Baldhead – Tales From The Alley

Previously known as Baldhead And The Dreads, this London based band release their debut eleven tracker and it’s a blinder.

Although several of the tracks have appeared before, I recognise at least three from their Lockdown EP, but it seems all have been re-recorded and all sound a lot better for what I suspect is more professionally produced release

Kicking off with their anthemic ‘Smoke Weed, Pet Dogs’ it largely sets the scene for what’s to follow. Anti-establishment lyrics and a cutting sense of humour are always a good combination in my books. Add these to a largely 2-Tone influenced musical direction along with some well judged dub and punk inserts and something truly excellent emerges. How can you not love a band that starts a song with the lines “Well dogs man, they’re fucking great – you get licked all over your face”? That’s what we want. More lyrics like that… It’s the future of ska.

Seriously though, this doesn’t have the anger of a Faintest Idea release or the laid back approach of Rebelation, it’s one of those that would sit nicely next to someone like The Pressure Tones or Too Many Crooks in your collection, but perhaps with a bit more of a off kilter sense of humour.

Released at the back end of last year, this is eight quid well spent on bandcamp, though a few quid more gets you something to cherish and hold, be it CD or vinyl. Go on, go spend some of your Christmas money on something worthwhile instead of yet another fucking compilation of 2-Tone classics that you’ve already got.

– Judge Knott

Baldhead on social media:
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