Black 47: "Maria's Wedding" (SBK Records)

Controversy may precede this collection of musically cultured hybrids but I was really at a loss to discover what all the fuss was about as I enjoyed a Dexy's-influenced narrative, with the protagonist gleefully unrepentant about turning up at an ex-girlfriend's wedding ceremony drunk as a lord and embarrassing the living daylights out of her - when lo and behold what should these heinous extremists have our desperate outlawed intruder of the story do but vow to the estranged Maria of the song's title that he will "...even go out and get a job" for her! I ask you?! Where is Section 31 when you need it most?! Joking aside, though, there is a lot of humour in Black 47 as well as joyfully brilliant musicianship. Besides, on the C.D. you also get to hear what the Irish language sounds like with a reggae backbeat on the third track 'Fire of Freedom'. Pity the bride didn't have a shotgun all the same!