This week I have mostly been listening to the supertropic wildstyle of Solabeat Alliance's album "Island Fire". Originally called Spankboy, the band had to change their name because of threats from an American novel company. (Click here to let Tim explain everything much better than I could.)

This 7-man band (although "man" could be debatable when it comes to Rick and his hair straighteners!) from Salisbury bring forth a truly original sound which will bring a smile to your face and a feeling of summer to your CD player. This rather citrus-colour-scheme-packaged moon ska CD holds within, a sunburst of the most rocking ska I know of.

"Set it Off" and "All or Nothing" (which is now a video on "Scuzz" so go vote for it and check it out!) stand out as my favourite tracks off this album, and "All or Nothing" is a brilliant song to start off the CD with; it is full of energy and exuberance. It gets you right into the album from the very first drumbeat. This album also winds down with "Another Day", which although has a very powerful main song, the ending is slow and uses string instruments such as Cellos to lighten the mood and bring the album to a close, but of course there are hidden tracks which shatter this calming close. Track 5, "Summer Nights" has a bit of a reggae "thing" going on, as does "People of the World". And track 3, "Blindside" has a more political message on war in the lyrics. This album is so full of energy that you are going to find it hard to keep up, but you are also gonna play it so much you will either wear out the CD or the CD player.

If you get a chance to, you NEED to go and see this band play, be one of those who said you saw them when they still played smaller shows, because these guys are destined for greatness, and then there won't be enough room in the crowd to skank along.

You like dee ska, ya? Then this is the album for you! Go buy it dammit!

Rating Out of 10: