The debut 7” from The Gamblers gave listeners a very accessible and direct insight into the new band’s key musical interests. The self-penned ‘Tonight’ introduced them with a tight arrangement, underscored by a great bass sound, and an attitude that suggested that frontman Mark – also of punk band Booze & Glory – had a deeper love of Jamaican sounds than many of his peers. For any doubters, the flip-side’s pin-sharp cover of The Pioneers’ ‘Let Your Yeah Be Yeah’ should have been solid enough to allay any fears that this was, in any way, a half-arsed musical diversion.
The quickly delivered follow up – pairing the newly written ‘Boom! Boom!’ with a cover of The Kingstonians’ ‘Sufferer’ – is just as good. ‘Boom! Boom!’, in particular, advertises a band who instinctively know their way around a great reggae arrangement. The bigger riffs don’t kick in instantly here, though: the track opens with an easy keyboard flurry, pulling in the listener to The Gamblers’ sunny world. After a few seconds, a heavy drum hits, conveying a slight steel pan edge, and the band settle into an upbeat arrangement where the bass and keys borrow heavily from Jamaican reggae and the Joe Gibbs production sound, tempered by a slight ska rhythm. In terms of a punchy melody, it’s got everything, including a busy keyboard solo lends a little more of a Caribbean flavour and a hint of Jerry Dammers, and a slightly reverbed lead guitar that calls back to the late 60s. It’s great, even before taking a dominant gang vocal into consideration, where a choir of voices latch onto some great hooks.
For those looking for bigger, deeper sounds, the Kingstonians cover presents a fatter bass groove, huge harmony vocals sweeping across a tight as hell rhythm, and a percussive edge. Everything pulls together brilliantly. The interplay between the old style organ and bass is especially impressive here, as is the feel good vibe that contrasts a heavier lyric, and even Mark’s slightly affected vocal tones work well against the music. It’s enjoyable from the off, but really comes into its own when the organ drops into a pin-sharp solo that owes more to the mighty Booker T than most reggae legends. Despite this song reaching The Gamblers second hand, there’s a spirit and vitality to this recording that really works.
It’s safe to say that if you enjoyed the first Gamblers release, then this pair of bangers will bring more entertainment. The material definitely adds more superb vibes to the band’s growing legacy. Sure, you’ll find other punky bands dabbling with this kind of reggae tradition, but these excursions suggest that Mark and friends have the makings of a great band capable of running rings around their peers. A short but highly recommended listen.
February 2025