitely’s soaring vocals and the enveloping recording, plus the attractive gatefold packaging, Black Dub makes for great late night, head nodding listening marred only by an occasionally spitty vocal sibilant. You’ll enjoy it more if your system goes low, however. If “Canaan” doesn’t slip you into a pleasing hypnotic trance, take another hit, close your eyes and it will!