Originally released 16 years ago, out of print for over a decade, and now finally back on vinyl: the "current" album from the unmistakable Hotknives, packed with a bag full of addictive, sugary-sweet ska and reggae treats. Sure, it might be "About Time" for a new album, but this Brighton ska legend - formed in 1982 - has released only four studio albums in nearly 45 years. Sometimes less is more, and every one of their records rightly holds cult status among ska fans worldwide. It wasn't without reason that Melody Maker named the quartet one of the five most important British ska bands of all time! For "About Time", the band brought in reinforcements after decades apart, taking their signature Hammond-organ-heavy "Happy Hotknives" sound to a new level with punchy horns. The opening track, "Harsh Reality", has since become the live trigger for sweat-soaked parties; along with six other songs from the album, it remains a staple of their setlist, underscoring the record's significance to both the band and the "Holsten Boys'" fanbase.
The 13 tracks are perfectly balanced, offering immense variety and a wealth of musical influences. They range from uptempo, "typically British" dancefloor fillers rooted in the Second Wave of Ska ("Bloody Beautiful", "Doing Alright") to Jamaican rocksteady and catchy, pop-infused reggae numbers like "Communication" (feat. Dr. Ring Ding). What unites them all is a highly melodic, bittersweet, and sometimes melancholic quality that guarantees an earworm - all richly and powerfully produced by King Glover (Bad Manners, The Wailers).
"About Time" by The Hotknives is being released as a 180g Collector's Edition on classic black or colored swirl vinyl.