Somewhere…  a long, long time ago…  creative, artistic, and compelling music was not a dirty notion as far as popular culture was concerned-  talents of all sizes, shapes, and color could easily coexist because playlists were nonexistent, artists could do as they damn well pleased, and a certain bit of uniqueness was OK on the radio or MTV.  Which is a shame because in today’s industry, songs as brilliant and dynamic as Black Dub’s “I Believe In You” do not get the attention and push they deserve.

They say that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree and in the case of Black Dub lead singer Trixie Whitley, this rings very true.  Like her late father Chris, Whitley has an expressive gift-  not only in the haunting and smoky vocalization but also in her fearless interpretation of a lyric.  THIS is an excellent example of a singer perfectly in tune with the multiple shades and hues of a song.  She knows exactly when to push and pull, when to throw light onto the shade, and when to soar to great heights.  There is no overselling here in the vocal; it is pure, unadulterated feel and miles removed from the frequent operatics of many of your American Idol hopefuls.  An absolutely stunning performance.

As for the music…  the accompaniment is fairly subtle, working well as the backdrop to the vocal.  Bassist Daryl Johnson’s reggae influenced line is the first earworm; a slinky, dub-infected groove that bubbles underneath the sparse piano lines of Daniel Lanois.  But the other star of this cut to counter Whitley’s passionate vocal is the impressive drum mastery of Brian Blade- everything from subdued cymbal work to cracking rimshots to powerful tom hits are on display here, adding another spark to an already moving cut.  His jazzy touch is transcendent and quite remarkable, pushing and laying back in the right moments.

I’ve included two different versions here to highlight the slight differences between how well this song works live vs the studio version.  Both are certainly incredible as far as dynamics are concerned, but the extra production touches on the actual Black Dub album make for an aural treat typical of Daniel Lanois’ style.  Most of these touches are deep in the mix and do not distract from the performance- for example, there is an indiscreet, evocative vocal effect that intros the song and weaves in and out periodically as it makes itself known during dynamic changes.  Also, listen for the hints of keyboards and guitars that help build during the verses and the final chorus towards the end of the song.  Those delicate touches along with the passionate yet subtle delivery from all performers makes “I Believe In You” a winner.