Bill Laswell - Deconstruction: The Celluloid Recordings (1993)

A more than adequate overview of Bill Laswell's work at Celluloid, where he successfully blurred the division lines between hip-hop, rap, reggae, African music, jazz, and avant-garde, this two-CD anthology includes his work as a producer as well as solo and band recordings. Laswell displays both his strengths and weaknesses (brilliant bass playing, over-reliance on some techno-toys, an ear for combinations, a tendency to lock down in one place). One of his strongest pieces, "World Destruction" (Time Zone, featuring Afrika Bambaataa and John Lydon), kicks the album off, and after that it's a true roller coaster ride that sails through various lineups of Material via Manu Dibango, Massacre, Fela Anukulapo Kuti, the Last Poets, and Ginger Baker, among others. Some listeners will explore further, which they will most likely find beneficial.