Album Details

• Artist: Faintest Idea
• Album: Ignore This Ignorance
• Label: TNS
• Year of Release: 2010
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: dadair on 2010-08-05

A bounding retro ska punk horn intro sets out music's equivalent of a bloody red carpet, for the gruelling lead vocals of Sam Rayner to stomp all over. He's backed to the hilt by some beefy The Vandals veined support for boisterous opener, ‘Criminals'. They use this drive to haughtily build up the tempo that gives protest song, ‘Fight For Progress' that right mixture of rhythm, horn frivolity, anger and body right from the outset, as post-punk grits over the floundering ska bass. There is clarity to the mayhem, right the way through this ten track tirade. These swarming Swafham-ites rekindle old skool irreverence, despite the lyrics being occasionally trite.

‘Broken Record', is a term often used to define many an attempt to rekindle the pissed off buzz of ska-punk's heyday. Unfortunately, this song doesn't really do a great deal to expel this myth. Rayner's self-defiant lyrical projection is a little too low-key to be able to match the horn and percussion thrust. This means that the cutting comments come across as tad limp. However, true insurgency is bashed out with piercing sincerity for ‘Western World':

"What happened to our democracy? Also known as hypocrisy.

Corruption living in a Western World."

A pop-punk push lends a mild fun feel to exasperated nature of ‘Bully Boy'. Rythmic rousing and political bemusement are delivered from a nourish, atmospheric base for ‘Dead Future'. Ironically, this slower blues pushed, police siren inclusive backing approach gives their protesting nature, more understanding and impact.

Faintest Idea has delivered a genuine and promising enough album, backing up their growing and potent live reputation. They admit themselves that there may not be a great deal of originality in the type of music that they produce, but there is enthusiasm and spirit aplenty.

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