Skeet: Simple Reality – Album Review

Skeet

Simple Reality

(Efficient Space Records) LP/DL

Released: 16^th August, 2024

Rising from dusty archives, Skeet continue to exhume lost treasures from a different age. It’s taken 40 years for them to be fully appreciated.

In the Autumn of 2023 recordings from an almost forgotten band called Skeet, that had languished in dusty vaults since 1981, finally saw the light of day, and were met with much acclaim, not least by Louder Than War who reviewed it here. That original release came out on a limited vinyl pressing from Almost Unknown records and now, Efficient Space Records have picked up the release and created an expanded version called Simple Reality.

Skeet came out of the post-punk scene and the 2-Tone of their hometown Coventry. Formed by Gary and Nigel Meffen they were soon joined by Kay Booth. Booth’s fragile vocals hover over the songs as though we are listening in to her thoughts as she sits in her bedroom. They  create the perfect accompaniment to the spare, jagged music which is full of spaces, conjuring up the bleak vistas and alienation that many felt in the early 80s. Listening to the songs now, they sound ahead of their time, but also perfectly of it. Skeet played ten gigs and were gone – life taking them in separate ways.

Simple Reality takes the initial Park Road EP and expands it into 8 tracks (losing the track Meathouse along the way). Alone Tonight has its original longer introduction restored and there are four live tracks including three new tracks. The live recordings come from Skeet’s final gig, performed atop a trailer in a pub beer garden, and are taken from a desk tape, so are great quality.

Of the new tracks Conscious Effort has a jaunty opening, with a poppy groove over a rolling train beat. I Was Never Told musically has a lazy Sunday feel, whilst lyrically it’s a thoughtful riposte on spoiled friendships and misunderstandings.  Song of Love opens with a Mick Karn style bass, and the guitar cuts across it like a dropped beer bottle shattering over the beat. It’s a simple declaration of secret love that is all the more poignant for being prosaic, whilst the sinister music offers a counterpoint.

This release does make one wonder how many other great bands came and went, leaving no trace; which should make us all the more grateful for the resurrection of Skeet. Don’t wait 40 years to give it a listen.

Simple Reality can be ordered from Efficient Space Records on Bandcamp or purchased from Just Dropped In Records, Coventry.

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You can find Skeet on Facebook.

All words by Mark Ray. More writing by Mark Ray can be found at his author archive. And he can be found on Threads, Instagram and WordPress