It’s seemingly been a long time coming this one. But it’s here at last, and the nation can rejoice in the lunacy that is The Prawn. Oh, and, some might say just as importantly, in the great songs that can be found etched into this CD. Cos great songs they are. Mixing up ska, punk, hardcore and reggae, the Prawn have the knack of finding a tune out of all this, not allowing it to outstay its welcome, and at the same time, generating a sound that is all their own.
It’s good. It’s very good. It’s a real Tour De Prawn. And live it’s even better.
First single off the album, Not Your Punk, is a ska’d up belter of a song. If you can skank, then you will be. The rest of us just go “yeaaahhhh, I’m not your punk, no I’m not that punk ... d d d d d d d d d” (Imagine that the ‘d’ is a skanky guitar sound). Should’ve been a hit. But it wasn’t.
Throughout the 11 tracks, you’re taken on journies through different musical boundaries, so best fasten the seatbelt. But despite that, it’s still over in 30 mins, which is probably my main complaint. But there again, better to leave people wanting more I guess, than complaining of things outstaying their welcome.
Highlights, well, it’s difficult to choose, because to me, it all fits together nicely, and you don’t really have the time to be picky. But, well, if you’re going to twist my arm, then Racist Copper probably gets it. But Not Your Punk, Felled, Role Model. They’re all good. How many times have I said that in reviews? But it’s the truth, and so there’s no harm in reiterating the point.
They’re going to be compared with Dub War, and indeed any other bands that do this meshing of sounds. It’s about time we started getting them somewhere, instead of simply comparing. How much more evidence of a great British scene do people need?
And if you’ve not seem them live, well, it’s not even worth me finishing the sentence. Go. Now. Go on.