WOMAD

Pama International

From United Kingdom

Normally you have to take a band’s self-promotional talk with a pinch or seven of salt. But in the case of Pama International, when they promise “a freaked-out solid assault of soul-injected ska, rocksteady and reggae sounds”, you can rest assured that they’ll deliver just that with pinpoint precision. Not content with merely replicating the sounds of a certain time and a certain place, these chaps ignore any attempt at painstaking authenticity. The inspiration might be from the golden years of Jamaican music past, but the execution proudly wears 21st-century clothes. With three albums under their belts (and braces) and having recently shared stages with Jerry Dammers, Rico Rodriguez and The Skatalites, these boys clearly mean business. And that’s not surprising when you scrutinise the pedigree of the assembled players. None come more heavyweight than former Specials guitarist Lynval Golding who freely admits he “loved them so much I joined the band”. Also on board is Lynval’s old Two Tone compatriot, Madness’s free-swinging saxophonist Lee Thompson, while the remainder of the band have done their time with the likes of The Special Beat, Galliano, Bentley Rhythm Ace and Pop Will Eat Itself. Put some skank in your tank.