Description
Redskins – “Neither Washington Nor Moscow” LP
Confusing many a bonehead back in the day, despite their name and appearance this indie-soul-punk trio were in all respects the polar opposite of Oi! Fired-up on the idealism of international socialism, (the only flag flying here is a red one) the Red Skins were also fuelled by Northern Soul, Psychobilly and Two Tone (or more specifically the bands that came out of the Two Tone movement); while the pace and attitude was more aggro (members were originally in a punk band from York called No Swastikas). Socialists of the 1980’s were often problematic, I guess it was a tribal thing, but then, also, being an apologist for a brutal, murderous regime, somewhere overseas, does mark you out as a total bellend. You’d come out of WH Smith on a Saturday morning after flicking through Kerrang and Sounds, and there opposite you would be confronted by po-faced teenager dressed like a member of Bronski Beat trying to sell you a copy of Socialist Worker. Fuck off. But, despite which, even back then I begrudgingly admitted to liking the Redskins – the lyrics were sound, and the tunes were BIG (“Kick Over The Statues!” and “Keep On Keepin On” are fine, fine anthems that remain timeless)… and I liked that they upset real skinheads. 80’s skinheads were far worse than 80’s socialists.
A remastered reissue of their first and only studio album that was originally released in 1986, getting the deluxe treatment with a gatefold sleeve and heavyweight vinyl.
