Modbirds, The
Shards (black)
This diverse blendranging from ska, soul, reggae, rocksteady, and a dash of punk to swing and classic big-band elementsis truly addictive, bringing together everything that "birdies," rude boys, and other night owls will adore. Following their mini-LP "Spin it to win it," this seven-piece big bandfeaturing former members of groups like The Porters and Los Placebosrecorded 12 new tracks at Music Area Studio with their former bandmate, Beagle. The album weaves in all their musical influences and personal favorites: from Jamaican roots and various eras of the ska revival to the quintessential UK "2-Tone" soundreminiscent of everyone from Madness to Buster Shuffleand even a playful homage to the German ska scene, spanning from El Bosso to Frau Doktor (highlighted by the sole German-language track, "Jogger"). With every note and beat, it's clear that the Modbirds have lived and breathed this subculture for decades, channeling that passion into a sound that is entirely their own.