Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 02/01/1993
Given
the Ruts' love for and incorporation of reggae into their most strident punk material, it shouldn't have come as much surprise that they would eventually jump headlong into the more exploratory waters of dub. Dedicated to
Malcolm Owen, the band's lead singer who passed away two years prior,
Rhythm Collision pairs the remaining
Ruts in a sound clash with the then-upstart
Mad Professor. The liner notes claim that no one was successful at the fusion of punk and dub until this record came out, which is a false proclamation. Three years prior to this release,
PiL's
Metal Box,
the Slits'
Cut, and
the Pop Group's
Y were each released, all of which used dub as the sound anchor. So that is similar to saying that
Nirvana's
Nevermind wouldn't have gone where it did without
Pearl Jam's second album. But whatever. Unlike the other post-punk bands who were influenced by dub and mutated it into something of their own,
Rhythm Collision sticks closer to the originating sound, rarely coming off like anything other than a late '70s
Trojan recording act. Buried piano motifs, melodica bleats, random percussive effects, head-spinning production techniques, and those deep, deep, deep basslines load the bases. Aside from sporadic vocal phrasings, it's all instrumental. Most everything unwinds at a relaxed pace, save for
"Push Yourself," which would fit comfortably in a DJ set between
Liquid Liquid and
Grandmaster Flash. The most uncharacteristic track of the record, its handclaps, funky bassline, and
Chic-like guitar flicks are capable of making the most dedicated
Ruts fan forget who the artist is. As far as an homage to a style that's provided inspiration,
Rhythm Collision couldn't have done much better. Thankfully, a couple labels have kept this still-exciting record in print throughout the years, most notably
ROIR.
~Andy Kellman, All Music Guide
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