Roadblock Dub Collective – Sepinggungan – Review

August 24, 2020

Roadblock Dub Collective: Sepinggungan Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com.

Indonesia has thrown up some inspiring Roots-derived artists in recent years; not least among these being Ras Muhamad and another, fascinating act. Enter Roadblock Dub Collective, with their latest track and accompanying video.

Roadblock Dub Collective Sepinggungan, a self-released track, sees Roadblock (Yulius Samiaji and Hidayat Surodijoyo) tread a Dub-led yet musically interesting path which touches on numerous influences to create a wholly unique sound. With vocals from activist and singer Terranova (from Sound System outfit Anjing Dub) it’s brooding, intricate and unsettling – cleverly crafted around several component parts.

Breaking it down, there are various rudimental elements in play. Not least among these are several Roots/Dub devices. An electric organ line plays a fairly relentless, dampened bubble rhythm through the left input, one that at times drops off. There’s also a second keys’ line out of the right, focused on a higher kHz sound and working around elongated, offbeat chords which have brief runs between them. It also runs a riff at the end of the chorus’s bars – serving as a brief but effective bridge into each subsequent bar.

Meanwhile, the bass line is heavily syncopated, working across both dotted and straight notes; melodically using the diatonic scale (in keeping with the Roots/Dub sound post-Rocksteady). But its engineering is deep: a rich, explosive sound wholly fitting with the Dub nature of Sepinggungan. It also drops the fourth beat in what sounds like every second bar, creating a clever break and musical intake of breath.

Central to the track is also the drum arrangement – and there’s no one drop in sight. Instead, a complex interplay between the hi-hats and snare exists, with the latter focusing on the two and four but also doing slow rolls in between. This creates a marching, domineering vibe, while the kick mostly hits directly on each beat. Then kendangs (or a similar, skinned drum) add to the driving momentum. As a rule, they run three sets of four semiquavers – but the pattern of these varies. Most notably is that for the majority of the track, the drums as a whole take a breath after beat three. This is, again, extremely clever – as the listener is given a break on the three from the drums, then on every other four from the bass – enhancing not only that stuttering, Dub vibe but also drawing the ear to the vocal line. A tambourine adds to this, and the whole percussive line is a smart, intuitive composition from Samiaji and Surodijoyo – combining musical elements of both Indonesia and Jamaica.

There’s another brilliant instrumental component: a melodica featuring centre stage. It often mimics the main melodic line, and at others serves as an accompaniment to it, running countermelodies. Its performance is glorious – full of crescendo and decrescendo, with a nice use of vibrato across the drawn-out notes. The inclusion of synths and samples just adds to the Dub vibe – and the brief inclusion of chanting children is extremely effective. Overall, Sepinggungan is a heavy, complex and moving piece of composition – and the perfect backdrop for the stark vocal lines.

Terranova’s performance is compelling. Sitting as urgent spoken word on the verses, she then moves into straight vocal on the chorus. Both styles are effective here, as they demand your attention – the latter showcasing her pure, unfussy singing technique which is stark yet haunting. Lyrically, it’s stirring and inspiring work, too – as Roadblock and Terranova deliver a veritable cry for unity, empathy and humanity. As the lyrics, when translated to English, say “Lined up like a mighty guidance. Supporting each other equally. Gladness can even come through the griefs. Support and helping each other to enlighten every one of us”.

The accompanying video, from creative director Nugroho Arif Prabowo and editors Luthfi Satria and Anthony Caesar, is as unnerving as the track itself. Shot wholly in monochrome, city, land and seascape footage has been overlaid with traditional artwork. Piercing eyes, often doubled-up and mirrored, take you aback with their fleeting appearances. The use of negative colour inversion is particularly effective – and the whole package fits the musical and thematic content of the track well: the abject individualism of our modern, industrialised world coupled with nature and spirituality, the things we should be focused on.

Sepinggungan is an affecting piece of work. Masterfully crafted to merge both Indonesian and Jamaican influences, the arrangement is haunting, as is Terranova’s vocal. The accompanying video is pitch perfect – and the complete result is a pertinent, thought-provoking track in these times of eternal strife. Excellent.