With this, their second album together, Strummer and his Mescaleros have not veered far from the blueprint set with 1999's 'Rock, Art and the X-Ray Style', though the rock is gradually being succeeded by calm.
Essentially with 'Global A Go-Go' Strummer has stayed faithful to his punk era aspirations of politicisation and musical experimentation. The variety of sounds toyed with make the album rest uneasy within any genre constraint, but it manages to imprint an originality that will prevent accusations of a Clash cash-in, while not disappointing those seeking a re-hashed Clash.
Ever aurally adventurous, Strummer explores folk, electronica and world music for the main, with reggae and dub being relegated as Tymon Dogg's violins add a Gaelic charm to the Mescaleros' accompaniment.
'Minstrel Boy' is so overtly Celtic in its influences that it deserves honorary place on a panpipe collection, but there is an occasional Spanishness amongst the international inspirations, whilst homegrown folk is granted prominence.
Strummer et al have avoided the fey trendiness inherent in most current folk mimics. 'Mega Bottle Ride' maintains a vaguely pastoral feel, but it is less to do with those foulest of dancers, the Morris, and more comparable to improvised John Hegley.
But of course, its not as straightforward as that. The group's eclecticism sees to this as the many genres have yet more faces. The folk digression is not merely comedic poetry backed by fiddles. Take 'Johnny Appleseed'; its raucous, uplifting choruses, the lapses into gentle acoustics and Strummer's accented vocals could slip unnoticed amidst Billy Bragg and Wilco's lauded Guthrie tributes, 'Mermaid Avenue'.
As with the folk forays, reggae and dub is attacked from two angles. 'Cool 'N' Out' has the worst excesses of the Notting Hill Carnival bar the whistles and Ba Ha Men and should be taken as no more than a gesture to the fading reggae/dub element.
The title track does this more justice. For while 'Cool 'N' Out' descends into Clash-esque chaos, 'Global A Go-Go' is more urgent and, ultimately, coherent. Slipping into cool dub, it lacks 'Cool 'N' Out''s patronising foray into contrived anarchy and stays truer to Strummer's reggae/dub credentials.
Hardly an essential album then, but well worth a listen if only to hear one of Britain's seminal punks growing old gracefully.
