I've not heard a Dundee indie band's first EP receive so much airtime in the venues and indie discos in a long while, as this one is getting - and with justifiable reason, too, beacuse it is quite simply one of THE best debut EP's from a Dundee indie band that there's been.It's even been played on TAY-FM - just the start we can but hope.
So, what's so special about it? Well, if you wanted to be blunt, the answer to that is "absolutely everything". Influentially, we're talking Stone Roses and Oasis, but this is the freshest set of songs to emnanate from that area of song-writing, for ages. The mix of solid indie songwriting, and arranging allied to four of the most deliciously commercial tracks around allied to a vocal performance that is emotive and from the heart, allied to the stirring dual guitar work from start to finish, some of the crispest and punchiest drumming, solid bass and glorious vocal harmonising - all this - and more - make up the best quartet of songs you'll hear in the whole UK right now. If any of these songs ever get on Radio 1, just wait for the explosion that will ensue. Blow by blow, we begin with "Come Undone" and right from the start when you hear the wonderful cyclical dual jangly guitar riff, you're hooked into something that oozes class and qquality from the opening notes. The rhythm section play it choppy and crisp, solid to a tee, all allowing lead vocalist Robbie's mix of wistful, yearning, softly impassioned and strongly emotive vocal to deliver the verse in a familiar yet refreshingly new manner, that leads to the chorus, and if you haven't been hooked by now, this will get you for sure, as the hooks swirl around in your head along with everything else that the song delievers so successfully, the neatest mix of serious listening and commercial acceptaibility that you'll hear. For four magical minutes the combination of the spiralling guitar figures and the emotive vocals provide the icing on the tasty cake that is a truly stunning track - and this is only the first of four!!
The second track is "She Was", a song that starts at a faster pace and sizzles its way into your heart with a river of smoothly riffing rhythm guitar as the lead guitar chimes and spirals over another vocal delivery that is a sublime mix of raw and passionate, so full of feeling as the arrangement of the song and the actual writing itself allows the track to come out in full bloom to absolute delight. With a flowing guitar solo mid-song, another chorus that sticks inside your head and a superb line in lead guitar work, all above the solid, rolling rhythm section and some tremendous crashing drum work, this is yet another winner.
But if that was great, then "All The Same" is just awesome and my personal favourite of the EP - absolutely everything here is perfection - there's an emotion in that vocal that's a mix of paszsion and yearning, optimism and hope, as the song just rolls along ina hail of glorious, gorgeous chiming, ringing guitars, a rhythm that is totally irresistible, a soaring sea of vocals and one song that you could play back-to-back numerous times in one sitting and never tire of hearing. This is the stuff that greatness is built upon and in a just world, this would be a number one chart hit - and that's no word of a lie - it really is THAT hot. The EP ends with "Catch Me If I Fall" and if, by now, you're thinking "surely they can't keep this standard going for the whole EP!!" then prepare to be surprised - for they do - and how!! Another song, this time, rushes into life as the meaty chiming riffs surge ahead and this time a slightly lower register lead vocal delivers a solid, flowing gem of a song, as lead guitars shards break off and sparkle as the song progresses. This one doesn't possess the same addictive hooks, and yet is every bit as addictive in its own way, the pace, depth, emotion and arrangement of what is a stunning song, all combining to provide you with the perfect higher energy ending to what has been a truly faultless set of songs and playing.
Already being talked about in all quarters on the Dundee Scene, the whispers of "have you seen The Daze? They're amazing!!" are becoming louder by the day. Not only could this prove to be one of THE pivotal debuts on the Dundee Scene, but this band has the potential to be as big as The View, commercially, if not moreso - let battle commence!!