Ratrace - Skindred Single Review

Ratrace - Skindred Single Review

Skindred

Single Review

On my fifth listen through, a comprehensible lyric finally broke through the raggacore churning that fuels Skindred’s latest single Rat Race. With the same flush of triumph that ‘getting’ a magic eye picture used to bring, my ears suddenly caught:

You always watchin’ what they got next door, your belly be full be you still wantin’ more.

My concern, that I would never work out what the band were so exuberantly decrying, vanished as with that first understanding acting as a wedge, the sledgehammer of further listening began to prise open the song. The eponymous rat trap/modern life analogy is taken and run with, but that first understood line is by far and away the highlight.

The lack of lyrical ingenuity is compensated for by a sprung-trapfull of energy, and an impressive diversity of styles crammed into a three minute song. Hip-hop, Ragga and Metal are combined with some spectacular harmonies to showcase the band’s diverse musicality, without becoming disjointed. The dub/beat breakdowns prevent the onslaught becoming relentless, an improvement on their previous output where the listener barely had time to breathe.

If you have even a passing interest in any of the band’s blended styles this is easily worth a couple of pounds. If you do buy and like it, expect a review of the album to be posted in a couple of days.

James Thomson

Gigs

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