Babylove & The Van Dangos

Let It Come, Let It Go

Written by: PP on 16/05/2012 04:22:24

Copenhagen-based Babylove & The Van Dangos are the longest running ska unit in Denmark to my knowledge, and over the course of three albums they have established themselves as one of the finest ska/rocksteady groups in Europe. Aside from the participants to the annual Copenhagen Ska Convention, few people nationally really know the Van Dangos though, mostly because ska hasn't exactly been 'in' within the music industry since the mid to late 90s. It's a shame because as their fourth album "Let It Come, Let It Go" so well demonstrates, they are extremely proficient in their genre and so easily accessible that mainstream popularity in Denmark should be a no-brainer, at least based on solid ska tracks like "City Lies", "Glengali", "Let 'em Roll" and countless others on the CD.

Basically, the seven-piece specialize in the super chilled out, dance-friendly ska music that draws heavily from early Jamaican music rather than the riff-heavy, punk-fueled energy of bands like Reel Big Fish. While there are many bands doing the same thing, notably The Capital Beat in Finland and The Slackers across the pond, Babylove own one of the most authentic and convincing sounds in the genre I've heard to date. It's no wonder they are sometimes acclaimed as the best band of their genre on the continent: when you can write a relaxed tempo track like the aforementioned "Glengali" that is simultaneously as catchy and radio-friendly as it is without sounding cheesy or borrowing at all from the infectious ska-punk bands, you deserve the fan and critical acclaim without further discussion.

The horn instruments are strongly present in the mix, but they are used tastefully and sparingly enough to avoid dominating the soundscape. This leaves space for smooth, even classical piano moments, Jamaican style vocals, cool bass licks, and all the good stuff you normally associate with ska music in general. All of this is done to ensure that the predominant theme of the album is a relaxed, spaced out one where you can put on your slow dancing shoes in a care free environment. The vocalist does a great job at handling the soundscape without sounding neither too eager nor dispassioned, opting for a good middle ground where his melodies make up the main thread of each song but again without overshadowing the rest of the instrumentation. In general, there's an almost creepily perfect balance between everything in the sound, which makes for an extremely enjoyable and easily accessible ska sound through and through.

In the end, one has to ask why Babylove & The Van Dangos aren't more known if this is the kind of material they can present album in album out. For such quality musicianship and well-developed soundscapes are rarely found in as small of a country as Denmark, so it is strange that they aren't given more credit where credit is due. Hopefully this review helps to remedy some of that and introduces more people to the world of the Van Dangos: undeniably the best ska band in Denmark at the moment.

8

Download: Glengali, City Lies,
For the fans of: The Slackers, The Capital Beat, The Aggrolites, Westbound Train
Listen: YouTube

Release date 27.04.2012
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