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The Rice Thresher
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Robert Reichle There's nothing better than when a random album completely surprises you and ends up being one of your favorites. That's exactly what happened to me when I purchased Diggin' Up Dirt, an album of dub versions, instrumental remakes and remixes by the German reggae powerhouse Dr. Ring-Ding and the Senior Allstars. Diggin' Up Dirt contains the perfect mixture of reggae, hip-hop, ska and jazz. Its 15 tracks are such well-developed excursions into these genres that the album is brimming with texture, something that can't be said for Dr. Ring-Ding's fairly one-dimensional debut album Dandimite. Most of the lyrics and backing rhythms will be familiar to fans of Dr. Ring-Ding's previous work, but the remixes truly transform them into their own songs, a feat that's often hard to achieve. Dr. Ring-Ding, a.k.a. Richie Senior, is best known for his dancehall-style vocals over both reggae and ska backing tracks. His work is especially impressive when you realize he sounds Jamaican even though he's a native German speaker. "Sound Unity" and "Fight Over God," two rootsy reggae songs with said vocals, feature King Django and Rocker T, making for an awesome three-pronged attack. The Doctor also unleashes some fast chatting on "Turn It Down," a ska number with delicate guest vocals by Doreen Shaffer of the Skatalites. "My Sound Remix," featuring G-Clef da Mad Komposa, and "Call Di Doctor Remix," featuring Storm da Ghetto Mutant, are two of the album's successful hip-hop remixes and feature ample drum loops and turntables. "Rudeboy Style Remix" takes a dancehall song I never especially liked, adds a hip-hop beat, sitar and turntables and turns it into a killer track. Half of the songs on Diggin' Up Dirt are instrumentals. "Georgia Dub" and "Queen Dub" both employ moody, tricky basslines to good effect. Both "Golden Gate," an extended keyboard-heavy jazz number, and "In the Mood For Love" make extensive use of a relaxing jazz guitar. "Daisy," which uses the same backing rhythm as the Doctor's previously released "Your Sympathy" and "No Reason For Season," has a jazzy alto sax lead so emotional that it outshines the original songs it was based on. Diggin' Up Dirt covers all the usual bases for a ska/reggae album, and the outstanding jazz and hip-hop tracks give it an extra kick. This remix album is definitely one of the best albums I've picked up all year, so it's worth more than just a cursory glance. -Robert Reichle
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This document may be distributed electronically, provided that it is distributed in its entirety and includes this notice. However, it cannot be reprinted without the express written permission of: The Rice Thresher, Rice University MS-524, PO Box 1892, Houston, TX 77251-1892, USA. The Thresher Online Project -- ethresh@listserv.rice.edu |
