XSLF
NORTHSTAR
8/10
“Punk is dead but we’re still dying, I don’t think so.”
Following on from their excellent debut ‘Arrup Bang’ Belfast (and beyond) Punksters XSLf return with a new drummer and a brand new release, ‘Northstar’. Original XSLF (and the second official SLF) sticksmith Jim Reilly is taking a break from rupturing the skins due to some ongoing health issues but his place has been expertly taken on by The Defects beat anchor Glenn Kingsmore. Album opener ‘One Day’ is jabbed out with a mighty Eighties New Wave punch with Cluney’s distinct half-spoken, half-sung Irish brogue wrapping a blanket of familiarity over the listener’s ears. ‘Punk Is Dead?’ has a hip-swaying chorus and arms in the air sing-a-long-a-Henry feel plus the “kicking up a racket” line is a nice little nod to the Fingers past.
The anthemic ‘It’s Not Me’ bristles with generalisation frustration while ‘51’ surfs the socialist Rock ‘N’ Roll wave towards the beach of equality. ‘Another Song About Music’ kicks out with a Fingers B-side grain (from the ‘Go For It’ era) before the pace slows for a less than poetic ‘The Storm’ although the tune itself is tip-top. ‘Dancing In The Pouring Rain’ puddle splashes across Belfast streets whereas ‘Stop That The Train’ incorporates a dash of Reggae, roots and rockers. ‘Coffee Table Rock’ speeds along nicely as do ‘Weapons Of The Weak’ (sung by Glenn Kingsmore who also produces the album) and the benefit baiting rocker ‘Fit For Work’. Title track ‘Northstar’ has a galloping early Maiden-Esque riff married with a flag-waving chorus. The closing duo of a throwaway ‘My Love Song’ and an acoustic flamenco ‘Ole (March Of The Cowards) complete this superb second full-length XSLF offering. The Stiff Little Fingers connection and stamp is strong within XSLF’s sound and DNA and so it damn well should be. SLF remain one of the most important bands of all time and the overall quality of Cluney’s XSLF can only add to the bands ongoing legacy. An original Fingers reunion is extremely unlikely (about the same odds as The Jam reforming) and maybe that’s our issue as fans, critics and interested observers. We subconsciously crave that Hollywood huggy ending but real (and band) life isn’t always that silver-lined, saccharine or straightforward, and anyway two fingers are always better than one.
‘Northstar’ is available direct from the XSLF website.