The Pokes "Mayday" Tollshock Records TS015
Release date: 7 February 2014
Running time: 60:11, 14 tracks (the last one is not credited)
The “Not irish, not traditional … just poking the fire!” band The Pokes released in February their fourth album. I was expecting a yellow cover, since their previous albums artworks were in green, red and dark violet, almost blue. Nevertheless, the six guys and a girl from Berlin decided to feature the frog again in a blue cover. Anyway, the packaging is a labour of love: a 16 page booklet with the lyrics to all the songs, credits and pics of all the band members and guests, together with a sort of a music box. When the packaging is unfolded, a device starts to play the “Mayday” theme. Hats-off, Ian and co.
Regarding the music, the Anglo-German septet follows the path that they have been walking since their very beginning. The songs are based on excellent accordion and banjo together with an amazing fiddle. And all these elements are wrapped by Ian’s vocals and their surreal lyrics. The Pokes are proud to state that their folk-punk is unique. And it’s true. Maybe some songs can be reminiscent to the likes of The Shanes or The Waxies, but those old German bands were basically polka and standard Celtic punk bands. And there is a lot of different musical styles on The Pokes “Mayday”: Eastern music, ska and even calypso.
The songs that I would pick up are the following ones: “God Save The Popes” (if you didn’t know who they were, this is their business card), “Bottoms Up” (amazing accordion and banjo on this Russian sounding song), “Get Out of This” (male and female vocals and great fiddling), “Bitch-cow-darling” (a catchy number), “I Wish” (Pogues style banjo playing and funny lyrics), “Skip this song” (a sing-a-long number with gang vocals) and “Neverending” (interesting song that finally arrives to the end).
There is a track no 14 with two hidden tracks. After two minutes there is an out of tune German version of “Yesterdayman”. It ends at 5:40 and at 14:34 there is another “joke”.
Before the album was released, some line-up changes took place and the band has been reduced from 7 members to 6 members. Currently there is no fiddler, but the band’s trademark (banjo and accordion) is still in fine form.
Thanks to The Pokes for remaining faithful to their own Folk-Punk and for trusting in the CD format. Come on, get a hard copy of the “Number 1 folk-punk Band from Berlin” new album! Mayday, mayday, mayday …
Tracklist:
1. God Save The Pokes 3:24
2. Bottoms Up 3:12
3. Mayday 3:44
4. Get Me Out Of This 3:28
5. Countryside 2:58
6. Bitch-Cow-Darling 3:00
7. I Wish 3:25
8. Yesterdayman 3:30
9. Skip This Song 3:50
10. What I Don't Know 2:57
11. Touch Me 3:50
12. Brooding 4:17
13. Neverending 3:42
14. Yesterdayman Koma 14:48
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Release date: 7 February 2014
Running time: 60:11, 14 tracks (the last one is not credited)
The “Not irish, not traditional … just poking the fire!” band The Pokes released in February their fourth album. I was expecting a yellow cover, since their previous albums artworks were in green, red and dark violet, almost blue. Nevertheless, the six guys and a girl from Berlin decided to feature the frog again in a blue cover. Anyway, the packaging is a labour of love: a 16 page booklet with the lyrics to all the songs, credits and pics of all the band members and guests, together with a sort of a music box. When the packaging is unfolded, a device starts to play the “Mayday” theme. Hats-off, Ian and co.
Regarding the music, the Anglo-German septet follows the path that they have been walking since their very beginning. The songs are based on excellent accordion and banjo together with an amazing fiddle. And all these elements are wrapped by Ian’s vocals and their surreal lyrics. The Pokes are proud to state that their folk-punk is unique. And it’s true. Maybe some songs can be reminiscent to the likes of The Shanes or The Waxies, but those old German bands were basically polka and standard Celtic punk bands. And there is a lot of different musical styles on The Pokes “Mayday”: Eastern music, ska and even calypso.
The songs that I would pick up are the following ones: “God Save The Popes” (if you didn’t know who they were, this is their business card), “Bottoms Up” (amazing accordion and banjo on this Russian sounding song), “Get Out of This” (male and female vocals and great fiddling), “Bitch-cow-darling” (a catchy number), “I Wish” (Pogues style banjo playing and funny lyrics), “Skip this song” (a sing-a-long number with gang vocals) and “Neverending” (interesting song that finally arrives to the end).
There is a track no 14 with two hidden tracks. After two minutes there is an out of tune German version of “Yesterdayman”. It ends at 5:40 and at 14:34 there is another “joke”.
Before the album was released, some line-up changes took place and the band has been reduced from 7 members to 6 members. Currently there is no fiddler, but the band’s trademark (banjo and accordion) is still in fine form.
Thanks to The Pokes for remaining faithful to their own Folk-Punk and for trusting in the CD format. Come on, get a hard copy of the “Number 1 folk-punk Band from Berlin” new album! Mayday, mayday, mayday …
Tracklist:
1. God Save The Pokes 3:24
2. Bottoms Up 3:12
3. Mayday 3:44
4. Get Me Out Of This 3:28
5. Countryside 2:58
6. Bitch-Cow-Darling 3:00
7. I Wish 3:25
8. Yesterdayman 3:30
9. Skip This Song 3:50
10. What I Don't Know 2:57
11. Touch Me 3:50
12. Brooding 4:17
13. Neverending 3:42
14. Yesterdayman Koma 14:48
Website
Reverbnation
Click to buy:
Tollshock
Amazon (Germany)
Review by Kinksmarkham
Click to buy:
Tollshock
Amazon (Germany)
Review by Kinksmarkham
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