Ezra Pound’s greatest contribution to 20th Century literature may have been his three-word declaration regarding writing: “Make it new.” Had Pound lived in contemporary times, he probably would have presented his poetry in a format similar to Bob Dylan’s oeuvre (an ironic comparison, given Pound’s anti-Semitism), using guitars, a band, and a constant reworking and exploration of melody, lyric emphasis, and vocal tone. Pound’s best-known work was not titled “Cantos” (from “cantus,” the Latin word for “song”) unintentionally.
New York’s Michael G. and Ticklah seem to have taken Pound’s mandate as their own. In 2003, under the name Easy Star All-Stars, they teamed with well-known and obscure reggae musicians and released a dub reggae version of Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side Of The Moon” titled, appropriately, “Dub Side Of The Moon.” The CD was imaginative, witty, and, considering how each song was performed by a different band or performer, as seamlessly constructed as the source recording. All of the well-known dub production techniques are used to great effect: echo, looped phrases phased in and out of the mix, reverb, and the “chunk” guitar sound, all kept from spiraling out of control by some very tight rhythm sections. Michael G. and Ticklah even found room for some mischief and got in touch with their inner Tommy Chongs: they removed the cash register sound during the intro to “Money” and replaced it with repeated loops of a bubbling bongload and someone coughing up way too much smoke.
Three years later, “Dub Side” was followed by “Radiodread,” a dub reworking of Radiohead’s “OK Computer” CD from 1997. As a source, “OK Computer” was an interesting and logical choice. Some of its songs contained different time signatures than the usual 4/4 found in most popular music; within a reggae format, these herky-Jamaican-jerky rhythms provide an engaging musical contrast to the recording’s lyric themes of claustrophobia and alienation. The juxtaposition of reggae and “spacy” introspective rock music creates a listening experience that becomes a mental tug of war to determine how to perceive what is being heard. The best way is probably to hit the “play” button on the CD player or iPod, close your eyes (not recommended while driving or operating farm machinery), and let the magic happen. Just like with all music.
My first listen to this CD was marred by impatience. I had to wait until song five to hear Toots & The Maytals’ version of “Let Down.” It has been said of many singers how they could sing the names in a telephone book and make it sound good; for me, Toots Hibbert is one of the few who could actually make it work. Everything preceding and following that song was, well, a letdown. I was prepared to take my CD to Amoeba Music in Berkeley and trade it for something/anything else (like maybe “Something/Anything” by Todd Rundgren), but decided to give it one more listen. A wise move on my part. I have decided this CD is one of the two CDs released in 2006 that I have most wanted to (and continue to) play again and again (the other being “Modern Times” by Bob Dylan).
Along with “Let Down,” which would be a Top 40 hit if that format continued to matter, “Radiodread” contains performances by Horace Andy, Sugar Minott, and Israel Vibration (names seen in record store reggae sections for decades, along with Toots & The Maytals). Andy kicks off the CD with a version of “Airbag” that guitar-wise has as much in common with Ted Nugent as it does with “Natty Dread.” And it works. His contribution is followed by Kirsty Rock’s “Paranoid Android,” one of the herkiest and jerkiest of the stop-start rhythmic pieces on the recording. It also featured a killer horn arrangement by either Michael G. or Jenny Hill (the CD booklet was not specific regarding this point). Once I got past my “I wanna hear Toots NOW!” attitude, this CD flowed from song to song like, as Miles Davis used to say about Bill Evans’ piano playing, water over rocks. And it ROCKS!
Make it new in your collection. I think Ezra Pound would have liked it, too. I doubt he would have liked Better Than Ezra, though. Ego, you know?
To order “Radiodread” and for additional information, visit www.easystar.com.
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