Hepcat Push 'N Shove CD

Falling more between the sound of ska pioneers The Skatalites and the 1980s U.K. Two-Tone movement rather than the hybridized sound of third wavers No Doubt and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, L.A. natives Hepcat conjure up all sorts of rootsy purity on their fourth album. Like legendary session guitarist Ernest Ranglin, this septet displays an impressive range that covers many of Jamaica's musical shifts.

With the punchy, out-in-front drumming punctuated by plenty of crisp rimshots and shuffling brushstrokes, Hepcat take on samba-flavored instrumentals ("The Ronnie"), soul singer Brenton Wood ("Gimme Little Sign"), and rock-steady romanticism ("You And I"). Former frontman Alex Desert even took a break from his acting duties to serve up vocals on Lord Funny's obscure calypso nugget "Tek Dat." Best of all is "Prison Of Love," a collaboration with Dancehall Crasher's Karina Denike who uses a sultry tone reminiscent of reggae songbird Nadine Sutherland to add a smoky ambiance to this dub-heavy tune.

Recorded at Third Stone, Burbank, California and Sunburst Recording Studio, Culver City, California.

Engineers include: Ted Scarlett, Wes Seidman, Brian Dixon.

Personnel: Deston Berry (vocals, keyboards); Greg Lee (vocals, percussion); Alex Desert, Karina Denike (vocals); Aaron Owens (guitar); Efren Santana (tenor saxophone); Kincaid Smith (trumpet); Andy Kaulkin (piano); Scott Abels (drums, percussion).

Audio Mixers: June Murakawa; Hepcat; Bob Wayne.

Recording information: Sunburst Recording Studio, Culver City, CA; Third Stone Studio, Burbank, CA.

Hepcat: Greg Lee (vocals, percussion); Aaron Owens (guitar); Efren Santana (tenor saxophone); Kincaid Smith (trumpet); Deston Berry (keyboards, background vocals); Dave Fuentes (bass); Scott Abels (drums, percussion).

Additional personnel: Karina Denike (vocals); Vince Hizon (alto saxophone); Andy Kaulkin (piano).

4th Rel

Alternative Press (12/00, p.101) - 4 out of 5 - "...A modern ska-punk-metal mishmash...with an elegance that follwos in the Jamaican tradition of ska music..."
CMJ (8/7/00, p.32) - "...Taps straight into ska's primary origins in R&B and jazz to create an aura that perfectly simulates the genre's checkered past....reaffirming the band's mastery of the classic ska groove..."