It’s hard not to write this with some sort of flow measured to mirror the linguistic complexity that Team Fresh bring to the table in terms of this, their first ever single. That would be almost cruel. A show of blunt force stupidity in fact, as to try and parody what is essentially the Irish accent rapping – on paper, a packaged sitcom in itself in my book – would be beyond wrong here. As ‘Rhythm Tradition‘ itself calls out ‘…don’t judge a book by its cover…‘, I’d be hypocritical to place my dislike of the derivative ‘fake-rap-hopple-pop-bullshit’ that’s pumped out commercially on the shoulders of these locals, who are very much so coming from a different attitude base entirely.
…for me that in itself says it all, that all their anger and passion is squarely held in the right place. It’s praiseworthy, though a common enough occurrence in this corner of the world, thankfully.
Built up over the years, known for their engaging live performances and holding considerable stage presence (but having been a band almost solely confined to their most accessible setting) the main concern here is making that all come across through a set of home speakers. So with the introduction to the world of ‘Rhythm Tradition‘ on record it shouldn’t need said it marks an awakening; and also a recognition of their loyal audience that they’ve finally taken to producing something akin to the detail and technique of their collective persona to take with you from their gigs.
…very clearly though, and unfortunately – not all of it is here, but then they’ve a lot of liquid tonic to try and fit into just the one bottle, as future releases will hopefully prove.
Edged along the surface with driving riffs the layered music on tap is beautiful fuel for the soul, pushing and pulling at your limbs with the massive lyrical hooks traded between Browne, Donaghy and Dunbar accompanied by instantly recognisable guitars and mixes for those already faithful to their cause. The same stage games come through loud and clear, yet just drop short of that added visual element provided by seeing them performing right in your face. That said, it’s only when you have a snoop properly under the hood of ‘Tradition‘, and the equally clever b-sides ‘Causeway Rebel‘ and ‘Recipe For Disaster‘ that you realise the sheer intensity and power that is still in the process of being organised into the sonic army talked about so much inside the songs themselves.
The road yet to be walked you might say…
Amongst all the rocking out, when giving it that ‘closer inspection’ Team Fresh offer up some major insights into the less said spent days of youth rollicking around the North coast of Northern Ireland on skateboards with an entire population in transition around them. Talk of everyday life living in Ireland’s ‘culture lock’ and social commentary on our rebellious youths’ activities has never sounded so strikingly blunt; and ultimately they are proudly pressuring audiences with personal statements and vivid memories via the melting pot structure of their Rage Against The Machine like compositions.
…Team Fresh summed up here are the roaring sound of a generation moving away from the clichés surrounding our country, tired with the previous one’s fucked up useless antics and more than ready to soldier on. Perhaps the first and last band to truly do that before it too becomes just another worn thin element of the ever increasing Northern counter-culture.
