There is a new album by BUSTER SHUFFLE
In line with the times we are all experiencing, the album title fits perfectly.
The album is called “Together“. This is meant quite literally.
More togetherness, more solidarity, more we, less I.
Why? Just watch the news, and you'll know.
The album starts with a “baa” from sheep and then kicks off with the title track “Shows how little you know“. Lyrically, it addresses the many people who want to tell us on all channels how the world turns. Keeping an overview here is difficult, so it’s all the more helpful, indeed better, to expose these people. It’s not the loudest voice that is right. And always question things, because that shows how little often lies behind.
BUSTER SHUFFLE sing about the “master plan” one should perhaps make in life, especially when walking through the rain again, while there are so many beautiful, warm, sunny corners in the world. With such a plan, you might just get there. Here, the band’s very special humor shines through. A humor that is typically British and often brings a smile to my face.
The third song is a fluffy, poppy, danceable track that addresses a serious topic, namely drug abuse. The pharmaceutical industry has created a wonderful world of pills for us. Blue pills for potency, green pills for sleeping, yellow pills for waking up, red pills with vitamins, and white pills for headaches and soul pain. A serious topic, well-packaged. The song does not condemn but could represent a typical day of an affected person.
The following “Waiting for You” is a lighter song, featuring the band’s special humor, paired with a piano played almost in a big band style.
The title track “Together” begins almost ethereally, as if one were falling asleep, then singer Jet sings with his distinctive voice, and somehow a feel-good number has emerged.
Speaking of feeling good, the eleven songs on “Together” are all a lot of fun, yet they are different from the songs on the last two albums, especially the first two. The songs are more varied, poppier, sometimes even rockier, but always have their roots in danceable ska. This style can almost be called a unique BUSTER SHUFFLE style, as I know no other band that plays such a sound.
Ska purists will probably find it harder to connect with this band, but for those who move through the world musically open-minded, possess humor and ease, and also feel like dancing, this new work from the band out of East London will bring a lot of joy.
