Album Review: Death of Guitar Pop - "Pukka Sounds"

 

Ska is one of those genres that always seems to make a comeback every so often and Essex's Death of Guitar Pop are a band who are rapidly establishing themselves as one of its better new exponents. Regulars on the festival circuit, this is their third album and my initial impression on hearing the bouncy brass of When The Ska Calls is that they remind me of near neighbours Buster Shuffle (both bands definitely owe a noticeable debt to Madness in their sound) which is no bad thing - certainly Back Of A Lorry is definitely something I could see BS doing as well.

They're a surprisingly versatile bunch though as No 1 In America sees them dropping the pace by a notch to deliver a tuneful mid-paced ode to the confusion a lot of bands feel on suddenly being packed off on tour to the States while Cinderella's Fella has some twanging Hank Marvin style guitar which works well within the track. Indeed, the quality remains refreshingly high throughout from the moody The Velvet Drum to the pure pop of Absolute Happiness and Storylines and the gentle piano led closer A Pukka Ballad (Just For You). They even take a big risk by covering Rancid's Junkie Man but surprisingly manage to stamp their own mark on it to good effect.

If there's a slight negative, the relentless chirpiness could start wearing a bit on those who weren't ska fans to begin with but overall this is a good representation of an often undervalued genre. More than anything, it's the sort of album where you can see the tracks going down well with a live audience, especially the skanking likes of DOGP Shuffle and Captain Melvin's Reggae Party Bus. Roll on the festivals next summer.

Bandcamp Link

NITE SONGS RATING: 🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌑🌑 (8/10)

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