Axe

HiRes remastered issue of David Axelrod's 1974 album for Fantasy. The first "non-concept" album from this studio master, featuring some lush, over-the-top covers (Stevie Wonder's "Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing," Carly Simon's "You're So Vain") and about a couple dozen guest musicians, including Julian "Cannonball Adderley (alto sax), George Duke (ARP synth) and Gene Ammons (tenor sax).

Technically this is an Epic release, but those in the know will see Adrian Sherwood listed as producer and Skip McDonald as sole performer and understand immediately: in all but name, this is an On-U Sound production. What does that mean? It means that groove will be primary, words secondary, and overall sound will be dark and thrilling; it means that weird samples will bubble up unpredictably from beneath churning funk and reggae rhythms; and it means that a certain degree of dubwise anarchy will infuse every note.

A group of three criminals on the run from the law, go about terrorizing the local townsfolk of a small community, before descending on an isolated farm which is home to a young girl named Lisa and her paralyzed grandfather. After being sexually assaulted by two of the gangsters, she retaliates using an axe and a razor blade.