Asking exactly what Ska is, what type of sounds it represents, is a lot like going into a Starbucks and asking for a coffee. There are a lot of very different bands that fit under the banner of Ska, same as there are a million variations upon a cup of coffee, in both cases there is a simple rule of thumb, it is nearly all good. It's true, of all the genres of music that pour in, the consistently most interested and talented are from Ska bands. Some are great and some are good, but they never seem to be bad. I have a theory that it is impossible to suck if you have a horn section, of course I am sure Rush could prove me horribly wrong.
Skavoovie & the Epitones are most definitely a Ska band, but they are several miles away from the Punk influenced Ska that has such prominence at the moment. Instead they are slower and are more dependent upon a groove, rather than a snarl, to get them where they are going. Reggae, Jazz and funk are easily identifiable in various places.
'The Growler' opens with a tight, horn lead romp called 'Boyo' which is tantalizingly familiar, and hints strongly at their Boston roots. Next up is the stand out track 'The Coffee Connection'. Which perkily attacks one of my few true loves, the magic bean. I take issue on the ideology at play here, after all my five major food groups are chicken, alcohol, salt, pudding and caffeine, that said it is a cracking little Ska track. It is far from alone in that description, with 14 tracks spanning nearly 50 minutes there is very little fill present.
Skavoovie have been around since 1992, when they were all ridiculously young, I think one of them was in Kindergarten, so they have literally grown up as a band, and it shows with the assurance they move between styles and songs. They have they own distinct variation of Ska which manages to combine the current en vogue 'swing' with more traditional Ska. The horns do get raucous now and again, but those wanting edge of your seat Punk-Ska will be disappointed, this is a little more mature and restrained than that. Those who are seeking an intelligent album of inventive groovy music will be very much at home here.
That is not to say this is not a band, and an album, that doesn't have a sense of humour (British, get over it), 'The Coffee Connection' proves that, as does the wonderful 'Tiny Machines', a song with the memorable line "I don't believe in God, I believe in tiny machines", and 'Texas Size' an ode to larger ladies. Combined with horns that never sleep and some excellently understated production, you get an album that passes the repeated listening test with flying colors.
So check them out, and I am so happy I am not the only one having problems with those damn tiny machines.

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