First, before the nitty-gritty, a slight aside: very rarely will you hear Punktastic bang on about an album’s packaging, mainly because most stuff is sent to us in MP3 format (there’s bugger-all exciting about that format). Well today you will. The CD for ‘M.O.J.O.’ is mocked-up to look like a vinyl record. It’s completely black with a small central sticker. It’s also packaged in a faux-record gatefold sleeve. This might not seem like an amazing thing but it’s a fantastic touch to a release that feels like it should have been released on heavy-duty vinyl. Anyway…
This is the NEW TOWN KINGS‘ follow-up to 2007’s ‘Sounds Of The New Town‘. Whilst a four year wait over can prove too long for many bands, in this case it’s been highly beneficial for the Colchester based nine-piece. Simply put, this new release overshadows its predecessor to the nth degree.
‘M.O.J.O.’ (or Music of Jamaican Origin, acronym fans) is full to bursting with the hustling sounds of Jamaica. Having put their previous 2 Tone style to the background, this album sees the band exploring traditional reggae sounds whilst injecting just enough contemporary and urban aspects into the mix to make this vital. Across the volume we’re treated to up tempo full-on skanking numbers as well as rocksteady influenced slower tracks. The sun soaked tunes lend themselves a carnival flavour and a party atmosphere. At the risk of breaking the cliché bank, this really is the sound of summer.
It’s not just Jamaica that the band pillages for inspiration though. Many of the trumpet and saxophone parts sound as though they would fit a dirty Havana neighbourhood where Caribbean jazz, samba, and salsa haunt the streets. There’s also an underlying sense of ’70s Britain. Well, the ’70s in general. Tracks like ‘New Town Hop’ have more than a touch of The Skatalites about them (and that’s not a name to be thrown around recklessly).
Ultimately ‘M.O.J.O.’ is an impeccable album, lusciously layered, crisp and sharp (not bad considering it is almost completely self-produced), and emotive. It’s also a very surprising comeback for New Town Kings. The band that once shared a label with UK reggae heavyweights Pama International, Smoke Like A Fish, and Rebelation, has just gone and trumped the lot of them. Outstanding stuff.
ALEX HAMBLETON