The Copasetics

Copasetics (self-released, 2010)

8^th October 2010

Jamie

Copasetics are a five-piece punk/ska outfit from York.  I hunted around for a bit more background than that, and found the Ronseal-esque “We’re Copasetics. We play ska. We have a self titled four track EP” on their site. 

Fortunately, while their self-titled debut EP has been sitting in my in-tray, a couple of other e-zines have reviewed it.  Unfortunately, New Pollution and Push to Fire don’t actually agree even on exactly when Copasetics played their first show, but we do know it was in  the Spring of 2010.  To have recorded and released an EP of four of their own songs by August means they’re doing pretty well, then, for sure.

The overall feeling of this disc great: edgy, raw, exciting ska/punk based mainly around short, sharp upstrokes and the horn section of trombone and trumpet.  We understand, though, that Nico (trombone) has left the band since this CD was recorded.  It’s a refreshingly no-frills DIY take on the punk/ska thing, gently reminiscent of the very early Fandangle or Duff Muffin material, when both bands went under those old names and played catchy little tunes in a similarly brisk, spiky, rough and ready style.  Copasetics also do this very well indeed.

Having listened through the whole disc, the plaintive In a Rising Tide is perhaps a strange choice to open the EP, but with or without that hindsight it actually works well.  We set off with some short, sharp little riffs from horns and snare drums before the song opens in to its verse, where Benji’s snotty lead sings over a catchy little ska guitar part.  In a Rising Tide is an uneasy little song, but despite that it’s instantly sing-able: it’s got real angst in it, but it connects with you, and, besides that, it’s catchy; it’s got a trombone solo (yes, really), and it really rocks out towards the end.  It’s 10.30am right now, and I’m sitting on a train and I can still feel the fury, so when I say they’re rocking out, I mean they’re really rocking out.  

Firing Squad is a more obvious single: despite its title, it’s instantly happier, almost poppier, especially at the beginning.  It’s moments like these that are evocative of the young Fandangle, for example, where songs are jammed with hooks, and hint, almost tease, about a desire to become really epic.  Instead, again, the tempo drops.  The vocal becomes hushed, almost spoken word, and the horns really sombre, before the guitars creep back in, slowly getting louder and louder, and the song takes off again, angrier this time.  It’s really clever, this record, and keeps meandering off in unexpected directions.  Think The Scrub, but a bit jazzcore like Duff Muffin, and angrier.  Then, sometimes, speed it up and throw your head and arms around.  That’s what Copasetics are. 

Restless starts slowly, but is actually the quickest one on the EP.  It’s got a bluesy, queasy breakdown crammed in as well, but for the most part it’s a peppy, high-tempo, guitar powered ska tune.  A little like Date Rape, but with horns.  The last song, Trends, is another gem.  It’s got a melodica, and the vocal is different, the snotty, punky edge is gone and instead it’s softer, almost soulful.  There’s a melodica.  The song as a whole is slower, though the guitar part has a similar tempo to the other tunes.  This is absolutely lush: it’s warm, rich, and sort of washes over you.  One highlight is a reggae-style drop out, a group vocal over just guitars and hi-hats that gradually grows back in to the full band.  The brass lines are also lovely.  The song fades out nice and softly, and that’s the record done.

It’s a great little disc, this.  I suppose, just like the band’s succinct little bio, it does exactly what is says on the tin: it shows exactly what they can do, which is a lot, and all squeezed in to four great little songs.  And then that’s it: short, but very, very sweet, and packed with promise too.

Stand-out tracks*:

Firing Squad

Trends

*Yes, we normally pick four or five from an album.  But there are only four songs here.