Bluekilla Prove They Still Call It Ska
I first crossed paths with Bluekilla back in 1995, reviewing Ska-a-Go-Go for my old fanzine. Fast-forward three decades and a healthy stack of releases later, and the Hamburg ska veterans are still firing on all cylinders. Their latest seven-track EP, They Call It Ska, proves there’s no rust on the engine, just more fuel in the tank.
The EP wastes no time getting going. Pogo in Togo bursts out of the speakers with a wall of sharp, guitar-led ska, setting the tone immediately: upbeat, brash, and driven by pure momentum. It’s classic Bluekilla energy, the kind of opener that pulls you onto the dancefloor whether you planned to move or not.
That energy carries straight into Staring at the Rude Boys, a confident ska reworking of the The Ruts classic. Rather than feeling like a novelty cover, it sounds completely at home here with the original’s attitude intact, but now riding a skanking rhythm that gives it new life and a fresh bounce.
Things ease back slightly with Boys & Girls, where the tempo drops and the groove takes over. Heavy basslines sit deep in the mix, locking in with a steady skank and giving the track a darker, more considered feel without losing its forward motion.
The mood lifts again with Zeit unseres Lebens (Time of Our Lives), a German-language track that glides along effortlessly. Even without understanding the lyrics, the message comes through loud and clear thanks to a buoyant rhythm and rich, brass-heavy arrangement that does all the emotional heavy lifting.
That traditional edge continues into Nutz die Chancen (Seize the Opportunities), which opens on a soulful trumpet line before unfolding into one of the EP’s most danceable moments. The brass takes centre stage here, weaving in and out with confidence and delivering some standout solos along the way.
Momentum ramps back up on The Big Red Kangaroo, a track that feels steeped in early Jamaican ska spirit. There’s a clear nod to King of Kings, the early ska classic sang by Prince Buster, Jimmy Cliff & Desmond Dekker, but it never tips into pastiche, instead feeling like a respectful reimagining filtered through Bluekilla’s own sound.
Finally, Here I Come brings things to a close on a deeper note, leaning into heavier reggae rhythms while once again letting the brass shine. It’s a confident, weighty finish that leaves the EP feeling complete and cohesive, rather than simply ending.
After all these years, Bluekilla aren’t trading on nostalgia, they’re still evolving, still sharp, and still fully committed to the sound they helped carry through Europe. They Call It Ska isn’t just a title, it’s a statement.
Available on CD or Vinyl, it can be ordered from the bands Bandcamp page at the link below and is of course available for streaming.
