Sometimes, all it takes is hearing one song to change your entire outlook on how you approach music. For me, that happened in 1997 when I heard The Tantra Monsters for the first time. They had a song on the Misfits of Ska comp from Asian Man Records. Back then, comps were gateways into an amazing world of new music. I won’t wax poetic about the good old days though. That’s another article for another day.
When I got to “Boto Changee,” it blew my mind. Organ-forward ska music with a fast, danceable beat. The song was amazing. There was a catch though. I had no idea what they were saying because it wasn’t in English. That wasn’t a turn off or a hinderance to me. Instead, it showed me there was a whole world of ska music out there just waiting for me to discover. Up until that point, I honestly only focused on English-speaking bands. All it took was that one song from a ska band from Hawaii to help get me out of my comfort zone. If you’re not familiar with Spanish-speaking ska bands, I’m hoping the new album from Mexico City’s Girls Go Ska does that for you.
For the uninitiated, Mexico is one of the biggest hotbeds for ska in the world today. There are huge festivals and bands get the respect they deserve. Ska music never became a dirty little secret or a joke there. Instead, while America moved onto the next musical trend, ska music thrived. I hate the whole fourth wave chatter, but I think if there was ever an official “fourth wave,” it would be in Latin America. That’s why it amazes me when ska fans don’t have a working knowledge of just how good the music coming out of Mexico, and the Spanish-speaking communities in Southern California, is.
It’s my goal to try and change that one album at a time. Frente al Mar, the debut full-length from Girls Go Ska, is a perfect place to start.
Clocking in at just over 40 minutes, Frente al Mar, features eight songs that showcase a technical ability that rivals bands like Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra and the New York Ska Jazz Ensemble. Girls Go Ska write and perform ska music that hits on every level. There’s a wonderful fusion of reggae, jazz, rocksteady, and Skatalites-esque big band ska music. You may even hear a little bit of David Hillyard-inspired saxophone throughout.
It’s honestly, just beautiful. If you don’t understand Spanish, don’t let that get in the way of hearing an amazing album. There’s a dreamy feel throughout that just puts you in the mind of summertime. If you don’t crack a smile, or bob your head while you listen, then I hate to break it to you, you just hate summer. And that’s sad.
Whether you’re lounging on the beach, having a backyard party, or in the mood to dance, the songs on Frente al Mar will scratch all of those itches.
While there isn’t a dud on the album, some of my favorites include “La Tierra,”Quédate,” and “En Silencio.” With “En Silencio,” I actually caught a bit of a “Careless Whisper” vibe going on. Guess that’s what happens when your band has such talented saxophone players.
Since the band’s first full-length is so good, I expect we’ll be treated to many more excellent pieces of music from them. If listening to music in a language you don’t understand is a challenge, I implore you to reconsider. This release from Girls Go Ska is special. Maybe, it’ll open your eyes to the possibilities of how much great music is out there. I hope so. This is an album that deserves to be heard by all. If listening to music in Spanish isn’t a stumbling block for you, then I’m preaching to the choir. Hopefully, you’ve already stopped reading this review already because you went searching for a place to hear this amazing album.