Mama Scuba - You're A Long Time Dead, So What's The Hurry

  by Dixie Ernill

published: 25 / 2 / 2005

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After a couple of listens I wasn’t sure what to make of this debut long player by new Leeds scamps, Mama Scuba. Dis-jointed and ill-prepared, bordering on unfinished were my initial thoughts, but Leeds has been the spawning ground of some of my favourite bands of yesteryear (the mighty Cud and the recently reformed Wedding Present to name but two), so I decided to give the CD another play. Now I know what people mean when they describe a record as a “grower”! Dis-jointed has been replaced by edgy and urgent, ill-prepared by innovative and unfinished by, teasingly, not quite the finished article. Musically, Mama Scuba are a heady mix of Muse, Clinic and Inme, but they are also uniquely their own sound. The high point is 'Freak Accident' when Wes Dale’s voice is allowed to fully lose its shackles during the excellent 'Take A Chance On Us' chorus. Elsewhere, 'Jennifer Lenz' is good stuff and 'Snow'(a previous single) is a fine example of the band’s “sound”, while 'Squeaky Clean' shows their more quirky (but instantly catchy) side. This is not a truly great album, but there is certainly enough promise to keep an eye peeled for future releases. God willing a solid 'B' could become a shiny 'A' next time out.  Take a chance on them!           

Track Listing:-

1 Infinite Bleak
2 Who Are, You Are?
3 Squeaky Clean
4 El Shake
5 Make a Stance
6 Freak Accident
7 The Untouchable
8 Pouche
9 Snow
10 White Siberian Lines
11 Silver Stranger
12 Jennifer Lenz

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