Tag Archives: Scat Opera

Scat Opera – About Time (CD album – 1991)

90s, Alternative, B-Side, B-sides, CD Rip, CD Single, Full album, Funk, Gaye Bykers On Acid, Non-Album Tracks, Out-of-print, Scat Opera, , , , , , , ,

Formed in the UK during the late 80s by Ernie Brennan (vocals), Steve Yates (guitar), John O’Reilly (bass) and Mark Diment (drums), Scat Opera recorded several well-received demos before picking up prestigious support slots with Faith No More in the autumn of 1989. Though comparisons to that band followed, in truth Scat Opera played at greater velocity and with more precise musical definition. The pieces, however, were not entirely in place until they signed a contract with Music For Nations in the spring of 1990. They made their debut a year later with About Time, recorded at Slaughterhouse Studios and produced by Colin Richardson. A UK tour as support to Gaye Bykers On Acid ensued, before returning to the studio (this time Windings Studio in Wales) with Richardson for a second set, Four Gone Confusion, to be released in October 1992. Again the music incorporated elements drawn from funk (particularly apparent in bass player O’Reilly’s slapping technique), jazz and metal.

(Bio from Allmusic.com)

Fun debut album from this British funk metal group. I got to know this band through their support gigs with Gaye Bykers On Acid during their 1990 tour after hearing Mary Byker reference them in a live bootleg. The album opens with ‘Preminition’ and ‘B.G.V.’ which set the tone with O’Reilly’s slap funk bass leading the charge, but its ‘About Time’ which steals the show with its fantastic wonky, storming riff. I guarantee you’ll have it stuck in your head all day, and as a guitarist I would I could figure out how the hell he plays it. Other highlights include ‘Family Man’, ‘Pig Head’ and ‘On Your Own’. Well worth a listen if you’re into Faith No More and early Red Hot Chili Peppers and like your music played at 200 bpm.

Included in this download is the full album taken from the CD (the vinyl release missed two tracks) plus an ace b-side taken from the ‘About Time’ single. Personally I think they should have included ‘Miss Cosmopolitan’ on the album and have ‘Overture’ as a b-side
1. Premonition
2. B.G.V.
3. About Time
4. Family Man
5. Tarred With The Same Brush
6. Filo
7. Pighead
8. Be Mine
9. On Your Own
10. Flex
11. Overture
12. Miss Cosmopolitan (Bonus beefy B-side)

Download here!

As always, if there’s any problem with the downloads leave a comments and I’ll fix it!