Currently enjoying “Enemy of the Enemy” by Asian Dub Foundation

The third album from local youth project turned sound system turned awesome collective Asian Dub Foundation is one of their finest, and certainly a welcome introduction to a great group.

Released in 2003, Enemy of the Enemy is a sharp, eclectic and forceful collection of music. Here, more than any other prior release, the group displays a knack for combining traditional rhythms and arrangement with the mainstream and underground sounds of the day. Not only that, but it’s also a remarkably politically astute album, particular for such a young group of people.

Certain aspects of what the band does best are given a better showcase in later releases – not to mention their rather excellent live DVD, also released in 2003. But if you’re looking for a strong introduction to the group, powerful but accessible, this is it.

By the way, Ed O’Brien from Radiohead is all over this album; he plays guitar on “Blowback,” “Fortress Europe” and the title track, which happen to be the three strongest cuts on the record. Not to put down Sinéad O’Connor and her rather excellent performance on “1000 Mirrors,” but still.

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