Howie B vs. Casino Royale Not in the Face

• Words: Luciana Lopez
• Label: Fabric
• XLR8R Rating: /10

Reduce, reuse, recycle? In summer 2006, Howie B produced the album Reale with Italian roots/ska band Casino Royale. But Howie B, whose broad aesthetic has seen him work with artists such as Björk and U2, heard another album in there. He took that album back to the studio and came out with a dark, dubby treatment that tries to remain true to the band’s basic sensibilities. The results are sometimes fantastic–the bass on “Milano Double Standard” especially toward the end, is a thick slice of awesome–and sometimes not, as on the dull opener, “Easy Tranquillo.” Still, the re-imagining that went into this album makes it clear Howie B’s still got vision on his side.