The Family Business Ltd: Ten Tracks, 23 minutes & No Time to Sit Down
The Family Business Ltd have barely introduced themselves before they’re trying to get you onto the dancefloor. “Floor Burner” opens their debut album with a minute and a half of frantic, 2 Tone fuelled ska, and “Shakedown” gives you no chance to catch your breath. Two tracks in, it’s clear this record means business.
The collective brings together Jordan Cardy of RAT BOY, Preston of The Ordinary Boys and Antonee First Class of The English Beat, with Tim Armstrong and Jesse Michaels adding their creative input. That mix of backgrounds comes through in the music. There’s the bounce and keyboard drive of early 2 Tone, the scrappy urgency of Operation Ivy and flashes of the ska side of Rancid, all delivered with enough energy to feel firmly in the present.
“Detonator” is where that Operation Ivy/Rancid influence hits hardest: a fast, rough-edged tune that sounds made for a packed room. Then “Still a Jamaican” brings the brass forward, with toasting that recalls Ranking Roger and a rhythm that celebrates the island where this whole musical story began. It’s one of the album’s finest moments.
The pace stays high through much of the record. “Armageddon” has keyboards that keep your feet moving, while “Bambi” eases off the accelerator only slightly. “No Vacancy” shifts between upbeat passages and more laid-back moments, giving the album a little room to breathe. And beneath those infectious melodies, there’s something to say. “Transistor” takes aim at an industry seemingly obsessed with safe, pleasant songs, and longs for music that reflects what’s happening out on the streets.
By the time “A.S.B.O.” closes things at a slower pace, you’ll probably be grateful for the breather. It’s a strong finish to an album that’s spent most of its ten tracks asking you to get up and skank.
Some might say The Family Business Ltd aren’t doing anything entirely new. Fair enough, you can hear their influences a mile off. But that misses the joy of it. This album captures the raw excitement of early 2 Tone and ska punk, then puts its own people, melodies and words behind it. The production has a welcome throwback feel without making the songs sound stuck in the past. My only complaint is that it isn’t long enough, and it just leaves you wanting more!
“Floor Burner”, “Detonator”, “Still a Jamaican” and “A.S.B.O.” are my standouts, but there honestly isn’t a weak track here. These are tunes that make you want to play the album again as soon as it finishes and honestly, I LOVE it! A top album and hopefully there is more to come!
Now, how about a vinyl release and a UK tour? 👊🏁
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