He may be best known for his postpunk bass work, dub experiments and those collaborations with John Lydon back in the days of Public Image Ltd, but Jah Wobble is also an English folk fan. Three years ago, his Invaders of the Heart showed how traditional songs could be reworked with a heavy Wobble bassline, and were transformed into the English Roots Band for a series of rousing concerts. In an attempt to recapture their energy and spontaneity, the new album was recorded live in one take, with no overdubs allowed. It's a brave experiment that mostly works. The material includes rumbling, bluesy tracks such as One Day, the old Invaders favourite Visions of You, and a barrage of bass'n' drum work-outs, mixed in with the distinctive Wobble treatment of the traditional Blacksmith and Byker Hill, and surely the most bass-heavy version of Rocky Road to Dublin ever recorded.
Contributor
Robin Denselow
Robin Denselow is a journalist and broadcaster who specialises in music and politics. He is the author of When The Music's Over, a history of political pop
Robin Denselow
The GuardianTramp
