The original version of legendary afrobeat drummer Tony Allen's "Ijo" includes an urgent vocal that similarly legendary reggae musician Dennis Bovell has transformed in his dub, launching it into an infinite echo. Instead, he's replaced it with a very contemporary keyboard bloop and, of course, the drum brush of a smoky dub and what sounds a good deal like an accordion. As much as the dub often resembles Allen's more traditional sound, it also has strong hints of a circular influence of the British post-punk artists of the late ’70s and early ’80s who, in their own way, aped his sound. It's a good full circle. Allen's new album, Secret Agent includes the original and gonna be a killer at the BBQs this summer.
Download: Tony Allen, “Ijo (Dennis Bovell Dub)”