Customer Reviews
A New Chapter Indeed!!! - By: Natty Fred, 23 Sep 2007 
If ever there was a dub album produced that offered a radical new vision to a dying genre, without a shadow of a doubt, this was it. Recorded over 25 years ago, A New Chapterin Dub more than stands the tests of time; sublime production & a remarkable collage of sounds highlight the true dexterity of Aswad's song-writing talents & arrangements.
In Dub Fire, A New Chapter kicks of with an imperious statement of intent, opening with a short snatch of electronic sounds, followed by an unforgetable horn riff & an instantly memorable & distinctive bass-line. The album then embarks on a remarkably evocative & varied selection of songs & soundscapes, each composition characterised by astonishing snatches of echo unexpectedly jumping forth. Even where A New Chapter occasionally leans towards the soul style that characterized Aswad's later releases, the hard-edged politicized lyrics & dramatic production twists continually remind you that your ears are immersedin the midst of a surreal & exotic masterpiece. Following the mesmeric & exotic eeriness of Shining Dub, the album culminatesin two breathtaking piecesin Natural Aggression & Ghettoin the Sky; characterized by spacey driving percussion lines, majestic horn-riffs & conscious lyrics, you are leftin no doubt that Aswad have served their time as true ambassadors of reggae's frontline.
Whilst many purists will dismiss Aswad for their chart-topping efforts merely a couple of years later, this should simply stand as a further testament to their inventiveness & genius; make no mistake, this album places Aswad placesin the pantheon of true modern musical visionaries. That this album probably didn't get the commercial recognition that it merited really is the musical world's loss. In many respects, the rest of the world is still catching up! Respect.
Awesome - Aswad at their creative peak. - By: , 01 Jun 2004 This is one of the truly great reggae / dub albums ever released. I remember originally buying my vinyl copyin 1979 (i think) from a store on Shepherds Bush Green. I took it home & slapped it on the turntable as i got ready to go out for a Saturday evening. It has such a 'feelgood' sound. Aswad went on to much more commercial success, but this was at its time a groundbreaking album. And is a must for any fan of dub.
