Here's One We Made Earlier!,
Smoke Like A FishSeriously, without a shadow of a doubt one of the best things about writing for Punktastic is the fact that I get free Smoke Like A Fish albums without even asking for them. Even though this is a collection of early stuff and rarities it's still a fantastic bunch of ska songs that could get even the most stoned of students nodding their head.
Highlights include a version of 'Bankrobber' and 'The Price', while tunes like 'The Way' and 'Peter Davies' are superbly balanced examples of prime, good-time ska. While this might not be the most diverse selection from t'Fish, they ably demonstrate that they know their strengths – crafting solid 2 Tone tracks and giving them a modern spin – and are fully prepared to stick to them. There's no cheesy predictable moments in sight; instead, a bold album that suggests that even in their gestation period SLAF were a force to be reckoned with.
As a complement to their latest opus 'Survival of the Hip'est', this works very well because it shows a slightly more stripped-back approach to ska music. Obviously, given the band's youth there are a few moments where they appear to be following the path most trodden (cf 'Magnum Force' or perhaps 'Exist') but this doesn't detract from the overall picture of a band confident of its own ability enough to know when to borrow and when to steal. A solid purchase for all with even a slight liking for all things off-beat.
Ben
www.smokelikeafish.co.uk
www.dothedog.com
