A lot of bands have stories as to how an album came together but Supakarma`s journey is a little different. Supakarma who comprised of frontman Daniel Binks, guitarist Jamie Paul Morris, bassist Steven Sciberras and drummer Ben Hallett were a Milton Keynes quartet who succumbed to the age-old friction during the recording process for their debut album which led to the session unravelling. Instead of the promised release, an acrimonious split left the project unfinished and gathering dust. Those tracks might well still be sitting on the shelf today, were it not for the devastating loss of guitarist Jamie in 2019. His untimely death reopened lines of communication between the remaining members, and where there had been discontent, there was a realisation that they had unfinished business, and the band reconvened to deal with it. The outcome being their self-titled debut album, twenty years on.
The album opens with `What Are You Waiting For?` which begins slowly with lyrics that seem to examine as to why a relationship isn`t moving forward as the narrator feels it should have. It blossoms and becomes a more robust anthemic rock number, although the apprehension shared is mirrored in the musical accompaniment. A soundbite about information or digital technology leads us into `Digital Vision` which was in its infancy when written but was growing. There`s a real swagger verging on arrogance relating the dangers perceived of what may follow.
`New Test Cannonball ` is a more thoughtful, reflective number with synth, bass, a steady drumbeat, and gentle vocals with guitar riffs that at times gleam or shimmer and has a pretty dreamlike quality about it. A ballad like composition follows with `Demons` with glistening thoughtful guitar chords and a sense of pleading or cry from the heart in the vocal delivery which really brought to mind The Stereophonics.
`The Way It Is` is a melancholic introspective offering with a leading bass line and rolling drumbeat with questioning vocals that portray a captivating longing or yearning for a relationship that seems just out of reach. We have in `You Could Be My Heroine` a full on no holds barred blistering rock out although the last third enjoys a brief time out for a reggae-tinged segment before resuming its blazing path.
`My Own Advice` is a stripped back acoustic ballad which almost sparkles. A tinkling piano and guitar groove lead us into `Calmer Coaster` an instrumental that builds as it evolves and really absorbs you in its layers of bass, drums, guitar, and piano before quietly fading out.
This long player closes with `I Remember You (Say Goodbye)` which leads in with a dreamy organ sound. A song with a soulful texture that reminisces on times gone by.
Supakarma`s debut is a really engaging listen and although it began twenty years a go it doesn`t feel at all dated. The resolution behind the remaining members coming together to realise their dream two decades on does add a heartbreaking touch of poignancy to this release but despite this there`s so much to enjoy here and i`m glad they finally got to close that circle with something tangible that will live beyond themselves.
Rating 8.5 /10
