What a fitting album title the ska band from Brighton has chosen for their new album. It took a full 10 years for this album to see the light of day. 10 years!! Some bands don't even last that long. Many bands are already forgotten after 10 years. Not THE HOTKNIVES, who not only have a good reputation in the ska scene but are also known to some in the psychobilly community. After all, Mark Carew is also the one who plays the double bass perfectly with Long Tall Texans and The Astro Zombies. With THE HOTKNIVES, he is responsible for the bass and vocals.
“About time“ tells personal, touching stories in every song. These are stories that resonate due to their naturalness and honesty. They are always fundamentally honest and relatable for everyone, whether it’s social criticism or longing. Very down-to-earth. The music is another chapter in itself. Since their inception, THE HOTKNIVES have hardly confined themselves to the boundaries of ska, but have continually incorporated influences from rockabilly, dub, Jamaican reggae, soul, and pop into their songs. This has opened them up to the vast world. The world has quickly embraced them. The same will happen with this album. The songs are catchy, can be enjoyed as background music, but are just as good for dancing. Music from THE HOTKNIVES should not be missing at any good ska night. The thirteen songs featured on “About time“ thus give DJs thirteen new options.
THE HOTKNIVES are more than ska. This is why they are loved across scenes. This is also evident at their concerts.
However, the band's sound offers so much substance that even after multiple listens, the music does not feel boring but rather gets better each time. Just like good wine. It needs to breathe to be good. The same goes for the music of THE HOTKNIVES. It is an album that will leave a mark.
