The Skints are an East London reggae four-piece who draw their influences from legends like Jimmy Cliff and have recently released their third album ‘FM’ on Easy Star Records. Their previous albums ‘Part & Parcel‘ (2013) and ‘Live, Breathe, Build, Believe‘ (2010) were a success, with songs like ‘Culture Vulture‘, ‘Rise Up‘ and ‘Rat-at-at‘. Their latest album ‘FM’ is based around the theme of radio and stems from the band’s love of radio culture. The band created an imaginary London pirate radio station The Big FM / Frequency Murderation, 103.Skints. Set on the hottest day in the city on record we encounter four radio shows over the course of the broadcast.
The Skints mix reggae, ska, rocksteady and dancehall with their East London roots perfectly, creating a genre that brings reggae to modern audiences. The album opens with reggae legend Tippa Irie welcoming listeners to the breakfast show, proceeding to spin ‘This Town’ featuring Tippa Irie and Horseman (Listen Below). The song encompasses the band’s love for the city of London, with lines such as “London City I was born in, you know I love this town”.
‘In The Night’ featuring Horseman follows with stunning vocals from the group, as they repeat “Stand tall”, just one of the many motto’s we should bear in mind whilst listening to ‘FM’. ‘Come To You’ is next up, with a more upbeat, jovial melody accompanied by Marcia’s vocals, it lightens the album whilst still keeping the key bass lines and style.
‘My War’ is a Black Flag cover that makes you realise the talent the band accommodate, translating a punk track into their own style and bringing a classic song back to life again. Dr. Ranking Pegasus aka Horseman presents the ‘Dancehall Dilemmas’ radio show, featuring a call-in from listener Danny, who reveals he has put on a dance with the record’s producer Prince Fatty, when it turns out Fatty has stolen all the money that has come through the door.
The theft is aptly followed by ‘Friends & Business‘ which takes from The Skints’ Motown influences, and truly makes you want to get down to a dancehall and skank. The song details the music industry and its harsh nature, “They say there’s friends then there’s business, who do you really know?”
‘Where Did You Go?’ is next. It is a very chilled track, with a similar energy as ‘Sunny Sunny’ from the ‘Part & Parcel‘ album. Next up is the Tippa Irie track ‘Tazer Beam’ possibly the best track on the album, tackling the issues of gun crime, “Rudeboy put away your gun and shank”, as well as tackling police culture and racial disparities, “Officer put away your taser and gun”.
Reggae has always dealt with racism, which still exists to this day. The main topics in the reggae genres that The Skints take their influences from is still relevant. ‘The Forest For The Trees’ discusses these issues, “To say that we are all the same is a delusion”. This goes back to the motto’s The Skints have implemented into the album, making music that concerns not only them, but people across the world, from a variety of cultures and backgrounds – “So open up your eyes and see the forest for the trees”.
Next up, ‘Grime Hour’ with MC Rival’s alter ego Rivz advertising a rave at the now repossessed Stratford Rex, before introducing the album’s lead track ‘Eyes In The Back Of My Head‘ featuring Rival himself. This is a more grimy track, that mixes MC Rival’s lyrics with ska and an underlying message of liars, cheats and thieves that lurk the streets, again, with a heavy bass line emphasising the tone and story behind the track.
“Sometimes I just sit back and feel like, we don’t know where we’re going but know what we have come from” – ‘Got No Say’ goes back to a calmer side of The Skints, this track has a traditional reggae style, at (1:54) the band present this perfectly with harmonies and reduced instrumental, showing their vocal skills.
To end the ‘FM’, Mr Versatile plays out the show with ‘Tomorrow’, with the chorus ‘Don’t you worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow won’t be worrying about you’ is
the perfect finale to the album, and a good note to end on.
The Skints have come into their own with their third album ‘FM’ and have thoroughly established themselves in the world of reggae. The band will begin their UK Tour on 13th April in Norwich, then Leeds, Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and finally London. You can purchase the album here
By Jade Collier
Watch the video for ‘This Town‘ below: