Dub Chamber 3

Although dub influenced, it is not limited to dub’s reggae history originally created by King Tubby, Lloyd “Prince Jammy” James, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Scientist and the other Jamaican dub masters. Originally created to fulfill the necessity of the B-side or version of the top exposure original A-side, or potential hit side. The musicians featured on Dub Chamber 3 are exceptional and internationally known for their musicianship and avant-gardism. Norway’s Nils Petter Molvaer on processed trumpet is known for his groundbreaking work on the European based ECM label. Molvaers’ “Khmer”, released in 1999 is one of the biggest sellers in ECM’s 35-year history. Original P.I.L. bassist Jah Wobble is widely acclaimed and noted for his work with Orb, Baaba Maal, Brian Eno, Peter Gabriel and The Invaders of The Heart. Nicky Skopelitis, the Greek/American guitarist is a mainstay with Material, Ekstasis, Sly & Robbie and Ginger Baker. Keyboardist Craig Taborn has gained recognition for his work with Carl Craig’s Innerzone Orchestra. Karsh Kale is currently drumming for Talvin Singh’s group. Certainly an all-star cast gathered in the studio to cook up some new style dub. Dub Chamber 3 is Laswell’s third release for ROIR and completes the best selling Sacred System trilogy. This is dub for the space-age and a major step in its evolutionary influence on today’s electronic music culture. Futurist dub that creates new maps of time, intangible sound sculptures and sacred sites for the mind, body and spirit. Dub chamber 3 is for all dub lovers, drum and bass fanatics, ambient seekers, and avant-garde hip hoppers and electronic Miles Davis “Bitches Brew” fans.


Dub Chamber is the third chapter in bassist-producer Bill Laswell's Sacred System trilogy. Like its predecessors (Chapter One and, aptly, Chapter Two), Dub Chamber incorporates elements of ambient jazz, world percussion, and dub reggae. Two tracks, "Cybotron" and "Devil Syndrome," are constructed loosely around the central riff from Bob Marley & the Wailers' "Could You Be Loved." British bassist Jah Wobble lends his experimental postpunk imprimatur to the former, while on the later, jazz keyboardist Craig Taborn lays down some electric piano reminiscent of former Laswell client Herbie Hancock . Norwegian trumpeter Nils Petter Molvær adds an icy ECM vibe to "Beyond the Zero," and guitarist Nicky Skopelitis is also on hand. Yet, like so many studio productions that attempt to redefine dub apart from the immediacy of its original Jamaican context, it all adds up to something less than the sum of its parts. There's just no substitute for starting with a real song, even when the intent is sonic deconstruction. --Rick Mitchell