The AK47’s Don’t Call Me Vanilla LP reissue
Reissue of a 1991 LP from this London collective that blends reggae, ska, dub, and punk with socio-anarchist lyrics. The band’s sound and lyrics definitely feel of a certain time and place, but the extended jams flow so effortlessly with excellent, fluid playing and production that it’s surprising this didn’t get more attention upon its release. Amid the fat bass lines, a flute snakes around, giving the tracks a laid-back jazzy quality. Take “One Hand,” a six-minute slow ska excursion that would appeal to pot-smoking chill-out types and crust punks alike. “Tottenham Three” opens with a funky dancefloor beat and offers support to three men who were wrongfully accused of murder during a violent clash between citizens and police known as the Broadwater Farm riot. Near the end of the seven-minute plus track, sound clips loop and beats begin to escalate, moving the song from an upbeat protest song to a proto-rave banger. Danceable but still punk as fuck, the AK47’S sole LP could be the release to draw even the most ska-averse punks to the floor. Highly recommended.