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Baked A La Ska - Gas Mark 3 (The Slow Burner)

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Baked A La Ska - Gas Mark 3 (The Slow Burner)

Baked A La Ska - Gas Mark 3 (The Slow Burner)

By Norman Darwen on Saturday, July 18, 2015 - Comment

Those with an interest in the ska revival or Manchester’s reggae sound should certainly check this out.

Sampler

Baked A La Ska - Gas Mark 3 (The Slow Burner) This is the third album from this quirky ska band based in Manchester, England and whose members frequently tap into that city’s famed reggae scene and include the veteran “rasta entertainer” Kuntri Ranks in their line-up. The CD title refers to the fact that the band have slowed things down a little for this set, though this is certainly not obvious from the 100 miles an hour Madness flavoured ska opener ‘Chasing Ghosts’. Reggae becomes the predominant sound form then on though, albeit of a rather individual nature, though ‘Time’ is a fine rootsy number (Ranks takes the lead vocal here), ‘Everything But Love’ is a swinging vintage-styled ska-jazz composition, ‘Sputnik’ is close to the Skatalites and ‘Manchester (King Cotton)’ is a tongue-in-cheek affectionate calypso tribute to the band’s home city – and perhaps the calypso flavour is a nod to calypso king Lord Kitchener’s residence in Manchester in the 50s.

Of the really quirky stuff though, it is between ‘Oompa Loompa’ (from the movie “Willie Wonka And The Chocolate Factory”) and ‘Iron Man’, from heavy metal band Black Sabbath and here turned into a reggae number – and it works too. The set closes out with the romantic reggae sound of the lengthy ‘Moon And Back’, and with Kuntri Ranks turning in some vintage style toasting. Rather an individual release then, and those with an interest in the ska revival or Manchester’s reggae sound should certainly check this out.

Tags: Baked A La Ska