Deadline

One of Bill Laswell's many projects, Deadline is a collaboration with drummer Phillip Wilson -not without the usual Laswell cohorts, of course with an interesting blend of industrial DMX beats and live percussion, African influences and Western funk, with saxophonist Manu Dibango invoking memories of his Laswell-produced album 'Electric Africa'. 

Their first album, 'Down By Law' (1985), includes the ten-minute-plus killer track "Makossa Rock," which combines clever, funky rhythms, an irresistible synth bassline, Steve Turre's haunting didgeridoo, scratching-like sounds by Laswell and Robert Musso, plus solos by Dibango, bluesman Paul Butterfield on harmonica, and bass legend Jaco Pastorius. The other tracks, including the abstract, percussive pieces "Gammatron" (reminding of Material's "Heritage") and "Doo Rot," never let go of their fierce rhythmic edge either. While "Makossa Rock" may be worth the price of the album alone, the other tracks should not be neglected. 

The next album, 'Dissident' (1991), features three bass players, that under normal circumstances, would be completely out of the question. But when the three are Bill Laswell, Jonas Hellborg and Bootsy Collins, well...at least you need to give a listen. And in this case, the sound of common sense being thrown out the window has never been so sweet. Aiding and abetting our three bass-playing overachievers on this album are keyboardists Jens Johanssen and Bernie Worrell, percussionist Aib Dieng and guitarist Nicky Skopelitis, most of whom have worked together on other projects and all of whom share a penchant for the funkily experimental. Not surprisingly, bass is the dominant voice here: Laswell's is deep and funky, Hellborg's is virtuosic and mystical, and Bootsy's, no surprise, is just plain weird. And funky. The band explores all kinds of interesting musical terrain, from the dark, industrial angst of "World Disorder" to the murmuring electronic jungle of "Who's Who." This is lots of fun, though those unfamiliar with the work of Laswell, Hellborg and Collins in other areas may be a bit mystified at first. [SOURCE: ALLMUSIC]