Longevity in the music world isn’t something that is guaranteed. As Les McQueen of Crème Brulee fame says, “It’s a shit business”. It takes a lot of graft, luck, and talent to carve out a long-lasting career. All three aspects certainly apply to why Skinny Lister have been around and causing havoc for sixteen years.
The Skinnies’ unique brand of folk punk/shanty punk has seen this massively hard-working band continue to collect fans across the world. Constantly on the road, it seems, their live shows have become a thing of legend. They are full of energy, dancing, and an overall feeling of happiness and are very addictive. Having them coursing through your veins gives you a boost, quite like no other.
They are back with their seventh studio album, Songs From The Yonder, following on from their well-received 2023 release, Shanty Punk. The new release has seen the band try to capture that ‘live’ feeling on this album, with several of the tracks recorded live and left unedited in an attempt to capture their ferocious live energy. With eleven tracks weighing in at just under thirty minutes, can Songs From The Yonder build on the success of their previous album?
In typical Skinny Lister style, the opening track grabs you by the lapels and gives you a loving, but aggressive, slap across the chops. ‘Yorkshire Belle’ is a rabblerousing start to the album that leaves you in no doubt that you are in for an exciting journey. A proper, full-on foot stomper, it tells the tale of a pleasure cruiser. Yorkshire Belle was built in 1947 after the original vessel that carried the name was lost in the Humber Estuary in World War II after hitting a magnetic mine. Throw in references to Flamborough Head and Bridlington, and you certainly get an original opening to an album – all wrapped up in just under two minutes.
Keeping in the up-tempo camp, ‘Set Us Straight’ reminds me of early recordings by The Pogues with a sprinkling of The Dubliners for additional good measure. Not a bad camp to be included in at all. “On Monday we’ll be hanging/Heads they will be banging/But I know a remedy ready to sort us out”, proclaims Dan Hepinstall, painting a picture many of us will have experienced at least once in our lives. A swaggering, buoyant drinking song of high order, you want to grab the nearest flagon and swing it back and forth as you sing along at the top of your voice.
Next up is ‘Song From The Yonder’ and, my word, what a bloody cracker it is. A proper conversational duet between vocalists Dan Hepinstall and Lorna Thomas, it’s a song about longing and coming home from faraway lands to where the heart truly resides. It encourages the listener to look beyond the petty squabbles, put things into perspective and embrace the things that bond us. The song is dripping with Shane MacGowan and Kirstie MacColl vibes as Hepinstall and Thomas play vocal tennis over a beautiful melody. It also reminds me of the wonderful song ‘Parted From You’ by The Men They Couldn’t Hang. I have no doubt that this will be a huge hit performed live.
With fine drums from Tim Hillsden pushing the song along, Plough On is a fine, uplifting track. “Plough on through the fear/And now and then the tears/We’ll see the seasons changing/Plough on through the years,” hollers Hepinstall, focusing on better times ahead. That is certainly an attitude we need in the world right now. It contains the delicate aroma of Frank Turner.
One of the album’s finest tracks slows down the pace to a gentle stroll, showing a different side to Skinny Lister. ‘Tumbling Into Something puts Thomas front and centre as her gentle, almost fragile vocals waft over you like a soft southern breeze. Backed by a relaxed, tenderly flowing melody, with a faint hint of Crowded House sprinkled over it, it highlights the band’s versatility.
Moving back to the punch-drunk shanty side of the band, ‘Bristol Bound’ tells a tale of travelling the world, enjoying all the sights, sounds and smells of distant lands, but always longing to return home – the one place where you feel true belonging.
“The world don’t need another drinking song/But what we need right now’s another drinking song”, decrees Hepinstall in the fun, rowdy and spirited song called erm…. ‘Drinking Song’. Following this raucous effort is a mellow folk-pop ballad titled ‘Everything’. Exploring the challenging situation of two people who love each other but find it hard to make a relationship work, the balance of Thomas and Hepinstall’s vocals works well together to create the feeling of frustration and longing between the two protagonists. “We keep on singing songs/But singing songs for who?/To you this one belongs/Let every word ring true”, they both declare.
With a ‘We Will Rock You’ rhythm, ‘Back Into The Battle’ will likely become a popular live anthem. Who doesn’t like a refrain you can bellow at a gig? Returning to the Pogues-esque territory (think Greenland Whale Fisheries), ‘Brave The Waves’ embraces traditional folk heritage. Telling tales of sailing the rough seas and returning home to loved ones is a classic narrative in many folk songs. The Skinnies give it their twist here and create a very infectious song.
The tremendous’ Glass To Our Days’ brings Songs From The Yonder to a close. With a military rhythm and fluid waltz tempo, it is a song of positivity and hope. “Raise a glass to our days/No more minutes left to waste/Let us dance, let us be merry/No wild goose to chase”, Thomas emphatically proclaims with aplomb, encouraging us to never waste a second of our precious time on this mortal coil. It is a wonderful ending to this album and fires a fitting parting shot. There’s also some superb banjo work on display throughout this track, which helps to elevate it to another level.
So, what did I learn from listening to this seventh studio album from The Skinnies? Firstly, this salty old sea dog still has a lot of life. Should they wish to do so, HMS Skinny Lister could sail many nautical miles before it becomes overwhelmed by barnacles. Also, this is a very uplifting album. At a time when there is a lot of darkness out there, we desperately need light to guide us to safety. The band has proven here that they can create touching songs that nestle nicely amongst their more boisterous efforts.
Although I may not have mentioned them earlier in this review, I must give a shout-out to band members Max Thomas and Scott Milsom and their multi-instrumental talents, which help to make Songs From The Yonder even better. Also, let’s not overlook the contributions from the guest musicians on this album. Roger Wilson’s fabulous fiddle and Sean Spicer’s whistle wizardry really add a lot of depth throughout the album.
The essence of this album, and Skinny Lister in general, must be distilled and made into an easy-to-swallow capsule – ideally available at all good pharmacists (and some rubbish ones too). It would be the ultimate pick-me-up. (Warning: ingesting too much concentrated Skinny Lister could lead to spontaneous outbreaks of riotous singing and the desire to steal a boat.)
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