From what you might call eratic beginnings, the one thing you can say about this band is that it has slowly, purposely, progressively and unstopably climbed up the ladder of quality and distinction to such a point where they have delivered a CD-EP that, in every way, fulfills the potential and illustrates the apeal of what makes this such a fun band to enjoy and yet which is a seriously enjoyable thing to play long, loud and often, at the same time.
The EP opens with "Bedrock" as sprightly a track as the band is prone to doing, the instrumental arrangement one of driving ska proportions, but what separates this from the rest is that there's so much more going on. Callum's sax just roars while the bass rumbles, the guitar riffs to oblivion and the drums drive forward as the red hot pace continues in unrelenting fashion, with an arrangement that twists and turns but never loses sight of what makes the song so cohesive. That last factor is the sheer mesmerising energy, passion and exuberance of the two female lead vocals. Janine has this rich mid-range vocal that towers over the horizon, while Kirsty has a higher register vocal that has an identity all its own, so that the two leads pass back and forth, complementing each other to perfection, but when the two sing together they create this powerful twin vocal which really cuts loose. The way the whole thing swings is a thing of wonder, and it comes out as more substance than pop but every bit as addictive. The same could be said about the second track which has more of a punk-ska feel to it as "Bini Boy" erupts into life, Janine taking the majority of the lead vocal as she really lets loose a barrage of fast-paced vocalising with that warm yet powerful voice holding you in its headlights, while Kirsty harmonises to sparingly swift and effective degree, the band driving forward on a wave of riffing and melody that really takes you under its spell, something to which you can leap about the room and enjoy as a good solid listen at the same time. The third track, "Skin And Bone", seals the journey that started as ska, went into punk-ska and now emerges as punk itself, with lead guitarist "Peg" taking the lead vocal on a thunderous slice of scorching punk with some solid guitar riffing from the two guitarists coursing into a a searing lead guitar solo above the corking drums work and rock solid bass, showing yet another side to a band that can take on all comers at these styles and come out winning.
But then comes the band's trump card - a track called "Deceiter" that's one of THE most commercial tracks ever done by a Dundee band and if this was on radio, it's be a cast iron, certified, chart-stormer of a hit - it's got "Top 5" written all over it!! With a driving slice of ska given a strength that most similar bands would kill to obtain, Callum's sax riff cuts through as the guitars riff, the rhythms as addictive as sex, while, this time, Kirsty leads the way with a wildly exuberant vocal that just lets loose the verses and insanely catchy chorus in one almighty glorious sounding wave of exuberance and cutting edge bite, the sort of thing that makes the likes of Lily Allen sound like Sooty!! Further in, the song takes a simple but effective twist as Janine comes in with a decelerated (slightly) verse of her own, albeit a short one, before the two dual and soar and then the two combine and dual to the end point of the song, the arrangement something that the likes of The Beat and The Specials would have died to sound like. A genius of a song and one that you simply never tire of hearing, pop at its most classic.
But that's not all - the fifth and final track is one of the first they ever did together and a long-standing stage fave called "Scenester" that mixes all the aforementioned elements into one glorious sounding melting pot that mixes drive with strength, as Janine and Kirsty provide red hot and roaring lead and harmony vocals on yet another incredibly addictive track that's got the Peg trademarks of depth, power, rhythmic drive and cutting edge bite, allied to some soaring vocal work that veers from raw and in tune to rich and high-flying. But let's not forget the rhythm section of Jaq Inglis and Jamie Brown who never let it drop and play an absolute blinder from start to finish. The song is strong, driving and full of fire, as with all the band's compositions, managing to mix commercial, serious and enjoyable into one dynamic, explosive and utterly irresistible whole. This may be retro to those of us who were around in those days, but even taking that into account, it's performed, played, sung and arranged with such refreshing vitality and entusiastic energy, it's impossible not to get caught up in its spell. Not only that, but one hell of an exciting band to see and hear live - if they can hold themselves together and have fun and stay focused, 2009 will undoubtedly be their year!!