The Echodelic Sounds of Future Pigeon

Album Review

Mixing together the sound of Adrian Sherwood's busy freak-dub and the spliff-driven party reggae of Sublime at their most sticky, the California-based and baked Future Pigeon have evolved from a loose project into a more purposeful band with The Echodelic Sounds of Future Pigeon, a rolling mindbender of an album, brilliantly produced by Tom Chasteen. Like Sherwood would often do, Pigeon and Chasteen bring dub elements into vocal tracks with echoes, synthetic noises, and oddball vocal samples mashing up the hopeful rebellion music. "Legalize it" and "down with the man" are common themes, and while Future Pigeon can deliver a serious, believable cover of Horace Andy's revolutionary "Money Money," they can also lively up the place with lighthearted tunes that are just as rewarding. No skanking Halloween party should be without the whimsical "The Mummy," and if horn-blasting ska with extra funk is what you desire, "Evil (Eatin at My Soul)" is just the ticket. Chasteen adds plenty of studio trickery without ever overpowering the music and there's enough authentic reggae spirit to make guest stars like Mikey Dread and Ranking Joe sound right at home. Echodelic is exciting proof the punky reggae party is alive and well in the 21st century.