Dub Plates From the Elephant House, Vol. 2 - The Groove Corporation

Dub Plates From the Elephant House, Vol. 2 rounds up a dozen tracks Groove Corporation had produced for the Birmingham-based Different Drummer label since their previous volume. Released two and a half years earlier, the first volume established Groove Corporation as one of the Eastern Hemisphere's leading dub practitioners, and this second volume affirms the group's lofty stature. The dozen tracks eschew any sort of crossbreeding -- no ambient or techno inflections here -- in favor of good old-fashioned dancefloor-geared dub. Granted, "Clever Kid" opens the album with a lively dancehall vibe, but it's the only real departure, albeit a wonderful one. The subsequent tracks are largely instrumental outside of the occasional dubbed vocal floating in or out of a given track. Taken as a whole, the album struts along from one up-tempo track to another without any dull moments. "Libertion Dub" stands out midway through, carried largely by Bobby Blue's stellar showing, and "Daylight" brings the album to a soothing conclusion, offering the same bright sense its title implies. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide