Skint & Demoralised - The Thrill Of Thirty Seconds (Mercury)
UK release date: 17 November 2008
Now that's a name for these credit-crunch biting, recession looming times. Thankfully, Skint And Demoralised aren't a group of stockbrokers making a career change, but a spoken word poet from Wakefield who's linked up with a mysterious producer from Sheffield called MiNI dOG.
Matt Abbott, the aforementioned Wakefield poet has been doing the rounds at various open mic spots in Yorkshire over the last couple of years, and by the sounds of this debut single, MiNI dOG is his perfect partner. Comparisons are bound to be made with Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, but the only thing they have in common is the spoken word vocal.
This isn't dance, or even indie for that matter. In fact, despite the infectious guitar licks, it brings to mind Northern Soul - which should be no surprise given that it was recorded with The Dap-Kings, the backing band who help make Sharon Jones and Amy Winehouse sound so good. Abbot's Yorkshire accented vocals lend the song a burst of freshness and energy, making it sound genuinely different.