The Beat, 2-Tone Band der ersten Stunde aus Birmingham, sind natürlich weit über die Ska-Szene hinaus bekannt. Zwischen 1979 und 1983 gelang ihnen eine Serie von Hits und drei zeitlos gute Alben, die ihnen auch in den USA zum Durchbruch verhalfen. Nach ihrem letzten Hit "Can't get Used To Losing You" und der Auflösung gingen unter anderem General Public und Fine Young Cannibals aus der Band hervor.
33 Jahre (!) später kehren The Beat nun mit ihrem vierten Album "Bounce" zurück, dem das Kunststück gelingt, den Sound der ersten drei Alben ins Jahr 2016 zu transportieren und dabei in jeder Sekunde relevant zu klingen. Personell hat Frontmann Ranking Roger einer Frischzellenkur unterzogen. Neben seinem Sohn Ranking Junior aka Matthew Murphy gehören zur aktuellen Besetzung Steve Harper und Bobby Bird (Gitarre), Andy Pearson (Bass), Chiko Hamilton (Sax) sowie Oscar Harrison (Ocean Colour Scene) bzw. Fuzz Townsend (Pop Will Eat Itself) an den Drums.

The Beat are one of the key bands form the 2-Tone era. With a string of hit singles and three highly acclaimed albums they ruled the British charts between 1979 and 1983 and even managed to break through in the USA.  When they split up after their final hit "Can't Get Used To Losing You", the band members went on to form General Public and Fine Young Cannibals.
"Bounce' is the first album from The Beat in 33 years and released on independent label DMF Records. Written by a combination of Ranking Roger, Mick Lister and Ranking Junior, it has been produced by Mick Lister (Bad Company, Amy Winehouse, The Feeling) and mixed by Tim Hamill and Mick Lister except Side to Side and My Dream mixed by Dennis Bovell (Matumbi, The Slits, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Madness).
Joining Roger in the revitalised Beat is his son Ranking Junior AKA Matthew Murphy, a powerhouse MC who adds a new dimension to The Beat's live shows, along with drummers Oscar Harrison of Ocean Colour Scene and Fuzz Townshend of Pop Will Eat Itself.  The line-up is completed by Chiko Hamilton on sax, bass guitar Andy Pearson, guitarist Steve Harper and Bobby Bird whose background in ambient dub as Higher Intelligence Agency brings a new psychedelic dimension to The Beat.

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