Six Nation State – ‘Six Nation State’ (Jeepster) Released 24/09/07

If ever a fresh and gutsy debut album were needed, it’s just about now and it comes in the form of Six Nation State’s eponymous release; arguably the most impressive debut album of 2007 so far. Combining indie, punk and ska over a wash of viciously weathered vocals, the London based six piece have produced an ear smashing stunner and the ideal cure for anyone who’s still harbouring a post Libertines hangover. Breathing new life into a firmly established, quintessentially British scene gone stale, their roaringly contagious sound ensures a faultless album from start to finish and one that repeated listening rewards again and again.

‘Six Nation State’ kicks off with the fast paced, straight to the point styling’s of ‘Can’t Let Go’. It’s a bold statement to make but the ideal start for the album and one that makes the bands intentions immediately clear, through shady, punctuating, city life guitar riffs, an underpinned dirty bass, delicious vocal and an unmistakable gang mentality which permeates the entire album. And there’s more to come in the form of ‘Keep Dancing’. We’re only two songs in, but by now their objective is made clear through the use of intelligent instrumentation, over slow self-persuading verses and big underlining chorus’; reassuringly edgy, completely natural and in no way forced.

It’s at this point of the album where the band have reached make or break time. So far so very good, but a subtle change of direction is needed to maintain their fresh sound. ‘Caught The Sun’ does the job superbly and is undoubtedly one of the best on the album, changing the mood from life in fast-forward to a statement of sad lament mixed with attainable hope. Yet they manage to retain their signature style through stunningly simple lyrics and an impressive ability to mix chorus and verse.

Having demonstrated their capabilities and waving goodbye to the cynics in the process, ‘Taking Me Over’ delivers a short, sharp, beer fuelled shock with an expletive whirlwind of gypsy punk guitar; played with clenched fists and sung with such pure ferocity, you can practically feel the spit on your face. Keen to prove themselves as much more than just another group of wannabes, the band infuse a healthy measure of Ska into the mix. ‘I Hate The Summer’, ‘Everybody Wants To Be My Friend’ and ‘Up And Down’ inject a subtle dose of walking bass lines, suggested protest and haunting social comment; used as a tool not only to sustain an ominously flammable atmosphere, but also to calm the tension they’ve created along the way.