"...sophisticated jazz-tinged arrangements and of course a healthy dollop of dub
author: Chuck Foster-The Beat magazine vol. 24 no. 5 2005
RC Dub may have emerged from the broken pieces of the second ska revival but they pull just about every element imaginable into their presumed debut Inna State of Dubmission (Waxed Melon)including intricatedly tight horn sections, phase-shifted vocals, bass/drum/keyboard/guitar interaction, sophisticated jazz-tinged arrangements and of course a healthy dollop of dub. If I seem a little harsh in dealing with some of the submissions to "Reggae Update" consider that I am at times faced with releases like this in which the producer and players have done their homework, checked the vast expanse of ska, rock steady, reggae, roots, dub, and dancehall and come up with something truly innovative while always in tune and on time. In this case Brad Kindler, Emily Madison, David Mejia, Calen Olivetti, and Tim Aukerman have created a soundscape that drives forward with high energy without drawing too heavily from any one inspiration. Playful in title and lyric ("Dangerous Vudu", "Mango Tango" and "Mr. Green Genes" are not the least of these) they have laid a solid foundation over which they glide with grace. Operating out of Lincoln, NE, they are doubtless a band worth catching live. www.rcdub.com
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The sound is immediately compelling, as early tracks like the funky "Elemental,"
author: Reggae-Reviews.com
Of all the places in the United States where you'd guess a reggae band would come from, Nebraska probably wouldn't be near the top of the list. But lo and behold, here's RC Dub, a five-piece band straight outta Lincoln, Nebraska that's lot like RC Cola: cool, refreshing, and full of caffeine. Their largely instrumental music ranges from high-energy ska to funky, bass-driven dub, with electronica and jazz fusion elements spicing it all up -- indicative, no doubt of the mood swings resulting from all that caffeine. (Purists will appreciate the fact that they don't throw in a lot of the rock 'n roll sound that so many punk-leaning ska acts favor.) The sound is immediately compelling, as early tracks like the funky "Elemental," the jazzy, layered "Ugly Fruit," and the tempo-switching " RC Citizen" draw you in with an organic, live-instrument sound missing from a lot of modern, electronica-heavy dub. Frankly, I'm not someone who can sit down and listen to dub for an extended period of time without dozing off, but Inna State of Dubmission, RC Dub's debut, is an easy listen. Like a good book or movie, it envelopes you in its world, takes you on its roller coaster ride, and before you know it, it's over, and you're ready to go again. As you'd expect from a largely instrumental band, the vocals (which appear on only a few tracks) aren't the strong point; the group seems to know this, as the few vocals seem to be intentionally subdued and/or muffled. Aside from the previously mentioned tracks, other standouts include the rolling funk of "Last One" (powered by the group's female bassist; hooray for women!), the regal horns of "Dangerous Vudu," and the bouncy, mid-tempo "Fix My Low." Check 'em out at rcdub.com.
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Excellent dub reggae
author: Lincoln Journal Star/Ground Zero-June,3 2005
Original and complex, the music is echoing and spacey on Dangerous Vudu, propulsive and driving on Senor Ska.
Uniformly well played and Immaculately produced. Sounds great across all 17 of its tracks and is a perfect summer disc.
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