Golden State of Dub

Album Review

L.A.'s Future Pigeon is a loose-knit side project featuring all but one member of Wiskey Biscuit's septet, as well as good friends Dave Scher from Beachwood Sparks and Eddie Ruscha Jr. of Dada Munchamonkey. This 12-track debut is too revolutionary in its approach, yet doesn't really expand the genre of dub music beyond its well-established borders, even though it reveals the group's appreciation for the music, with most of the personality of the players removed from the equation. Their blissed-out live performances are often fairly experimental in nature, too, with bandmembers huddled over their guitars, basses, pedal steel, turntables, and a multitude of keyboards, samplers, and other instruments. Since they've also shared that crowded stage with legends like Adrian Sherwood and Hopeton "Scientist" Brown, it should come as no surprise that both of these celebrated dub masters' influence can be found throughout. These instrumentals are treated gingerly, almost lovingly, with freaky head melodies awash in downbeat minimalist beats and the kind of warped space rock effects that you won't often find associated with dub; on "Hi Dub," for instance, a fired-up bong was apparently sampled and then looped in as a percussive element. The opening track, "Confederate Dub," saunters in on a hopalong country-poke rhythm, complete with an echoing button accordion riff. Pedal steel guitar is also used to harmonious effect throughout. On "Gunslinger," the instrument adds to the blend of Caribbean and Hawaiian Island sounds, lulling you into a sweet ganga-soaked reverie before a ricocheting bullet stirs you awake. "Shantytropolis" is replete with tough, inner-city beats, while "Fall of the House of Dub" whirs along with a crazy carnival sideshow synth. Golden State of Dub was recorded entirely at the band's Echo Park home, and released on Wiskey Biscuit's own Shipwrecords label.