Jah Wobble "The Early Years" 30 Hertz Records 30HZCD16 2001
Disc One (64:18)
Invaders Of The Heart: Mix 1 (4:35)
Invaders Of The Heart: Mix 2 (4:39)
Invaders Of The Heart: Decadent Disco Mix (9:08)
Voodoo (5:57)
East (5:54)
Blowout (4:56)
Blowout (5:19)
Tradewinds (7:57)
Fading (7:13)
Nocturnal (8:40)
Disc Two (63:00)
City (6:30)
Fading (3:11)
Long Long Way (4:02)
Sense of History (4:00)
Hill in Korea (2:47)
Journey to Death (4:03)
Invaders of the Heart (3:10)
Sunshine (3:23)
Concentration Camp (5:17)
Desert Song (5:10)
Heart Of The Jungle (3:44)
Long Long Way (6:46)
Romany Trail (7:16)
Berlin (3:41)
Between the late '70s stint with Public Image Limited and the mid '80s foundation of Invaders of the Heart, Jah Wobble released a number of solo and collaborative singles, EPs and albums. This 2 CD compilation selectively revisits that period. Included are the original "Invaders.." 12" (the cream of the crop), the "Voodoo" 12" with Ollie Marland and Polly Eltes, the "Blowout" 12", the title track from the "Tradewinds" LP with Ollie Marland, the "Fading" and "A Long, Long Way" 12"s (minus the instrumental versions) and the entirety of the aptly titled "Bedroom Album". Noticeably missing are all of the releases from the same era for Virgin and Island, the ones I'd much rather hear, such as the collaborations with Don Letts, Keith Levene, Holger Czukay, Jaki Liebezeit and The Edge. Wobble's work with PiL and of the past 2-3 years is by far my favorite, thus my low expectations for "Early Years" were not surpassed. There are some pleasant and promising moments but nothing on par with his previous post-punk and later, more serious output. Goofy, cheesy pop tendencies (least of which are often silly or trite lyrics and vocals) and not so interesting experimentations predominate, while the dub wise world sound he is best known for is only in it's fledgling stages. Recording quality is a bit dodgy here and there too, some tracks obviously mastered from inferior masters. It's somewhat curious that Wobble would choose to re-issue these rather amateur recordings now. I recommend PiL's "Metal Box"/"Second Edition" and Wobble's other recent 30 Hertz discs instead ...
30 Hertz Records
Where did I get this cd? - 30 Hertz Records