Wha'ppen?

The Beat’s second album is arguably their most complex and multilayered. It finds them emerging from under the stylistic umbrella of the 2 Tone ska scene, embracing calypso (“Monkey Murders”), French lyrics (“French Toast [Soleil trop chaud]”), and syrupy dubbed-up reggae (“Drowning”). As always, Dave Wakeling’s lyrics vacillated between romantic confusion and political angst, while Ranking Roger pops in intermittenty to shine a bit of Jamaican sun on the proceedings — and the band bounces and snaps with elastic energy.