Worshipping The Dollar

The unstoppable Dub Pistols return, in their biggest year yet, with their fifth album ‘Worshipping The Dollar’.

Barry Ashworth and his motley crew created their latest long-player in between gigs every weekend following the release of acclaimed 2009 album ‘Rum & Coke’. ‘Worshipping The Dollar’ sees a return to lyrical themes explored on earlier albums with deeper and more conscious lyrics and a pacier feel to the tracks, which mirrors their increasingly frenetic live shows.

“There are a lot more statement songs – a lot of food for thought on this one,” says main man Barry Ashworth. “It’s more uptempo, there’s some DNB, but the lyrics are deeper and darker. It’s more like our old stuff in a way.”

The title of the album is taken from a track voiced by Akala, Ms Dynamite’s brother. “Living in squalor, worshipping the dollar, there is no flag large enough to wrap around the horror” — so runs a key lyric on the anti-war song ‘West End Story’, a scathing indictment of US imperialism.

Other highlights include the return of UK hip-hop hero Rodney P, who has become part of the Dub Pistols extended family over the years, on a couple of the album’s DNB tracks: the firin’ ‘Gunshot’ and the hilarious standout ‘Mucky Weekend’. Other guest vocalists include Lindy Layton, formerly of Norman Cook’s chart-topping Beats International project (guesting on ‘Rock Steady’ with Rodney P); reggae legends Red Star Lion (Barbados), Bunna – joint founder of Africa Unite the legendary Italian reggae roots band now celebrating their 30th anniversary – and Dan Bowskill (London), Kitten & The Hip (aka Ashley Slater’s latest musical coupling with Kitten Quinn); plus regular Dubs MCs TK and Darrison.

From their early beginnings as a soundsystem project, Dub Pistols have grown into a party-rocking live band that ignites festivals and venues. Their infectious blend of ska, dub, hip-hop, electronic music and punk has won them many fans around the globe over the past 15 years and, following sold-out shows across Europe, they were justifiably voted the Best Live Act at DJ Mag’s Best Of British Awards at the end of 2011.

‘Dub Pistols truly cement their place amongst the great British outlaw acid house bands’ 9.5 / 10 – DJ

‘Dub Pistols continue to evolve – Big beats, big breaks, big bass, big smile.’ 7/10 – Clash Magazine

‘A powerful and infectious summer listen, worship Dub Pistols’ 4/5 – Big Cheese

‘Barry Ashworth’s bustling dance n dub collective hit a rich timely activist seam’ – The Mirror

‘Their mastery of reggae’s most uptempo aspects and hip-hop beats makes them late-afternoon bankers’ – Q Magazine