Walsall's The Bostin' Cockers, Ow Am Ya, Kid? - EP review
Walsall's The Bostin' Cockers are a bit of an enigma in the modern music scene.
They've only been together less than a year, and already they have a five-track EP for people to get their teeth into.
But rather than take the approach of their contemporaries and flood social media with announcements, announcements about announcements and countdowns...there's just a modest Facebook presence.
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It's novel. Already they have an air of mystery around them. Who are they? Where did they come from?
Their sound is funk-infused ska-punk that The Specials themselves would probably end up bopping to.
It was recorded in a very DIY fashion. Rejecting the plethora of local studios available they did it themselves in a rehearsal room at the University of Wolverhampton's Walsall campus.
As well as the ska-punk tones, there's healthy doses of reggae and jazz thrown in too to mix things up, as well as one tiny speck of metal to really catch you out with homage paid to Black Sabbath.
That appears on the ending to Shine. What had largely been a lazy stroll through the ska, reggae and jazz worlds like a wooden boat slithering down a deep, dark river, it is suddenly kicked into life by the introduction of full-throttle guitars for the finale.
It's a good showcase for Alice Edwards' deep, melodical vocals throughout. Rich and understated much of the time, she holds court throughout as the band dance their merry way around her.
Wannabe is another perfect moment for her. She opens her lungs a bit to let loose, and then when the instrumental section kicks in you are left to wow at the musical talent of the rest of the gang with those brass-based falling melodies.
Out Of Line is a jangling homage to young excesses that starts off with an expletive-laden refrain before the guitars begin for what is the heaviest track on the EP. It's deeper, agitated choruses at odds with the upbeat verses are a nice switch-up.
You've also got the ska-fest Lawnchair, and the bass-heavy, funky Rudy's Got A Gun, showing their songwriting and influence range in such a band so young.
The volume differs slightly from track to track due to its DIY roots, but this adds to the rugged charm. A decent first outing for this mysterious gang.
Rating: 6/10
Physical copies of Ow Am Ya, Kid? are available by contacting the band on Facebook, while it can also be heard on their Soundcloud page and through all good digital outlets. They will be playing a gig at The Wheatsheaf in Walsall on October 5.
