The Insteps

Eleven Steps to Power (Another Planet)
by Skankin’ Dave

This is the second ska release from an indie record company with a background in hardcore and punk. After listening to this several times, I hope that Another Planet keeps it up. The debut release from The Insteps, a finely crafted production with eleven tracks emerging from an old skool Jamaican-style ska foundation, results in a temple of music that meets all the building codes of the ’90s. Along with The Bluebeats and The Slackers, The Insteps are the emerging players in the fruitful NYC traditional ska scene. I don’t know of another album full of songs about the miseries of life, loss of loved ones, and false hopes that will put you in such a good mood. Several of these songs sound like they were written from the depths of emotional despair (which provide a lot of true, painful memories to sing about) mixed with a moderate religious education influx (No preaching here, though). But this isn’t the blues, it’s ska: the music is upbeat and gets people skanking. It doesn’t matter if the song is about the worst trauma of the lyricists’ life or about a spilled beer, it has to get the listener moving. “The Sufferer” does that with its soothing vocals, catchy beat, and luscious horns. The emptiness of “Everything I Ever Loved” shares the misery of loneliness while realizing there is a deeper optimism that can not be stripped away despite the loss of everything else. Initially sounding like a cross between lounge music and an early ’70s TV theme song, “Saladin” emerges into a soulful groove with mellow horns and bonus percussion. Be sure to check out “Always Remember,” the affectionate recollection of a courtship that didn’t make the playoffs with the insightful chorus “If there’s one thing you learn about life / It leaves you when you’re down and out.” The album is bookended by instrumental style songs about animals (“The Dragon” and “The Goat”). Both emphasize horns and the vocal improv style of the sixties. The cool hidden cut tacked onto the end is a different version of “Always Remember” (no vocals, but with harmonica and flute solos). This album is definitely staying in my CD player on heavy rotation.
(740 Broadway, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10003)