The Bandits - The Warning (Dub Remix) / Guns Of Brixton (Live)
[B-Unique]

Already doing the rounds on eBay at £20 a pop, this Double A-Side 12" features an exclusive Mad Professor Dub Remix with a live version of The Clash's Guns Of Brixton on the flip.

Unfortunately the Professor delivers a disappointingly tedious mix which keeps to the original melody adding nothing besides weak drums and token dub echoes. Uninspiring and dull, a more fitting producer would have been the mighty Jah Wobble who could have actually taken the song in a new direction. Shocking that a man with such a reputation is being paid to remix as mediocre as this. Stick to the original fierce debut and you wont be disappointed.

The Joe Strummer blessed version of Guns Of Brixton meanwhile, is upbeat and fun with a lovely bassline. The key role in The Bandit's sound is John's wonderfully booming voice, which suits this song down to the bone. Still, it does not differ that much from the original, thus defeating the whole point of doing your own cover...Disappointing if you shelled out an arm and leg for a copy, so buy with caution.