Mutants
-
Rhythm and Punk Review
published: 10 /
8 /
2014
Label:
Killer Tracks
Format: CD
Marvellous debut album from the Mutants, the new band of Chris Constantinou from the Wolfmen and Adam and Ants and Paul Frazer from Black Futures, which has a wide range of guest appearances including Wilko Johnson, Wayne Kramer, Rat Scabies, SLF’s Jake Burns, TV Smith and Neville Staples
Review
When I was a kid, I caught my dad tapping his feet to Wilko and Dr Feelgood instead of taking the rip out of me for my new wave tastes. He would usually shake his head and say something like, “What are you listening to that rammie for?” Imagine my delight when I caught him tapping away to the likes of 'A Message to You, Rudy' and 'Do Nothing'. I think he understood the Specials because of their ska/reggae influence, but I thought he was lost on the whole punk thing. Little did I know, eh?
So, what’s happened here is that Chris Constantinou (The Wolfmen, Adam Ant) and Paul Frazer (Black Futures) have joined their considerable forces and penned some new tunes. By recruiting three generations of all-star icons and idols for guest appearances, they have created what they like to call the Mutants, and also in doing that they have spawned ‘The Rhythm and Punk Review’. But does it work?
Actually, what they have really done is retrace the roots and beginnings of punk, ska and new wave. Now, coming from that era, being brought up in the first throws of those three ultra-exciting genres, you would think I would be jumping at it? Well, I am. It features different combinations of a wide array of stars from back then, and quite honestly it has no chance of not working. The whole affair has been written by Chris and Paul, and recorded at London's Sugar Cane Studios and includes such fine artists as Rat Scabies (The Damned), Norman Watt Roy (Ian Dury and the Blockheads ), TV Smith (The Adverts), Charlie Harper (UK Subs), Jake Burns (Stiff Little Fingers), Knox (The Vibrators), Judy Nylon (John Cale), Beki Bondage (Vice Squad),and Neville Staples (The Specials).
It is not just the array of stars on show here that is the key, but also the fact that the Mutants have managed to weld together on two tracks, ‘Walking Wound’ and ‘How Dare You’, guitar legends again Wilko and Wayne Kramer who first met in 1972 at Wembley.
The album itself is full of little ska ditties and punk numbers. Staples is present on ‘Rebel Radio’, ‘How Dare You’, ‘Brixton Est Loco’ and ‘Two Tone Girl’, the latter boasting the trumpet talents of Jonathan Read and Tim Smart also of the Specials. The rest of the crew can be found intermingling with each other on the rest of the twelve tracks, which highlights Texas Terri on ‘Alien Gypsy Girl’ and TV Smith on ‘Too Much Trouble’.
For fans of 1970’s punk, new wave and ska, this will be a must buy. Marvellous!
Track Listing:-
1
Rebel Radio (feat. Neville Staple, Th
2
Walking Wounded (feat. Jake Burns,
3
How Dare You (feat. Judy Nylon, Wil
4
Brixton Est Loco (feat. Neville Stapl
5
Alien Gypsy Girl - 007 (feat. Texas
6
Freedom in Chains (feat. Charlie Ha
7
Too Much Trouble (feat. TV Smith,
8
Two Tone Girl (feat. Neville Staple,
9
Vomit (feat. Charlie Harper)
10
(No) Fear of Dying Bored (feat. Texa
11
That's the Way of the World (feat. K
12
Rock and Roll Education (feat. Beki
Band Links:-
https://www.facebook.com/TheMutants.Rh
https://twitter.com/themutants1234
http://themutants.co/
Label Links:-
http://www.killertracks.com/
https://twitter.com/killertracks
https://www.facebook.com/KillerTracksP
https://instagram.com/killertracks
https://www.youtube.com/user/KillerTra
https://plus.google.com/+killertracks/