Cool Cats

By CHRISTOPHER JOHN FARLEY

These days the skittery, danceable Caribbean musical genre known as ska comes in many forms, from the often entertaining punk-ska of groups such as Unwritten Law and Mephiskapheles to the chart-topping pop-ska of outfits like No Doubt. That's why Right on Time (Hellcat/Epitaph), a new album by the Los Angeles-based group Hepcat, is so refreshing: it returns the sound of ska to the warm Caribbean harbor of its origin. This isn't music for slam dancing; instead, Right on Time features songs for romance. The tracks on this album have the lean, classic lines of old Motown records: the vocals are clean and pure and the melodies linger like a goodnight kiss on a first date.

The album's bouncy, high-stepping song I Can't Wait sets the tone. The horns have the bright feel of afternoon sunlight; the guitars and percussion are uncomplicated and snappy. Hepcat is a big ensemble--there are nine members--but the band's sound is light on its feet. Ballads such as Goodbye Street and Mama Used to Say breeze by, carefree and easy but never insubstantial. The band shows off its versatility in several jazzy instrumental numbers, including Pharoah's Dreams, a jaunty track adorned with a lovely, liquid trumpet solo.

Right on Time plays off nicely against Ska After Ska After Ska (Heartbeat), a new release compiling ska songs from the '60s by such pioneers as Justin Hinds, the Skatalites and others. Hepcat, which was formed in 1989, is a relative newcomer, but its album is proof that the music is still in good hands.

--C.J.F.