Sometimes it takes coincidences in life to get to the new hot stuff.
That's what happened to me one day when I went to my favorite ticket outlet KOKA36 in Kreuzberg. There, I was greeted not only with a warm welcome and my tickets but also with a hot tip. I was told to check out the band ARTE BELLA & THE FELLAS. They play Ska, 2-Tone, Reggae, and Soul-Fusion.
So I did.
On April 25, 2025, ARTE BELLA & THE FELLAS invited us to the record release party at the “House of Music” on the RAW grounds in Berlin-Friedrichshain. Joining them were TIGHTEN UP from Dresden. With the band from Saxony, the Berliners have released their first physical publication in the form of a split LP.
Five songs come from ARTE BELLA & THE FELLAS, two songs from TIGHTEN UP, and three songs have been interpreted together by both bands.
The dedicated label “Smith an Miller” from Berlin-Neukölln has pressed the whole fun on vinyl. There are 300 copies of the black 12”.
So how does the fun sound?
It starts with the Berliners ARTE BELLA & THE FELLAS and one of the two German-language tracks. In smooth, danceable 2-Tone, they sing about a special species of humanity, the “administrative specialist.” The band doesn’t really warm up to this species. However, you can get warm while listening to the song if you move to it. The song invites you with open arms.
The next song “Lady F” takes the tempo down compared to the first song, leans a bit more towards reggae, and fits wonderfully with the soon-to-come warm summer nights with its groove.
Then it continues with the Spanish song “La Luz del Ska.” Why do I think of the Caribbean while listening? In Cuba, for example, this song could wonderfully get people dancing. A hint of Caribbean sound paired with Ska-Pop.
Now you’re really grooving. With “People Pleaser,” the Berlin band takes us on another little dance journey. The beautiful vocal performance, the well-placed brass, and the relaxed beat are pleasing.
Now that everything is so beautifully relaxed, life could just continue like this.
However, we must not forget, before we point fingers at others, “The biggest asshole,”
that is still me. Remember that!
This song also has a relaxed beat, has groove, and is enjoyable, but it features such a self-reflective text. ARTE BELLA & THE FELLAS do not walk blindly and deafly through the world. This is a significant point in favor of the band, in my opinion.
Then it continues with TIGHTEN UP, the band from Dresden. The band has dedicated itself more to reggae in style and has a different sound.
The song “Man next door” exemplifies how the Dresdners combine heavy groove with danceable reggae and beautiful vocal performances.
A very strong song with a powerful, smoky vocal performance is “Riding High on a Windy Day.” The atmosphere is something between a warm fireplace room and watching the weather on the coast on a February day. And that vocal performance.
I could melt away.
After that, there are three songs that both bands celebrate together. Here, the best of both worlds comes together.
The ten songs on this limited vinyl record of 300 copies are consistently a lot of fun and know how to please. For me, it’s the first real summer record of 2025.
And Berlin has a new star in the Ska sky, ARTE BELLA & THE FELLAS.
