Up The Shirkers - Tansads > Reviews > "turn on, tune up, drop out, be late"

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The so called "crusty" scene of the late eighties produced a number interesting and non-conformist bands, most of which came and went quicker than you could say Chumbawamba. If the Levellers, probably the best known of the bunch, were going to protest about the world and New Model Army were going to pick a fight with it, then the Tansads were the ones who were going to stand at the bar and take the piss out of it. Musicaly an extremely competant group, their trade mark became, especially on this album, the sureal quality of their lyrics.

The twelve songs on Up The Shirkers reflect the drop out, under the counter-culture, but does so in a light hearted way. No big statements, no politics, no obvious protests, just a look at the world from a different angle. The first thing that strikes you is the arrangement and quality of the vocals. The two voices, counter each other well, moving from high ranging sweet female vocals one minute to a gruff male voice the next, both taking lead in equal proportions.

"Down the old M5, up the ancient M1,
across the M56, think its time,
that I was gone, up the A49,
and east of the sun, and west of the moon,
and Ill be there soon,
going down to Camelot"

Musically the songs range from mellow songs of every day life, to full on anthems of revolution, a rock band one minute, a folk band the next, and all the time playing it for laughs, but still having something to say if you can be bothered to wade through the strange imagery. Harmonicas, Accordians and Trumpets all make appearances alongside the normal range of instuments, all held together by a wash of keyboard and harmony vocals.

The themes of the New Age culture, travelling, poverty and revolutions are prevailant, all from the small mans point of view. Paying the electric bill, rather than global warming, sailing the chip pan ocean, rather than sailing away to a new life. The songs are wide ranging, from the almost Pogues like English Rover, the rock anthem of Up the Revolution to the acoustic guitar jaunt of Camelot and the balladry of Waste of Space.

"Harre Krishna what do you say
come looking for some fun today
Bobby Dylans gone away
jangle-jingle in the morning"

For all its weird lyrics, and its very left of centre social stand point, its an album that will appeal to many, the music is fantastic, beautiful in places, well thought out and changes in unpredictable ways. The lyrics shouldn`t be dwelt on too much, however there are some moments of pure salt of the earth wisdom, especially on Reason To Be, a poiniant look at what people fall into if they stop trying.

Amongst the ballads, the sing alongs, the lilting folk and the rock anthems, there is something for everyone.