THE debut album from Melbourne’s own ska sensation is exactly the sort of late-night party album you’d expect, given its energetic live shows.
Its approach to the genre is wide-ranging — taking in ska’s Jamaican roots and a looser, fruitier take on the two-tone sound.
Dean Went to Mexico recalls Madness’ Night Boat to Cairo, trumpets blaring a lethargic salute on the banks of the Nile — or the banks of the Rio Bravo, in this case.
Elsewhere, Learn to Love Again fuses a ska shuffle to a Burt Bacharach-style tune, slinky vocals sliding a melody for which Dionne Warwick would have hiked to San Jose.
It’s all rather jolly, if familiar. The album kicks off with a tequila-fuelled take on the Get Smart theme: a ragged, wordless and sweaty tune destined to fill dance floors.
The retro trappings stay in place for Lygon Street Meltdown, a Batman-infused tale of gangsters and shoot-outs. It’s here that the album gets closest to a sense of place and purpose, rather than snatching wildly at influences and genre tropes.
Certainly there’s nothing particularly new here. The album is largely missing the socio-political impetus that shaped the best ska.
As it is, this is an entertaining tour through a much-loved genre.
There’s plenty here to move your feet, if not your conscience.
