THE FAMILY BUSINESS LTD joins Jordan Cardy (RAT BOY), Preston (The Ordinary Boys), and
Antonee First Class (The English Beat), with Operation Ivy’s Tim Armstrong and Jesse Michaels
as additional creative collaborators. Bringing together multiple generations of ska, the
collective combines Cardy’s genre-blurring energy, Preston’s 2000s UK ska revivalist spirit, and
the legendary two-tone lineage of toaster Antonee First Class. Representing a unique cross-
section of ska’s evolution, Antonee shares that his excitement came from “the opportunity to
bridge the gap between generations, bringing together people who came to ska from different
places.”
Cardy and Preston first met in Essex in 2014, and in 2023 ended up in Los Angeles writing
together with Tim. “Everything clicked straight away in the studio, and the songs came together
so naturally. Tim suggested bringing in Antonee, and before we knew it, the album was written
and recorded in two weeks,” shares Cardy. They also brought fellow two-tone ska labelmates
The Calamatix to back, “They really made everything feel like a proper band. They brought so
much energy to the record, especially through the rhythm section and bass lines, helping round
out the sound in a way that elevated every song.”
Originating from the late-70s ska revival, two-tone embraced the danceable rhythms of
Jamaican ska with the attitude and aggression of punk rock. Two-tone earned its name from
The Specials’ Jerry Dammers label, 2 Tone Records, referencing the multiracial makeup of
second-wave ska groups and their fanbases. While retaining Jamaican ska’s “skanking rhythms”
and horn lines, two-tone blended socially conscious lyrics and propulsive Reggae bass lines.
On “A.S.B.O.,” rich horns and Antonee’s signature toasting underscore commentary on crime
and mental health, while “Detonator” is a burst of high-energy escapism. Throughout the
album, the trio balances the bright, bouncy melodies of Jamaican ska on tracks like “Still a
Jamaican” with the two-tone punk commentary of the sharp, up-tempo “Shakedown.”
To the collective, ska remains one of music’s most enduring cultures, with Antonee stating, “Ska
and two-tone doesn’t discriminate. The message of peace, love, unity, and standing together is
just as relevant today as it was decades ago. The weather might have changed, but the
struggles people are singing about haven’t.”
ORIGINAL ROCK has been lucky enough to listen to an exclusive advance copy of the debut album, and all we can say is wow…it’s an all-killer, no-filler!
A full album review will appear closer to the album’s Sept 25th release date via Hellcat Records.
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