Van Coke Kartel - Skop Skiet en Donner

The album showcases a much more mature, softer and complex sound from the Van Coker's. Which I believe has much to do with Yesterdays Pupil, one man band maverick Peach van Pletzen 's involvement in the production, percussion and programming on most of the tracks. As well as featuring a few noteworthy collabs with artists Laudo Libenberg (aKing), Gerald Clarke, Nathan Smith and Dave Sharp amongst others, I predict this album to become a classic.

Kicking off with the intense Voor Ons Stof Word, Skop Skiet en Donner grabs the listener's interest from the get go and refuses to loosen the hold. Also included on the album are two English covers, JJ Cales's Cocaine and Maniac originally by Michael Sembello, which I am still a little undecided about. Hearing the usually rough and growly Francois singing such a polished and poppy song like Maniac somehow seems all wrong to me, however Cocaine is a better choice and displays the typical Francois style. Tracks 9 -13 are my favourites as it is with these tracks that I find myself attempting to sing along - which is not such an easy feat for an engelse meisie. The last three tracks are accoustic versions and re-workings of previously released songs, Raad Vanuit Twee Oorde, Algehele Kontrole and Ondersteuning Geweir. Algehele Kontrole is a truly heartfelt and stirring song that I never get tired of hearing featuring the talented Gerald Clark and Raoul Roux on slide guitar while last track, Ondersteuning Geweir displays some beautiful rhythms and is incredibly catchy.

Skop Skiet en Donner is testament to the success of the (many good) sum of its parts combining to create something great. Get it; it is an album you will not tire of easily.