1. Woftam 2. Kablammo 3. Now we're getting somewhere 4.Weirdos, superheros and me 5. The Ultimatum 6. Wake up! 7. Parker bros. 8. Too bad. So sad 9. Here'n'there 10. Time Decays
Listen to Kablamo
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Listen to The Ultimatum
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Now We're Getting Somewhere
If the Clash circa 1977, had a brass section, they'd be hard pushed to touch this, the guys are having a riot of their own on this track, so sit back, strap in, and hold on tight.
This track must never be played on a car stereo, unless in an open top, with good company, a wide open road, with no speed cameras about. The song is a cover of an old Crowded House track, from their self titled album (1986), although not on my play list, I checked it out, justice has more than been done to the track.
You have been warned. This track rocks!
Too Bad; So Sad
For my money, should be the first single from the album. Chris sets the mood & opens the way for the lilting, truly soulful horns. Naff lays down a rock steady set of rails, for this soul train to glide along. Francis's heartfelt lyrics force you to face up to the fact that we've all been in the place he's singing about.
The Resignators can hit you with a wall of sound, or leave you sitting at a deserted bar, nursing a pint, with only your memories for company, at will. This track is already a firm favourite of mine, Check out Chris's guitar riff at the end of the track, a taste of magic to come.....
WOFTAM
The opening few bars, set the tone of this, the first track of TIME DECAYS. A dark feel, but there is nothing to fear, you can be in no safer hands. Naff & Jezz control the beat, Ellen & Dittman illuminate the path, Chris paints pictures with rhythms, and Francis will point the way.
The Resignators are as at home in the shadows, as they are in the light. They can, and will use their full musical palate, to draw you into, and then guide you through their universe.
There is a message, if you don't hear it, or, choose not to, then you are standing in the wrong line. Mass produced, corporate, soul-less pop, is available further down the counter.
For those who think for themselves, and choose to walk a different path......the journey begins here.
Weirdos Superheros and Me
A solid staple of the bands live set, and a much loved track among the army of fans, Weirdos Superheros And Me, shows all the groups influences, leads you along one musical path, then hurls you down another, uses Big Audio Dynamite's sampling Techniques, hits you with hardcore 3rd wave, twists into Two
Tone/lovers rock reggae, before throwing you back into the hurricane. The flawless drums, the crisp, sharp rhythms of Naf & Chris, the faultless vocals of big Francis hurl the track out of your speakers.
The Resignators brass section, Miss Ellen & Dittman McAwesome, are as always on sparkling form, giving the music the lift and cutting edge, missing from most of the bands lesser modern contemporary's offerings.
Kablammo
A top song amongst the army of the converted, this studio track captures all the raw energy of a The Resignators live gig . They let Naf loose for this song, he makes his bass lead the way with a solid performance, we expect nothing less, and we get so much more.
Time Decays
"Time decays but it seems ok now....as we wave good bye" From the start, this track ticks all the right boxes for me, a spotless tight performance, puts me in mind of The Specials, The Selecter, The (English) Beat, circa 1980, ancient history, for 3rd wave fans, but the high water mark of British 2 Tone/Ska power.
Few modern 3rd wave bands can even come close, do they know they are standing on the shoulders of these giants.
Future bands, will have much to thank The Resignators for, they are shining a light down a new path, away from the skate punk/ska, that the USA specializes in, or the piss poor covers and tribute bands.
Francis sets the tone of this magical track, once again raising the bar, setting new standards for future projects.
This track gets inside your soul, the album ends here......the journey continues. TIME DECAYS due out early-mid June 2008, Check i tunes, Amazon.com and any half way decent independent record store should be able to get it in for you.
WAKE UP
On this, track 6, the faithful are in for a treat. I had to confirm this with Francis, the female vocal, is, 'Cinta.
The much missed former drummer/vocalist has been working on her own projects, probably knitting woolly hats for orphaned Bolivian tree frogs. Responding to the call up, she recreates the attitude & magic that made "Sugar high" such a crowd pleaser . I first saw her in the bands video for "Off Beat Feeling", She seemed so vulnerable and ill at ease with being on camera, although, I suspect that the rest of the band had been threatened with extreme violence, if any of them laugh!. Much like the Mafia, you never really escape the Resignators, and I for one, will be applying pressure to have further 'Cinta special appearances on future projects.
The Ultimatum
Bounds along like a 'Roo on an open plain (Sorry guys), tight rhythms, restrained horns, about as close as you can come to perfect Ska these days.
Good luck getting this tune out of your head!.
"Wow..Oh..Oh..Oww, not again, Wow..Oh..Oh..Oww, you're not my friend, in the end", we've all been there, me very recently, about sums it up for me too.
Here 'n' There
Another one of my all time favourites, re-worked, cleaned, and sharpened for the album.
Its full throttle time, Jezz playing a blinder, Naf effortlessly keeping time, Chris plugging the gaps with rhythms saved for Sunday best, the power of Francis's vocals reaches out, forcing you to take note.
2:40 into the song, the band show why they have such a loyal following, in turn taking point, another taste of Ellen's flute, Tom & Ellen's brass, which by the way has always put me in mind of the great Rico Rodriguez (the un educated can Google him!), they must have had to lock the studio down, to stop Chris flying away, THIS is the magic I spoke of earlier.
The treats keep coming, who's that toasting, Ranking Roger?, Pato Banton?, none other than our own McAwesome, more than holding his own, amongst the afore mentioned heroes.
6 mins 13 seconds well spent.
Parker Bros
This track is hard to review, can't fault the craftwork that's gone into it, echoes of the Stranglers "waltz in black", punctuated by their trade mark wall of sound, a 4/4 beat classic.
What makes it so hard, are the lyrics, and the picture Francis paints. Just how bloody hard it is, for a band to get by, never mind make it big. Not to have to scrape by all the time without the backing of a major label, the support the band have had so far, has been first class, but given adequate funding, they could so easily be another "Midnight Oil" or "Men at work" with a global listenership. They must be the hardest working band in Melbourne, I'm always getting flyers for this or that gig they are doing, and if I wasn't so far away, I'd be there and there would be 5 pints & a glass of chardonnay waiting for them at the bar when they finish their set.
They raised the money for this album themselves, pulling their tripe out, playing every gig they could get.
They are probably on stage, even as I write, raising the money for their self funded tour of Europe later this year.
I have had the privilege of being able to listen & do my best, to review a demo of TIME DECAYS, I will be buying two copies of the finished album, one for my lorry, one for my stereo at home.
As of next weekend, if there's a band on at one of the pubs down the town, I'll be going, unless it's country'n'western or folk, I draw the line there.
I suggest that you do the same, get out and support live music, don't message a band saying you wish you could go, get off your arse and do it.
1. Woftam
