Dub Pistols - 'Six Million Ways To Live' (Distinctive) Released 13/10/03

The Dub Pistols first entered this hack's consciousness five years ago, via the brilliant Skatellites-sampling hip-hop of their 'Cyclone' single. The rest of their material was disappointingly dull, unfortunately, and we haven't really heard much of them since. There were far more exciting bands with the word 'dub' in their name at the time…Asian Dub Foundation, for a start. Now that ADF have floundered, however, it's with trepidation that we put a lesser act's new album on the stereo.

Surprisingly, it's pretty good. Clearly realising that substandard hip-hop is not really the way to go, they've moved on to much more reggae-influenced sounds. The British edge is still clear, though, and as such the album's first proper song (after a pointless intro track) 'World Gone Crazy' is reminiscent of occasionally-good late-90's band Audioweb at their laziest. 'Problem Is' is much, much better, as its ska-inflected rhythms twist and turn through a brilliantly addictive tune. This is where the Dub Pistols reveal themselves to be a total Jekyll & Hyde of a band. For every upbeat, danceable rocksteady groove, there's a half-arsed dub dirge that completely reeks of not trying hard enough. They might never match the poptastic 'Cyclone', but their biggest concern is their complete lack of original ideas.

With a bit more effort, 'Six Million Ways To Live' might have sounded less like Roots Manuva's cast-offs and more like a great dub-hop record. At this stage in their career, it looks like they plan to be in it for the long haul, but they need to master the short journeys first.