After five years, a new album drops tomorrow (Friday 23rd October) from southwest Welsh reggae outfit, Captain Accident & the Disasters, and it’s worth the wait….
Using the word “reggae” as a blanket term for pop music of Jamaican origin, rather than a particular subgenre of roots reggae commonly associated with Bob Marley at his peak, as it currently stands for Caucasians, there seems to be two distinct followings in the UK; that of the retrospective scooterist’s adoration of reggae’s original template, ska, which inspired the Two-Tone movement, and the more progressive dub to dancehall counterculturists and punks favour.
I view it as unfortunate that the bridge between them is often overlooked, as it was the most creative period in Jamaican recording history. Yet Captain Accident’s previous album Bad Press relished in the smooth rock steady style which took ska on its journey to reggae in the late nineteen sixties. A particularly hot summer of ‘67 and the government curfew in Jamaica are held responsible for the shift, where it was the tempo mellowed and brass gave way to vocal harmonies.
The relics of rock steady’s ballad concept remains in subgenres such as ‘lover’s rock,’ and there’s as plenty of hints to this in Sayonara Paranoia as there was with Bad Press. But this time around the melting pot is far more welcoming to all of reggae’s subgenres; Sayonara Paranoia not only draws from and encompasses them all, but seemingly creates some new ones on its magical journey. The press release suggests “Sayonara Paranoia is an album of contrasts,” and you’re in for a pleasant surprise from the off.
It opens with a lead single released last February, Slither on the Dashboard, recounting the day a family pet snake escaped into Captain Accident’s car while he was driving it to a new home in the Welsh Valleys! If its subject perfectly illustrates frontman Adam’s pseudonym, a nickname earned through a lifetime of spectacular clumsiness rather than a carefully crafted stage persona, our surprise is the track is decidedly upbeat ska with nods to Two-Tone’s association with punk. If you must look towards Northern Soul for a tune about a snake, forget Al Wilson, because this one skanks almighty and breaks like a real slithering reptile!
So we establish, Captain Accident’s namesake is a self-deprecating streak that occasionally finds its way into the music, but never at the expense of sincerity. Songs immediately following revert back to the uplifting chill of rock steady; wonderful vocal harmonising songs like Rise and Fall are signature Captain Accident, and Baby Slow Down comes in with that cool Jacob Miller feel.
It’s a ten song long flow which you don’t want to stop, as influences into a collection of songs exploring resilience, love, heartbreak, anxiety and hope ripple through the eardrums blissfully. Yet, I have to take hold during the fourth song, because if this album stretches into ska, rock and punk territory while maintaining the Captain’s classic and loved fashion, where does To The Sun fit?! It has the kind of completely unique riff I cannot define; elements of dancehall blend into a punky reggae which reminds me of the sleng teng riddim of Prince Jammy’s electronic takeover of reggae, but still this song is refreshingly experimental, completely original, and that riff, oh that riff is so addictive it sticks!
From this point I accept I’m in for an adventure, with the Captain leading the mission; where are we going Capt?! The gorgeousness of sunshine love songs follows for a further two tracks, and then he confirms the destination; we’re upbeat ska again with Mission to Mars.
But if instrumentation and vocals are only the physical aspects, the conscious theme of Me & My Friends proves a spiritual skill in songwriting, and could be compared with Marely’s So Much Trouble in the World. “Life gives you plenty to write about if you’re paying attention,” Captain Accident said of the album. “Sometimes those stories are about love, heartbreak or the things that weigh on your mind, and every now and then something completely ridiculous happens—like accidentally letting a snake loose in your car. Reggae will always be at the heart of what I do, but I’ve never wanted to put boundaries around the music. The rock and punk records I grew up with are just as important to me, and I think this album reflects that. I can’t wait to get back out on the road with the band and share these songs with everyone.”
Sayonara Paranoia was written, recorded and produced entirely by Captain Accident, reflecting a deeply personal and independent approach to making music. Yet this song is followed again by Pick up the Slack, which, as it might sound, is full steam train chugging ska again to appease the boots and braces crews!
The moment Suggs of Madness joined the band on stage should be an indicator to, not only Captain Accident & The Disasters’ steadily built reputation as an energetic live act, but also the sense of spontaneity and musical community within the UK reggae and ska scenes. They appeared at Boomtown Fair, Isle of Wight Festival, Wilderness Festival, Bestival, Cornbury Festival, Mucky Weekender and Rototom Sunsplash, one of the world’s largest reggae festivals. They shared stages with the likes of Aswad, Steel Pulse, The Abyssinians, Alborosie, The Selecter, Julian Marley, and The Beat.
Until we meet, the treasure of this new album is that no matter the diversity and experimentation, the Captain and his band invites the listener to his table and entertains them with the same divine quality no matter which direction their distinctive ship faces. And this is accomplished with a defining recognisable overall style whereby soaring twin-guitar harmonies warm the cockles, rather than the traditional horn section, the riffs drift across reggae like it’s given, and the vocal’s smooth like John Holt suddenly fell deeply in love.
If this is about as high an accolade as one could get within reggae circles, don’t assume I flatter; Captain Accident & The Disasters supported Toots and the Maytals at a gig in Wales, and the late Toots Hibbert took them on tour. They completed three full UK tours supporting the reggae pioneers; when you hear this album, you realise why that happened.
A UK tour follows the release of the album, details HERE. Socials below.
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