Newmatics: Riot Squad

By Stephen Jewell

As much as I'd like to say that I remember the Newmatics from the early post-punk years of the early 1980s, outside of the Auckland group's most well known song, Riot Squad - the title track of this long overdue retrospective collection - I'm afraid I do not. Listening to 'Riot Squad', which has been given an official release by FMR after last year's limited edition run, reveals the considerable debt the Newmatics owe Dexy's Midnight Runners. (Circa their 'Search For the Young Soul Rebels' debut album era, not the 'Too Rye Aye' sophomore effort.) Not just in the funky horns but in vocalist Mark Clare's singing style. 'Riot Squad' was put together by Newmatics' drummer Benny Staples, who has since gone onto bigger things with the Woodentops in the UK and Kiwi dance pioneers Lava Lava and the Crackhead Experience, with Fat Freddys Drop's Mu and Dallas. Apart from Riot Squad, The Newmatics' main numbers like Playing the Champion, Judas and Square One still sound as melodically strong as they ever did. And just to prove that 'Riot Squad' isn't a pure nostalgia trip, Staples ends the CD with a breakbeat remix of Start Again under his T-son alias, which augers well for his upcoming new album. And for the NZ music history buff, Staples has also incorporated some priceless soundbites by Barry 'Dr Rock' Jenkin, Bryan Staff, Elvis Costello and the late, great Joe Strummer.