Simon Duff welcomes the release of a rebuilt, legendary Metal Box, a brave and wise move
by Simon Duff
Jah Wobble. Photo: Brian Marks/Creative Commons
Jah Wobble Metal Box Rebuilt in Dub (Cleopatra Records)
WHEN The Sex Pistols imploded in January 1978 through division, death and management failure, after a difficult US tour, singer John Lydon took the determined step to create a fresh. Based around emotional depth, radical experimentation and explorations in dub called Public Image Limited.
His path and ideas based on a unique list of elements. Along with guitarist Keith Levene, bass player Jah Wobble and an assortment of drummers including Martin Atkins and Richard Dudanski PIL were a power force.
The band's intention, to work against the grain of how a normal rock act functions with ideas to move into areas of film soundtrack work and the creation of new mobile recording technology.
The first album First Issue, released in December 1978 hinted at what was to come in the second, Metal Box, in November 1979. Wobble's bass underpinned the work. His reggae-inspired, rumbling bass lines, often recorded in the studio with his bass cab loudspeaker facing towards a room wall, recording mics picking up wall vibrations. Levene's guitar is a unique fusion of rock and classical forces.
Cut to November 2021 and Wobble's rebuild of Metal Box, made in conjunction with Jon Klien, British producer, guitarist and former member of Siouxsie and the Banshees, Katy King, violin, George King, keyboards and Keiko Yamazaki, backing vocals. A brave and wise move.
Wobble's formidable reputation from work both as a solo artist and as a member of PIL give him the credentials. His career evoked through compelling use of dub bass, choice chords and poetry has so much been based on Metal Box. Memories and sensibilities are recalled and rekindled on this release.
Rebuilt opens up with Albatross, power drums and melody to the fore. Swan Lake is a beautiful mix of Tchaikovsky-inspired strings piano, angular guitars and deep bass. Poptones, a nine-minute recast of the original. Careering given extra dub infusion ingredients. Wobble takes on vocal duties. Often opting for a spoken word, East London roots to the fore, poetic approach. Notably on the slow arching social comment on The Suit.
Public Image and Fodderstompf from the First Issue album are welcome additions. Klein's guitar and drum beat production anchor around Wobble's bass. Guitars in particular are given a modern sheen, matching Levene's original parts and forward thinking composition techniques.
After Metal Box the original PIL line up soon disbanded over disagreements. Flowers of Romance, the third album based around tribal drum loop atmospheres, was another milestone and worthy of a revisit. The original line-up back working together in a room again? Never say never.
