Fire in Dub

by Rick Anderson Okay, pay close attention: Fire in Dub is the dub version of Lee Perry's Dub Fire (ARICD 134), which is not itself a dub album and which was released in the U.S. at the same time as this one. It's important that you not get confused, because Dub Fire is a relatively crummy disc, while this one is really very good. The difference? Perry's increasingly dissolute vocals are left out for the most part, which leaves nothing but the rock-solid backing tracks of the Robotiks band for Mad Professor to play with. The Professor has made some pretty boring music on his own over the last ten years, and this album makes it clear what's been missing: live musicians. Give him flesh and blood to work with, and he can wreak serious havoc: note the demented rhythmic brilliance of "Can't Control the African" (based on "Place Called Africa") and "Don't Try to Capsize I" (based on "Rock My Boat"). It's amazing how much fun Lee Perry can be when you only hear his voice occasionally.