Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

For those of us who skanked to the sounds of The Beat or The Specials back in the late seventies, the re-emergence of Ska in the USA mirrored by Christian bands jumping on the revival bandwagon does seem a little strange but there is something compelling about this music. The Supertones and the Insyderz have already seen releases win new friends for the genre but the W's are the best of the pile so far. Developing a style that mixes rhythms and melody ideas from the roaring twenties with the frantic pace of Ska. This is Swing Ska! I listened and danced to the brilliant single "The Devil Is Bad" all summer and I'm glad to report that the rest of this album is as hot as that initial track suggested! The word that best sums up this debut is FUN!!! Mad lyrics and enthusiastic music sharply produced complete with compelling sounds make this one of the hot bands for 1998. Relentless in pace with a killer horn section. The W's are pure exuberance. Other killer tracks include that sorry moral tale of Frank; Moses really swings daddio and Alarm Clock is my wife Pippa's favourite because of the clever changes of pace during the song!! Overall this gets the big yes vote in the Rimmer household and we'll be swinging and skanking into the autumn! Skiddily-doo!

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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