The credentials – young unsigned Dundee band's debut release; recorded by none other than Robin Sutherland; fully mastered in London; 4 tracks.
The verdict – well.....it's like this.....
The first thing you hear are guitars – guitars that ring out like a peal of bells with an almost train-like rhythm as a strummed guitar adds extra texture. The, as one, in comes the bass, drums and the female singer – the rhythm section take it gently with a crunch – meanwhile, Katie – the singer – immediately makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck – that voice just soars through the ether, cutting through with absolute majestic purity but at the same time with an underlying strength. Then the instrumentation suddenly bursts into life as this huge wall of guitar riffing makes the blood course through your veins as Katie's vocal flies above it all with breathtaking ease, the power and purity of that voice a thing of greatness, the song already just awesome as it stretches out to infinity. But then, taking you completely by surprise, it shifts direction as the rhythm section suddenly start this accelerated rhythmic drive, and Katie's vocal not only goes with it, but surpasses it, taking the intensity up a notch, mixing it with consummate beauty, delivering the song with a strength borne of wonderment as the passion and feeling pours down like summer rain – fourth time around and it's still bringing a tear to my eye – it's just unbelievably immaculate. This bit stops, the wall of guitars powers out over the crashing rhythms, the bell-like peal of guitars is still there in the background and all the time, the vocals fly like seemingly effortlessly above it all – trust me when I say that the likes of Bjork, Kate Bush and similar could not put in a better performance than this. The surge forges ahead as the vocals cruise above with strength and beauty before the whole thing just stops – it's awesome!! That was “The Colour Purple” - remember the name – you're going to be playing it long, loud and often......
Up next is “Watch Me Out” - a long guitars stutters like old Steve Hillage only with delicacy, as this guitars sustain is cosmic in the background. Katie's vocals come in all warm and friendly, wandering up and down the scale with grace and feel, briefly multi-tracked for added effect – a clatter of percussive sticks is heard then the drums lurch forward with crunch as that pure sounding bite of a vocal drives the song forward. The guitars peal over the accelerated lurching bass and drums, the wordless vocals fly skywards and then with an eruption that's dynamics at their best, the band take Katie even higher as she rises to the challenge, the verse of the song flows to perfection led by this vocal that's now coursing through your head and heart like life-blood itself and this total spellbinding gem of a song just builds and builds and builds, piled high with multi-tracked wordless vocal, until she literally cries out and the intensity stops. Dropping back to the rise and fall of guitars, a far-off male vocal briefly and the clatter of percussion, then Katie takes centre stage over a staccato guitar riff as the train-like rhythm returns, the wordless vocals spiral heavenwards and the whole thing crashes through with one final hammer blow of guitars, rhythms, crashing cymbals and the breathtaking vocal performance that is simply spellbinding, ending with a repeated refrain of the hook set against the delicacy of guitar and that's it done.
“Fall Over” starts with gently played acoustic guitar delicacy as the full purity of Katie's vocal is heard in all its stark beauty, taking the vocal range with ease, delivering a song full of heartfelt passion, angst and yearning but infused with a feeling that's just gorgeous, the simple combination of the guitar and that amazing voice, truly one that makes this beautiful and brief ballad, a thing of great joy.
Finally, there's “Maps” - and what you love about the first minute of this song is the way that the vocal and the guitar turn from sheer heavenly delicacy to a mix of fuzz guitar and soaring singing and back again, with absolute ease, sounding positively organic, the soothing vocal turning to strength, the guitar equally so, the song inhabiting every part of your soul in exactly the same way that all the rest have. The drums come in like waves washing on the shore as the guitars ride the wave, the vocal flies above it all, then leave just the guitar to cut through with a warm energy as the male and female vocals duel on the chorus like an even greater peal of bells before the whole band explodes, the guitars play this cyclical riff and finally Katie comes in to complete the picture as this gorgeous sea of density and intensity takes you upwards only then to drop you right back down to earth gently, as it all suddenly ends.
What truly amazes me about all this is just how they've managed to make so much out of tracks that aren't that long – the economy of playing from the guitars is astounding – it's all about making every note, every chord, every riff count absolutely. The drums are produced to perfection and the bass acts as a silent but strong foundation. Above all this, you have Katie's vocal that is so incredible for a girl so young. The arrangements are amazing – the way that first track hits that groove mid-song sends shivers up my spine every time I hear it. Highly recommended!!!