The Skapones ascend to new heights with latest album!

The Skapones have never been ones to rest on their laurels. And with this latest release, they show that they have yet again come up with something new and original.

A wise man once said “Music…has the power to raise the problems within society”.

Actually that man was Willo, front man of The Skapones as part of his musings about life, music and the band which makes up the opening track of this, the third and latest album from the Darlington based sextet.

Set against reggae dub background, the head honcho lays it on the line, giving listeners a window into his driving passions. As you immerse yourself in it, you can’t help but resonate with his sentiments.

Then, like the sun rising, the album bursts into the uplifting sounds of its title track, ‘Ascension,’ a name conjured up by Willo’s son, Jack. Sax player Bodsa then spun the song around this title in about 20 minutes, crafting a powerful upbeat ska tune that is both uplifting and joyous.

Childhood memories of one of my favourite movies at the time came flooding back when listening to the next track ‘Fading Fad’. A “Bugsy-malone-yet-still-ska-esque” sound, paired with razor-sharp lyrics aimed at some unfortunate soul, has me hooked three tracks in!

As the album progresses, the band shines a spotlight on our troubled world, decrying the status quo and urging us to be the architects of change. ‘Conversation with the Devil’ takes you on a rollercoaster ride, featuring thunderous big band brass, ska riffs, and an almost theatrical soundscape.

Football fans will find a kindred spirit in ‘When Saturday Comes,’ which captures the electric anticipation that grips every fan on a Saturday before a game. Penned by Willo, and a live favourite, it also pays tribute to his first love, York City FC, though thankfully, he refers to them as ‘the red and white,’ allowing me to imagine it’s all about the mighty Middlesbrough 😄

‘Won’t be Beat,’ written by guitarist George, is the album’s crown jewel and a roaring live anthem. This track is a wildfire of energy, with Willo’s snarling vocals and the driving, keyboard-powered tempo igniting the soul. Reflecting on the lockdown and the hypocrisy of the rule-makers and rule-breakers in power, it delivers a punch straight to the gut!. I’d pick this as my favourite track of what is a very tight race!

‘Recurring Dream’ follows, opening with a dreamlike introduction before launching into a reggae vibed chill-fest. The well-written dark lyrics and rich brass tones create a landscape of introspection and relaxation.

The band continues to navigate through a mosaic of genres with the next track, ‘Drink, Drank, Drunk’. This one feels like the soundtrack to an old western, with the hero of the hour slowly riding off into the sunset whilst the track plays the movie out.

‘Black Dog,’ a single release for the band, delves deep into the shadows of depression and anxiety. Returning to the spoken word style introduced in the album’s first track, it feels like a personal and insightful journey, which will resonating deeply with many.

‘Misery’ picks the pace up again with a great ska vibes, rasping brass and deep basslines along with some stellar guitar solos. Actually written by drummer Mike a decade ago, it has been resurrected and given a ska music makeover and it’s certainly stood the test of time, with spot-on keyboard solos from ivory thumper Niffy.

Next up is the upbeat Caribbean-flavored gem celebrating the influence of the Windrush generation. Reflecting on their positive impact on our lives, country, and music, ‘Windrush’ is a wonderfully crafted song that uplifts the spirit. Pure brilliance and finishing second by only a whisker in the race for favourite track.

Getting towards the end of the album now and ‘You Don’t Own Me’ takes on a genre-busting life of it’s own, veering back n forth between a rock opera style monster that wouldn’t have sounded out of place on a later Who album, a brass jazz classic but with a slow chillout reggae backing. How it works, I don’t know, but it does!

‘It’s OK’ continues with the genre-hopping journey with a bit of everything – in what sounds like it might be the illegitimate offspring of a one night stand between The Specials and The Style Council. Don’t hold that against it though – again, it works perfectly. Biting lyrics that we’ve come to expect for The Skapones take aim at…well, I’ll let you decide!

Mopping up the leftovers, we are offered over nine minutes of ska-brass-jazz, that at times sounds like it might launch into ‘This is Ska’ by Bad Manners, then hits you with a guitar solo, then a brass solo, then a drum solo, then slows everything down only to speed it up again. A winding plethora of sounds that slowly fades to leave you feeling thoroughly satisfied with the experience you’ve just had listening to the entire album.

This album is everything it should be – daring, exploratory, thoughtful and most of all very very listenable. A great third offering that you can listen to over and over again, and still find something new.

The album will be launched on CD and all streaming channels on June 22nd, and the band will perform the entire album on stage at The Majestic Theatre in Darlington, along with Tim Smart, trombonist with The Specials, who also features on the album on June 29th. The vinyl release will be not too far behind. Tickets for the event can be found here:
The Skapones “Ascension” album launch at The Majestic Theatre event tickets from TicketSource

You can order ‘Ascension’ on CD or gorgeous Black and Gold vinyl here:
The Skapones – Store