Album Review: Unknown Era – A State Of Affairs

Sometimes things just fall into place, a look at the cover art for Unknown Era‘s debut full length “A State Of Affairs” tells you that, despite this obviously being in the works for a long time (five years according to the band), this is an album that reflects the current unrest and uncertainty in the world right now, it also sadly reflects that positive change is a slow process. “A State Of Affairs” follows on from the band’s 2015 self titled five track EP and brings together the worlds of roots reggae, funk, punk, brass, acoustic, jazz, calypso, dancehall and folk and somehow binds them together with the band’s trademark contemporary and politically driven urban ska. You’re in for the long haul with “A State Of Affairs” as it boasts eighteen tracks that are delivered in just shy of 70 minutes, something that meant that the limited, and long sold out, vinyl edition of “A State Of Affairs” had to be spread over two slabs of vinyl.

The opening track ‘Read between The Lines‘ sets Unknown Era‘s agenda out nicely, the is eloquent contemporary ska that’s fused with a wide rang of influences, the politically charged lyrics are paired with a laid back ska and reggae backing. The traditional high energy bounce that comes from the fusing of ska and punk isn’t present on the majority “A State Of Affairs“, this is a deceptively laid back album, but despite the danceable and upbeat soundclash the lyrical venom is very much still present. If you bypass the thought of any comparisons of third wave ska bands you may come to the conclusion that Unknown Era‘s approach is closer the likes of The Specials and The Beat, Unknown Era take elements of traditional calypso, ska and reggae rhythms and inject a touch of punk aggression, something that comes to the fore on ‘Babylon Crumble‘ and ‘Mass Murder‘, and there is no drop in the beat until you get to the downbeat acoustic finalè ‘Alive‘, The strength of Unknown Era‘s sprawling debut album is in the almost bewildering fusion of influences that are seamlessly blended together, a soundclash that is backed up with equal measures of joy and and defiance.

“A State Of Affairs” will be released though I‘m Not From London Records and will be available via digital service providers, including Apple Music, Bandcamp and Spotify, from the 12th July

You can pre-order “A State Of Affairs” via Apple Music here