Baked A La Ska: Skalloween (CD on Limefield Records)

Band: Baked A La Ska
Label: Limefield Records
Title: Skalloween

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Band:Baked A La Ska
Title:Skalloween
Reviewed By:Fiona Hutchings
Date Published:11/11/2019

Label:Limefield Records
Format:CD
Release Year:2019
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It was back in 2012, with the launch of their second album, 'Just Desserts',that I first came across the fantastically named Baked A La Ska. They made me love their version of 'Toxic' by Britney Spears. Even for a two-toned nutty girl devoted to ska that's no small achievement.

They describe themselves as "a band of assembled oddballs and pranksters brought together by keyboardist and wizard Mr John Ellis, fronted by an unholy trio of singers: Frank 'The Skank', Tommy Robot and Kuntri Ranks, who combine with the soft lilt and harmonica magic of Robin Sunflower. Baked A La Ska also feature one of the tightest rhythm sections in Manchester with the “chops to make you drop”.

This is an inspired mix of spooky, sci fi and the occasional scrumping songs. I did wonder for a moment if opener 'Calling All Ghosts' was a reworking of a Call Of Duty song of the same name. It's not, it's an original track that sits comfortably next to a take on 'Ghost Riders in the Sky' that I'm confident Johnny Cash himself would approve of.

The discordent twangs in 'The Addams Family' just crack me up but then it all goes a bit whirligig crazy. It is a bit of a Marmite track that divided opinions.

'There's A Ghost In My House' is exactly what you'd want a ska version of the R.Dean Taylor 1973 top 10 hit to sound like. I like it even more then the Baked take on Fleetwood Mac's 'Black Magic Woman', despite it being even more sinister than the original. 'Pesky Kids' is my favourite though. I can't accurately describe what it sounds like when the Wurzels get busted by Scooby-Doo and gang. Seriously no number of words is going to do it justice. You just have to go and listen to it.

'The Imperial March' could well be to Baked A La Ska as 'Swan Lake' is to Madness. 'Ghostbusters' lends itself willingly to a skank beat, while 'Old Devil Moon' is a slightly calmer end to proceedings. Even restless spirits need the occasional slow number at the end of the night.

This is a freakish and fresh fifth album. It plays with its theme, but doesn't stick to it so slavishly it can't be played at any other time of the year.

Track Listing:

01) Calling All Ghosts
02) Ghost Riders in the Sky
03) The Addams Family
04) There's a Ghost in My House
05) Black Magic Woman
06) Pesky Kids
07) The Imperial March
08) Ghostbusters
09) I Put a Spell on You
10) Old Devil Moon

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Related Links

http://www.bakedalaska.biz/
https://www.facebook.com/Bakedalaskaband

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Superb fifth albm from eleven-piece ska band Baked A La Ska who take an electic bunch of source material and give it a satisfyingly spooky sound

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Skalloween - CD
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