and.now.we're.even – Summer With You
Hailing from Kingston-Upon-Thames, four-piece ska-punk act and.now.we're.even have chosen a fine time to release debut album 'Summer With You.' As 2007 shapes up to be a big year for ska music – luminaries such as Reel Big Fish, Streetlight Manifesto and [spunge] are releasing new material and many big-name ska acts from across the pond are touring on European soil – the lads from Anwe are perfectly poised to attack the British scene. And boy do they carry some armaments.
And.now.we're.even blend typical third-wave ska-punk with a dash of folk induced acoustic-storytelling, carving out an infectious sound reminiscent of New Jersey genre-leaders Streetlight Manifesto. Lead singer Resheed's raspy voice carries an air of honesty lacking in many bands with slicker vocals and the addition of an acoustic guitar only serves to compound this down to earth sentiment. When coupled with the band's funky walking basslines and occasionally manic skate-punk riffs, Anwe create an energetic yet passionate fresh approach to ska.
Title track 'Hunter' begins with a caged acoustic intro that keeps the listener on the edge of their seats for half a minute before the song is unleashed into a sublime punk anthem. 'Stephanme' follows much the same formula, but and.now.we're.even certainly aren't a one trick pony. 'Slackers Manifesto,' 'Skankalicious' and 'Kingstown' are three tunes to dance to, whilst 'Sing Me Something New' offers the listener a chance to reflect.
Anwe claim that 'Summer With You' is supposed to represent the summer; I must congratulate them on a job well done. Even on this wet May evening, the album's upbeat lyrics, riffs and basslines take my mind back to summers of yesteryear. Songs like 'Enforce The Rhythm' evoke images of lazy August nights and the sing-a-long choruses featured in tracks like 'Hunter' and 'I Real Eyes' conjure up a sense of summer fun.
This album would be impressive enough if and.now.we're.even were backed by a multi-million pound record deal; to think then, that the band self financed 'Summer With You' and recorded it in just two weeks is truly astounding. The whole record sounds so polished and professional it puts many household-name bands to shame.
'Summer With You' is easily my favourite album of 2007. Whilst and.now.we're.even are not quite the 'unique' entity their press release purports – they do sound an awful lot like Streetlight Manifesto minus the horns – their music is so polished, infectious and lyrically potent that it doesn't matter. The band easily has the potential to go above and beyond their indie status and if there is justice in the world, they will do. An awesome debut.