If you're a fan of bands like The Specials and Madness you will love this album

News from the Big Boss Man frontman – Newbury musician Nasser Bouzida – that his ska/reggae album Return of the Loafer, to be released on Spanish label Liquidator Music, came out earlier than expected.

You can hear the tracks at https://liquidatormusic.bandcamp.com/album/return-of-the-loafer-2

Nasser has some UK vinyl stock too that you can get direct from him.

There’s a fascinating backstory behind the recording of this solo album, as Nasser picks up the narrative: “This is a solo record as in I play all the instruments on the album, but I don’t play brass so I use session players.

“I was listening to different session musicians, heard these guys and they sounded incredible, their names were Egor-Dima and Dima, who turn out to live in Ukraine and were called Heartbeat Brass.”

Nasser would send the songs with the music notation and they started recording the album track by track. Halfway through, Russia invaded.

“I got an email from them saying sorry they had to put down their trumpets and pick up guns to fight the war.

“I said how terrible it all was, wished them luck and thought that would be the end of the story, I would have to get some other musicians to finish the album.

“But I got an email from them six months later saying they would like to carry on, in between the power failures and communication lines down.

“They wanted to finish the album and were glad for the work as there was no money coming in due to the war.

“So they finished the last tracks and the album was done.

“The playing is amazing and I hope one day to bring them over to play in the UK.”

Album review by Brian Harrington: Big Boss Man - Return of the Loafer.

Big Boss Man, aka local musician Nasser Bouzida goes back to his musical roots in the late 1980s when he was the drummer of British Ska band The Loafers, who famously recorded ( Mad About Ska) and appeared in live shows with the influential pioneer of Jamaican Ska, Laurel Aitken.

If you are a fan of bands such as The Specials and Madness then you will love this album. 12 tracks of great Ska/Reggae/Rocksteady all with Nasser’s signature expansive stylings which are reminiscent of great 60’s movie soundtracks.

The album opens with the upbeat and uptempo You’re Too Rude Boy, a great scene-setter full of swirling hammond organ. D.J. Goldfinger, a more laid back offering, references the classic James Bond movie and features vocals by Pussy Galore while the title track Return Of The Loafer is a guaranteed floor filler combining keyboards and a brass section to create a great 60s vibe.

Mr Mitoo is full of Madness-esque style and Dr Bouzida has an intro that made me think of Dr Beat. There is a local reference in Ghost Train To Thatcham while Indian Reggae overlays Reggae with Indian style flute to great effect.

The running order of the album has been well thought through to give listeners a varied experience with real light and shade. It is available on vinyl, for those who want the full retro experience, as well as download .

There isn’t a bad track on this release, which must surely cement Nasser Bouzida’s international reputation.

Brian Harrington