As an old Deadhead, I've always been captivated by California, and especially the Bay Area. It was there, in the very heart of the Grateful Dead, that music and legendary concerts were born, music that still makes the hearts of Deadheads and hippies beat faster. And it's not just cannabis that's been experiencing a "Californization" for several years now, with the rise of Cali strains. Meanwhile, Californian reggae bands like Chuck Foster, Groundation, Arise Roots, The Expanders, and countless others have also won me over with their open-minded, typically laid-back, guitar-driven sound. It's all the more surprising, then, that Roommate has largely slipped under my radar until now.
Roommate's (Justin McCauley) musical career began at the age of 11 when he had his first guitar lesson. Since then, he has honed his skills by fusing organic and electronic sounds into his distinctive style, developing his own unique signature sound. His first solo album (“DubHe self-released "funk Vol. 1" in 2003, which was very well received and quickly gained musical recognition in "underground circles". DubHaving first conquered the streets of the USA from England, he quickly took a liking to the new musical style and, together with his friend No Thing, produced some milestones of electronic music. Roommate's popularity grew after a series of high-quality releases. What followed were numerous tours with worldwide performances, where he performed with intensity and unbroken passion. Fueled by this success, McCauley founded two record labels: "King Dubbist” and “Avocaudio”, two further forward-looking musical projects that focus on first-class vibes and outstanding productions, covering a wide spectrum of DubThey cover everything from step-by-step and trip-hop to jungle and reggae. They exemplify and represent Roommate's musical spectrum and his penchant for musical freshness.
Last weekend I finally immersed myself in the extremely productive and diverse sonic universe of Justin McCauley, aka Roommate. With his new album “Roommate – Decades in Dub“(Avocaudio) ultimately hit the spot for me too. Roommate has taken 12 tracks from his vast repertoire spanning 2016 to 2025, significantly lowering the volume, deconstructing, and reconstructing them to enrich them with imaginative sounds. A blend of echoes and reverb paired with the typical psychedelic West Coast sound. Rich basslines stretch into dimensions where melodies dissolve into a tape delay haze, while familiar motifs in dubhallucinations disappear. The original "Mezcal," which is almost six minutes long, was released as "Mezcal." Dub“Cut down to less than four minutes. This is where I think Roommate's studio work is most impressively demonstrated. Roommate shows his DubUnderstanding through his unique West Coast perspective: a blend of experimentation, intuition, imagination, and boundless sonic diversity. The result is dense, surprising, and reveals hidden paths, versions, and new sonic worlds of the original material.
2 replies to “Roommate: Decades In Dub"
Yes, "there's no accounting for taste," but there's no accounting for good taste.
I've already been "under the radar" of "Decades in Dub“raved and Roomate into my “league of exceptional gentlemen of Dub"Recorded. With Chuck Foster, Groundation, Arise Roots, and The Expanders, almost all the American bands that I've also taken to my heart are listed. Though not with every album. Groundation, in particular, has faded into mediocrity for me. I'm not the only one who finds Harrison Stafford grating. Very often, the band, or perhaps a "smashed brain," transformed this grating into a kind of playful, joyful experience, so that the groove carried me away from the vocals. For what feels like ten years now, I've only listened to Groundation's "old stuff," if at all. But that's not really what this is about. It's not about Chuck Foster either, but it's primarily about his DubProductions that have always impressed me through their Ras Vorbei Their precisely executed playing style is captivating.
"Open in all directions, typically relaxed, guitar-heavy sound," where especially the DubAn atmosphere so wonderfully fresh, with the kind of oxygen you probably only find these days far off the coast of California, somewhere in the Pacific. That always sounds so much like an "open house" for all lovers of the overly indulgent. DubTinsel, which makes the guitar sound particularly as if it's being played by angels. I like it.
"West Coast perspective!" "A blend of experimentation, intuition, imagination, and boundless sonic diversity." I'm simply quoting this because I can't describe it any better. All of this, coupled with the atmospheric, yet relaxed and guitar-driven sound, is what I call "Afterlife." Dub"To sum it up, so to speak. Here I find everything that makes my soul happy and provides a beautiful whole-body experience."
Goosebumps are unavoidable. The whole album is great, but highlights like these make any good album a very good one for me. Unfortunately, I haven't got anything to say about "Dub"funk Vol.1" still to the one from
René, many years ago, reviewed the album "Dub I found "Transmissions." It may well be that "seek and ye shall find," or something like that, but I'm no longer a "seeker," since I believe I've already found everything that's important to me. Besides, I never found anything good or beautiful while searching for shells on the beach, nor did I ever feel like looking for magic mushrooms in a meadow. I merely helped empty the jar, and even that only very "occasionally in private" ;-)
Not every good one DubAlbum gets in DubBlog review. All the better that "Decades In Dub“was honored with a review.”
There's a shortage of skilled workers, so you have to focus on the essentials.
Concentrate. And be good. Dub It's just very "essential" ;-)
So long ……………… lemmi
Unexpected. I thought my colleague had finished. I have several DubHis step-maxi-singles from around 2010, which were all pretty nice, and on the car USB stick, two above-average mixes with his own stuff. Let's see if I stumble across them somewhere ;)