10 Forgotten 90s Rock Bands Worth Rediscovering
7. Ramshackle
One of the great joys of collecting music lies in following lines and connecting dots. One musician that you love will invariably lead you to others.
Take my own admiration for Jah Wobble. The eclectic bassist's bassist has worked with some fascinating acts, including dub-rock group Ramshackle, who I might otherwise have missed out on.
The trio of Ben Chapman (beats, production), Steve Roberts (vocals, piano,) and Johnson Somerset (synths/production) released just two albums during their short lifespan, 1995s Depthology and 1997s Chin On The Kerb. Both are wonderful records - stylish, dubby grooves which gradually conjure up an idiosyncratic world of their own.
Should you need further convincing, a certain Steve Winwood contributed his talents to Depthology (as demonstrated on the track below), as did Maxi Jazz (best known for his time as lead vocalist for Faithless). There is much to enjoy across both of these albums, from smooth, introspective rock to pulsing semi-electronica, Ramshackle are never less than interesting, always polished and frequently immersive.
Lyrically, they also have a lot to offer. This is stylish, intelligent music which is in no way obtuse. If you do fall in love with Ramshackle, you're bound to fall deep.