Dub Pistols

Point Blank (A&M)
by Rowan-Morrison

Every month, there’s a new Euro band invading our dance charts with recycled Chemical Brothers breakbeats and loops, but the quick fame of these doppelgängers lasts about as long as a Gap commercial. While the Dub Pistols have the trappings of an electronica-flavor-of-the-month (remember Daft Punk?), they’re not devoid of talent. Among their catchier cuts are the rap oriented “Unique Freak” and “Cyclone,” both of which evoke the Propellerheads’ song that features the Jungle Brothers. Even when the vocals are gone or just reduced to an occasional sample, these guys know how to hit a few mood-manipulating notes to keep you listening. The laidback “Towerblock,” for example, features a horn loop with heart. Hopefully, fans of Cirrus, Junkie XL, and the techno-rap fusion movement will discover that the Dub Pistols have more than a month’s worth of talent.