Ska is dead, long live Ska! Strike of 59 blatantly couldn’t give a damn about the fact that third wave ska was brushed under the carpet a few years ago, and you shouldn’t too. Crisply packaged, ‘Strive To Succeed’ is the new E.P from the hotly tipped London mob and many predict that it will thrust them firmly into the limelight and possibly the space that Lightyear left behind.
Opening track ‘Daily Grind’ gets things off to a cracking start, a slow, mood setting opening dropping into a lightning speed ska riff before dropping once again into a chilled out chorus. ‘Refuse To See’ takes the opposite approach, applying a juicy little verse that speeds up to a lightning chorus, all topped off with the smooth as silk vocals of frontwoman Katya, who is undoubtedly the focus of the band. With a voice that sounds like a dramatic amalgamation of Gwen Stefani and the singer from Save Ferris who’s name completely escapes me right now, the occasionally one dimensional music takes on a completely new lease of life with the addition of her considerable singing talent.
While ‘Drown You’ slows things down considerably with a slow reggae-tinged number, the closing track ‘Beginning of the End’ is by far the highlight of the EP. While the other three tracks seem to be lacking some sort of spark or destined for a huge singalong/brakdown/something or other at the finish, ‘Beginning Of The End’ bursts into life with a slinking guitar solo opening, explodes into a breakneck verse and generally makes up for the lack of killer tuneage elsewhere on the EP.
While Katya has a wonderful voice and the music, on the whole, is highly enjoyable and competently played, it’s only the last track that really holds my attention for anything more than a couple of plays. It’s all just a bit ‘meh’ to me. I don’t dislike it, but I certainly don’t love it either. It sort of falls down the back of the musical sofa for me. That said, if you’re a fan of all things ska soaked, then you will most probably love them and you can add an extra star to my score. Unfortunately, it just doesn’t make that much of an impression on me.
Ross