A recent quip making the rounds about British politically minded rockers Asian Dub Foundation was that they probably chewed tacks for fun. A perusal of “Rafi’s Revenge” — an album worthy of appreciation but frequently hard to enjoy — will help listeners understand the joke.
True, “Rafi’s Revenge’s” fusion of breakbeats, drum & bass, punk and Indian folk music is a brilliant combination. “Naxalite,” “Buzzin” and “Black White” will induce much booty-shaking in the name of justice. But the rhetorical and musical assault becomes routine soon after this inspired beginning. As a whole, “Rafi’s Revenge” is unrelenting, a maelstrom of wild beats and spitfire rapping. It has the metabolism of a hummingbird — and leaves you feeling devoured.
This article appears in Nov 25 – Dec 1, 1998.