Intensified

Intensified - Hang Fire - Intensified

It’s very hard to believe that Intensified started out as a punk band, then turned into a two tone ska band. And then turned into a band that could play ‘Ska’ ‘Rock Steady’ and ‘Reggae’  like they were in Jamaica in the mid-sixties.

They are part of a bigger movement, a worldwide movement - of bands, which include Boss Capone from Holland, The West Kensingtons in the US, and Travellers All Stars in Mexico. There are more of course, but that will do for now.

They all have something in common, they all want to play ‘69’  Reggae - exactly how it was made. 

What is missing in this list is a band from Jamaica, but Reggae music, being Reggae music, it’s probably asking too much.

But back to Intensified I’m not quiet sure - how many albums they have released. It could be six. There last album albun ‘Lunar City Groove’ was excellent. And also included a DVD documentary on the band.

Not an easy album to follow, but some 13 years after it’s release they have put together a worthy release. Rammed with great rhythms all from the sixties, and also full of there own songs.

A 12-track set - with themes that touch on that late sixties era. 

‘Astronaut’  the opening track, picks up on the dress code of that late sixties era.  The mix of clothes and fashion was very important in that era.  Yes, violence was also present, but when that violence started happening at football grounds. The people involved were no longer listening to reggae music. 

‘Enter The Wagon’ is a wild tribute to the likes of people like Andy Capp, Herman Chin Loy, and Lee Perry.  It features Boss Capone on vocals, and he does a very good job - in getting the vibes of the time,

‘What Did I Do Wrong’ taps into the style of so many love songs of that.  These kind of lyrics were the mainstay of the music at that time. There must have been thousands of these kind of songs.  Love songs, but with a little bit more going on in them. More like little stories.

‘Stir The Pot’ is another one that connects so well back to the sixties.  It’s got that ‘Chatty Mouth’ theme going on in it, much loved by the Gladiators and the Wailers. 

A great tune.

Every track on this album is a gem. And takes this album into the Top Ten best reggae sets ever made in the UK. It’s that’s good!!  This is a reggae train, you don’t want to miss!!

Intensified - Come Forward - Directed by Jep & Marc - 

This is a truly great documentary. Like Paul Carter the vocalist for the Intensified band. Most reggae fans had little or no time for Two Tone.

As Paul states, it was too fast. Way too fast.

Still, Paul joined the band and give thanks for that!!

Somewhere along the way, Intensified went from a Two-Tone band into a proper reggae/ska band. 

How that happened is still a bit of mystery - the simple explanation is that they just got better over the years. 

Formed in 1990, by the time of this documentary in 2010 they had been going for 20 years.

People have come and gone - but the unity of purpose remains the same.

Steve Harrington - is the main spokesperson for the band. He's also a great songwriter - and so is Karl Wirrmann

The story of the band starts with Steve's fascination with Nora Dean's tune 'Barbwire'. Which would have been another good name the band could have called themselves!!!

Nora's version of the 'You Don't Care' rhythm probably brought a good number of people into reggae.

And of course, it was a big hit, and probably would have gone into the charts if it wasn't for it's kinky lyrics!

A few years later Steve is inspired enough

Not by Nora and Jamaica. But Two-Tone and Australia!

Geoff Armstong - a good friend of reggae Music and Small Axe - connect the dots - And makes some very interesting points.

The rest of the documentary shows the band talking and playing in Germany

With some great footage of the band backing Alton Ellis, and Dave Barker - who are really enjoying themselves - with a band who can play like this.

They have also backed Dennis Alcapone and Pat Kelly. And more recently the Tennors in fine style. A remarkable band and a true credit to the UK reggae scene.