Charlie Continental
Be Much Better
Snappy Little Numbers Quality Audio Recordings (2020)
I dunno. Maybe reviewing a flexi is a weird idea as it’s a standalone thing. I still don’t get them: They wear out really fast; they’re vulnerable to damage and they don’t sound very good. They’re a novelty item and, in an era with fewer physical releases, somehow the most disposable format is on the rise?Anyway, I wanted to cover Charlie Continental. I like his work with SPELLS and he’s put out a bunch of these singles on Snappy Little Numbers. I chose the newest, which in hindsight probably isn’t the most reflective of his catalogue given that this song is in the 2-tone style.But here we go, 100-word intro aside. It’s like you’re reading a recipe or something the way I’m avoiding real content.2-Tone. What more can I say? It’s a familiar driven by an up-tempo ska beat with minimal backing and lots of gang choruses. At this point Continental’s lead vocals are joined by members of SPELLS, The Bollweevils, and The Calgary Family Singers. It builds throughout, with a cathartic all-for-one vibe that fits the style perfectly -- the accompanying notes indicate that is why he chose this style in the first place. As Common Rider once said, … Read more
Tribulation
Where the Gloom Becomes Sound
Century Media (2021)
This is not the record that I would want to be Tribulation's swan song. However, if that ends up being … Read more
