Saturday 4 February 2012

GUEST SPOT # 33 - Jah Wobble - 'Becoming More Like God'



It's Saturday, it's guest spot day. If you would like to do a guest spot yourself just email us with a song you like and what it does to you....go on we won't bite!


If Tunedr had a house band he'd be our Bass player fo sho!!! It's Jon.....


The only upload of the official video to Becoming More Like God on YouTube is unfortunately pretty low quality, so here is a live version of the track.


Jah Wobble's Invaders of the Heart - 'Becoming More Like God' ft. Anneli Drecker (1994)


Ubiquitous -  Adjective:  Present, appearing or found everywhere


The ex Public Image Ltd bass player first grabbed my attention with his collaboration with Sinead O'Conner in 1991, the trance-like "Visions Of You" from his Rising Above Bedlam album, with Sinead's amazing vocals over Jah Wobble's mesmerisingly repetitive dub-bass riff.  A (now sadly lapsed) bass player myself, I would spend hours listening to and trying to emulate his style.

Between then and 1994, it was almost as if Mr. Wobble was stalking me through my CD purchases. There are some musicians you can recognise instantly through their playing style, even when collaborating with other bands. Johnny Marr, for example. Peter Hook, Flea, Dave Navarro...  Out of nowhere a Jah Wobble bass line would just appear on random tracks within albums I'd bought. 'Higher Than The Sun', off Primal Scream's Screamadelica, Towers Of Dub' and 'Blue Room' from The Orb's U.F.Orb,  'There Goes The Cure' on One Dove's much underrated album Morning Dove White. And a joyous riff on the title track of Oui 3's album 'Oui Love You'.



So, imagine my delight when an unmistakeably Wobble riff wormed its way out of my radio one morning and infected me once more. "Becoming More Like God" featured Bel Canto vocalist Anneli Drecker and was the first single taken from the new Invaders Of the Heart album Take Me To God. The album itself featured yet another roll-call of top-class collaborators including Dolores O'Riordan, Natacha Atlas, Baaba Maal and even Chaka Demus and Pliers (No, really!).

As a bonus, if you're left in any doubt as to his genius, here is arguably the finest ever Intros round on Never Mind The Buzzcocks featuring the man himself.




Jah Wobble's Invaders of the Heart - 'Becoming More like God' feat Anneli Dreker

More guests spots? or more from Jon? Don't wobble go for both?!

Related Posts

GUEST SPOT # 33 - Jah Wobble - 'Becoming More Like God'
4/ 5
Oleh

5 comments

comments
avatar
Anonymous
4 February 2012 at 10:04

Jah Wobble is a true great. Love his stuff with PIL and much of his solo output. Special mention for his tribute album to William Blake! How cool is that?

Reply
avatar
4 February 2012 at 16:00

I loved 'Visions of You' from this album but this is another fantastic song, he has such a unique sound. 'Blue Room' and 'Towers of Dub', amazing tracks. "is that Hailie Selassie yeah?". Thanks again for another great contribution Jon.

Reply
avatar
sfw
4 February 2012 at 18:33

Jon, we need to have a drink sometime! All your 'spots' have hit the spot! Never heard this before but it's well tidy!

Reply
avatar
Jon
4 February 2012 at 22:39

Thanks guys. Took me ages to pick a specific Wobble track, there are so many great ones to choose from.

Reply
avatar
5 February 2012 at 19:39

Time to get these Jah Wobble albums dusted out....great stuff...was it 'Annies song by john Denver.......Love it!

Reply