Sotrack Records – 22 February 2024
Les Testarudes are a nine piece all female ska/reggae/rocksteady band out of Spain. They started playing shows last summer and have put out four live recordings over the last few weeks. They describe themselves as “Nine very cool girls whom do some good dancing” and their goal is to have a strong feminine presence on stage and create a space of empowerment in the musical world. The songs are their own interpretations of some of their favorite Jamaican musical classics. The first track “Live Studio Session #1” combines two Maytals songs “My New Name” and “I’ll Never Grow” into a masterful mash-up. It’s brilliantly fantastic, and you just can’t help but want to pick your feet up to this one.
The next session track continues the mash-up theme this time combining two different acts with Hepcat’s “Dance Wid’ Me” and Byron Lee & The Dragonaires “What A Day”. Up next they slow things down with their version of Phyllis Dillon‘s “Perfidia” and the fourth live session is “Madness” by Prince Buster.
This mash-up approach brings new life to these songs and gives them some great originality that showcases Les Testarudes own style. I would describe them as a modern version of The Bodysnatchers and I can’t wait to hear what they do next.
- Favorite Song: My New Name & I’ll Never Grow Old (The Maytals Mashup)
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Likes fine beer and cheap cheese. He has been a DJ, sound mixer for commercials and television, and currently designs motorcycle parts. He also has a habit of creating pastiche style cover songs and changing the chorus to incorporate “Jeff” or “Sorley.” (sigh… it’s true – Jeff)
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