Music > Album Reviews

Intastella feat Jah Wobble - The Rise and Fall of a Northern Dubstar

19/09/17

For those with long memories, the mention of Intastella will bring to mind a Manchester band playing psychedelia-tinged dance music that had a degree of success in the dying days of baggy and before Britpop. After the best part of 20 years, the name is back although, so far as I can tell, only singer Stella Grundy remains.

The sleeve proudly shouts that this features Jah Wobble. The mighty John Wardle isn’t alone as this also features Mike Joyce of The Smiths, Nick McCabe (The Verve) , Dillinger, The Membranes, John Cooper Clarke and even Harry Shearer (Spinal Tap, The Simpsons). Now, sometimes a glut of guests can make an album a barely listenable mess of conflicting egos. I am pleased to say that is not the case here.

Being honest, a good portion of the songs here aren’t to my tastes. As an example, the title track’s gospel-meets-baggy is too anodyne for me. That said, there are some absolute belters. Lemons, Acrimonious Frame of Mind and the industrial dub of Supersize Industrial are superb and will sound cracking through a decent sound system.

Yes, this is a mixed bag and it doesn't always do it for me but it is well worth investigating.

6.5/10