Ben Wa (band)

Ben Wa was an American electronic band from Oakland, California comprising Anthony "House" Chaba (programming and bass guitar) and Eric Ware (programming and keyboards), who had worked together before in bands such as Limbomaniacs, Big Janitor, and MCM & the Monster.Ben Wa
biography on ''Allmusic''.

After releasing a four track ''EP 1'' full of breaks and electro in 1998 they began recording their debut album '' Devil Dub'' featuring guest musicians such as guitarists Buckethead and M.I.R.V., drummer Bryan "Brain" Mantia and turntablist DJ Disk, plus Scientist live on stage for the release party in January 1999. Chaba and Ware had met Scientist when opening for Bill Laswell's Praxis in San Francisco.Michelle Goldberg:
Ben Wa's debut CD, 'Devil Dub,' offers classic old-school dub.
' In: ''Metro Silicon Valley'', January 7, 1999.

Reviews for ''Devil Dub'' were positive with '' URB'' calling it "one of the most crucial records of any genre released this year" and Michelle Goldberg of ''Metro Silicon Valley'' stating: "The lazy pace is lulling, but like Tricky's music, it's more edgy and creepy than ethereal." Rick Anderson of ''Allmusic'' gave 4,5 out of 5 stars, writing: "This is remarkably pleasant stuff." Noah Wayne of online music magazine '' Splendid'' wrote: "It's campy, it's twisted, it's dub!"

Two of their tracks, "Re-Dub" and "Ephedream", were included on Laswell's releases ''Reanimator: Black Market Science'' and ''Tetragrammaton - Submerge''. They also contributed tracks to a few other dub compilations.

Another EP called ''Elektro-Krazy'' followed in 2000, again concentrating on breaks and electro and described on '' Epitonic'' as "the gap between Detroit techno and funky dance floor breaks in a most ingenious way". Their next album ''Disciples Of Retro-Tech'' was released in 2001 as a double vinyl and single compact disc, featuring explorations of pure electro and synth-pop terrain. Stephen Cook of ''Allmusic'' wrote: "The hybrid mix is so inventive that suspect pastiche and old-school chic absolutely do not figure into it". He gave the album 4 out of 5 stars. Daiv Whaley of music newspaper ''Hear/Say'' concluded his review: "This is cool, accessible music for every child of man and machine. File under 'electro-funk,' file under 'fantastic.'"

Discography

* ''EP 1'' (12" EP on Black Hole Records, 1998)
* ''Devil Dub'' (CD album on Black Hole Records, 1998)
* ''Elektro-Krazy'' (12" EP on Malvado Records, 2000)
* ''Retro-Tech EP'' (12" EP on Stray Records, 2001)
* ''Disciples Of Retro-Tech'' (Double vinyl and single CD album on Stray Records, 2001)

Devil Dub

''Devil Dub'' is the 1999 debut album by San Francisco Bay Area band Ben Wa consisting of "Dr. Ware" and "House"( Limbomaniacs, Tommy Guerrero, Buckethead's Giant Robot, MCM & the Monster).

After forming in 1997, contributing to several compilations and releasing an EP in 1998, ''Devil Dub'' was the first full-length release by the duo. House sums up:

Guest musicians finally included avant-garde guitarist Buckethead, drummer Brain (with Primus at this time) and DJ Disk (from the Invisibl Skratch Piklz).

A critics from ''URB magazine'' called it "one of the most crucial records of any genre released this year".

Track listing

Personnel

*Buckethead – guitar, neuro-pulse guitar-activated Larynx Modeler
*DJ Disk – turntable, orange Bear
*Brain – beats
* M.I.R.V. – broken guitar
*Adrian Isabell – percussion
*Dr. Ware – keyboards, programming
*House – bass, programming
*Dow W. Patten – preacher
*Recorded at Tyrell Studios, Oakland CA
*Produced by Ben Wa.

Notes

Ben wa humbly acknowledged the following for inspiration: Scientist, Mad Professor, Lee 'Scratch' Perry, King Tubby, Sly and Robbie, Bill Laswell and Kraftwerk.

References

External links

*
*
* as archived on July 28, 2009.
*
GearTalk: Ben Wa
'. In: ''IGN'', April 4, 2001.
* Chris Baty:
Ben There, Done That.
'' In: ''SF Weekly'', October 17, 2001.
* Cleofus Williams: ', gogorilla.com

Michelle Goldberg on the album

Interview by Martijn Busink, 2002

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ben Wa
Electronic music groups from California
Musical groups established in 1998
Musical groups disestablished in 2001