Bombay Dub Orchestra (Six Degrees)
More orchestra than dub, the tracks on this double release would not be out of place on a Buddha Bar compilation. Lightweight and easy listening, there is a 'trippy' feel to the sound at times. It has that summer feel- everything's OK-life is good mood about it. It's all very pleasant in feel and carefully crafted. Indian sounds merge with ambient sounds merge with orchestral arrangements. The pieces amble along, tinkering piano lines, washes of synthesisers, strings, sitars, bansuri flutes, Indian voices, occasional dub treatments. Don't expect a King Tubby treatment though.
There have been others who have gone down these musical roads. I think of Nitin Sawhney and 1 Giant Leap though the roads they travel are more political and have more of an edge to them. Also Bill Laswell's Lost In The Translation ambient excursions spring to mind when I listen to this disc, especially some of the remixes on disc two.
Bombay Dub Orchestra are two English musicians, Garry Hughes and Andrew T. Mackay. Garry Hughes has had time playing with Bjork and Sly & Robbie, whereas Andrew T. Mackay has scored works for people such as Annie Leibovitz, LA Rockers VAST and ABC (the 80's group, not the TV network) Garry Hughes has also played keyboards and produced for groups like Pink Floyd and Art of Noise according to notes found on the net.
Six Degrees have been releasing interesting titles for some time now, cutting edge electronica merging with Indian rhythms.The danger with this release is that some people will write it off as good dinner party music, which would be a shame. It has a lot to offer depending on your state of mind at time of listening. This album will appeal to a lot of listeners. I like it immensely though I still want some sort of an 'edge' to my music when I am listening. Still it is one of the better release of the year so far. What would really be good now is for another remix album of this material to come out but from other artists on Six Degrees. Maybe this is already in the pipeline.
