"3 Cities In Dub" carries on the welcome tradition of albums remixing great albums. In this case, we're remixing Bombay Dub Orchestra's second album, "3 Cities." Available from Six Degrees Records, this EP is packed with variations. If "plain old" Bombay Dub Orchestra is too orchestral for you, or if you just want to crank it up a notch, you'll like these mixes.

1. Egypt By Air (Bombay Dub's Funky Old Medina Remix)
2. Monsoon Malabar (International Observer Remix)
3. Journey (Rise Ashen Naturaj Dub)
4. Egypt By Air (EarthRise SoundSystem Remix)
5. Junoon (Bombay Dub's Jaipur Active Remix)
6. Journey (Liquid Stranger's Sliptrip Edit)
7. Junoon (Alpha & Omega Dub #3)
8. Monsoon Malabar (Bombay Dub Orchestra's Dub Mix)
9. Journey (Pathaan's Epic Mix)

BDO start things off with a "Funky Old Medina" remix of "Egypt By Air." It takes the sweepingly epic sound of Bombay Dub Orchestra and adds a smoky, downtempo beat.

The next track is an "International Observer" remix of "Monsoon Malabar." The original version of Monsoon Malabar has almost hypnotic vocals and melody, so it's interesting to see how those play out in remixes. This version has Asian strings and echoing, bubbly keyboards. The beat is much slower here than the original version, with a more accessible electro sound than the squelching distortion.

Funking it up a bit is Rise Ashen's "Nataraj" dub of "Journey." Low bass lines and a subdued house beat pep up the soaring strings and chanting. An interesting combination of elements you wouldn't normally associate with one another, it does a good job of making you tap your feet and follow along.

EarthRise SoundSystem remixes "Egypt By Air" as well, giving it layers and layers of tribal drums. The added percussion gives the movie soundtrack a powerful vibe, pushing it out of the ambient and onto the dancefloor.

Bombay Dub Orchestra create a "Jaipur Active" remix of "Junoon" with heavy beats and a slowed down tempo. Definitely one of my favorites on the album, it's the right mix of vocals, melody, and beat. A bit trip-hop and a bit Middle Eastern, it whirls and nods it's way through your headphones.

The "Sliptrip" edit of "Journey" by Liquid Stranger is quite a change. The beat is very heavy, almost breakbeat in its stuttering. Some added distortion effects make this a very dark and moody piece. The strings and winds keep it ethereal.

Alpha & Omega's "Junoon Dub #3" adds a relentless beat that echoes with depth. Reggae flashes. The vocals chime in and distort out.

The next track is a dub mix of "Monsoon Malabar" by Bombay Dub Orchestra. Coming in around eight minutes in length, this version makes excursions through lounge and downtempo, but always comes back to the hypnotic chanting.

Wrapping up this album is Pathaan's "Epic" mix of "Journey." Epic is the word, being longer than ten minutes. It has a nice electronica beat, full of motion. The remix starts out pretty stripped down, mostly the drums and some melody, but it layers up slowly, with the flying keyboards, and eventually the vocals and flute.

The original album was recorded in three different cities, and you felt the influence of each on the music. It's possible that on this EP we're influenced by three other cities. Perhaps Tokyo, DC, and Manchester.

~ Ethan Georgi

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