Acoustic (Live)

Hailing from Saint-Étienne’s Algerian community, Dub Inc grew to fame on French radio waves with a unique fusion of reggae, rai and hip-hop. Loyal fans will probably tell you the band have lost their way since their origins in the late 90s; the rai elements that made Dub Inc so ear-catching have given way to more high-tempo dancehall influences. That’s great on some levels – Dub Inc have always been an explosive live band – but on record, few tracks from their last decade’s output get regular playtime. This acoustic collection is long overdue, then. Hypnotic accordion and hand drum riffs take centre stage, with the gruff vocals of Aurélien Zohou sounding more like a Mongolian throat singer than a Buju Banton impersonator. Sets from Saint-Étienne, Mexico, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and the DRC make for an intricate cultural mix, with the African tracks particularly enriched by cameos from local musicians. Burkinabé singer Alif Naaba puts a first-class stamp on Dub Inc standards like ‘Enfants des Ghettos’ and ‘Farafina’. Lead vocalist Hakim Meridja soars to passionate heights on the closing track ‘Tout ce Qu’ils Veulent’, a beautiful Paris-recorded offering that is a timely reminder of the importance of live music.