I’ll be honest, I’m not really much of a fan of ska anymore. Back in ’96 I loved Reel Big Fish and Less Than Jake as much as anyone, they were the staple bands at that point in my life and while I still enjoy seeing those bands whenever they pass through, it’s not a genre I can profess to being an expert on, or one I follow with that much interest. However, I do know a good band when I hear one and Freefallfelix are a very good band indeed. Part RBF, part RxBandits and part just plain pop, they’ve created something which manages to keep a ska-influenced sound but make it so interesting and melodic they’ll no doubt turn a few heads along the way.
‘Meltdown’ is one of the best ‘ska’-sounding records I’ve heard in quite some time. ‘Just One Last Time’ is an absolute fucking tune; imagine Capdown if they jammed with RxBandits on a pop song and you’d not be too far away. ‘Tonight’s The Night’ will have the kids skanking away all summer long with some of the best gang vocals I’ve heard from a UK band in such a long time. Charlie Drew’s vocals are absolutely perfect throughout, the drums sound wicked and the brass is used to just the right amount.
While The JB Conspiracy recently set the bar in terms of UK ska-punk, I think Freefallfelix have possibly just, and I mean just, raised it a notch further. ‘Meltdown’ has one failure – it’s too short. At four songs I’m left wanting more and that is definitely a very good sign. Check them out if they visit your town this summer, you won’t be disappointed.