Is Hear No Evil a good place to start with Bill Laswell?

Yes, Hear No Evil is recommended as a starting point for new Bill Laswell listeners. An immersive blend of dub textures and jazz improvisation, creating a sonic landscape that is both meditative and experimental. Released in 1988, Hear No Evil marked Bill Laswell's return to the studio after his acclaimed collaboration on Material's earlier albums. This album showcased his unique approach to fusion, combining elements of dub, jazz, and world music during a period of significant artistic exploration.

Who is Hear No Evil for?

Hear No Evil works well if you're into steady mid-tempo immersive journey, hypnotic soundscapes for focus and atmospheric background for relaxation.

How many songs are on Hear No Evil?

Hear No Evil has 6 tracks, running approximately 42 minutes.

Hear No Evil

Bill Laswell · 1988

42 min · 6 tracks · jazz

An immersive blend of dub textures and jazz improvisation, creating a sonic landscape that is both meditative and experimental.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Lost Roads Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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Bullet Hole Memory — This track stands out for its haunting melodies and intricate layering, showcasing Laswell's prowess in blending dub influences with jazz sensibilities.
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Assassin — With its driving bassline and ethereal sound effects, this track exemplifies the album's exploration of tension between rhythm and space.
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Stations of the Cross — This composition features a profound sense of progression, merging ambient textures with a hypnotic groove that encapsulates the album's meditative qualities.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

64 /100

Treeline

Higher than 79% of albums we've rated

The album's innovative fusion of dub and jazz creates a unique listening experience that rewards exploration.

What we noticed

The album features extended instrumental tracks that often blend live instrumentation with electronic effects, creating a layered soundscape.
Each track varies in tempo and mood, with some pieces building gradually while others introduce abrupt shifts in dynamics.
The use of space and silence is prominent, allowing for moments of reflection amidst the dense textures.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

steady mid-tempo immersive journey
hypnotic soundscapes for focus
atmospheric background for relaxation
thoughtful listening in solitude

Maybe skip if you

seeking fast-paced excitement
prefer short standalone tracks

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Critical Peak — Innovative sound that redefined jazz and electronic music boundaries.
Themes: hypnotic grooves· dub-jazz fusion· immersive soundscapes
Career context: Released in 1988, Hear No Evil marked Bill Laswell's return to the studio after his acclaimed collaboration on Material's earlier albums. This album showcased his unique approach to fusion, combining elements of dub, jazz, and world music during a period of significant artistic exploration.
Stylistic neighbors: Tackhead· Herbie Hancock· Thievery Corporation