The Hussys - Tiger EP (Fat Cheerleader Records) Reviewed By Nick Quantrill

Formed less than a year ago, The Hussys is the new project from ex-Supernaturals front man James McColl. Too quirky to become fixtures in the charts but never quite credible enough to be taken seriously by the music press, The Supernaturals are best remembered for the ubiquitous Smile. McColl's pedigree sets a high standard for his new band but they appear set to become the latest Glasgow success story. Initially it is a surprise to learn that McColl takes a backseat on the vocal front. However, once you hear Fili sing the reason for this becomes clear.

It seems to have taken age for this project to get off the ground, but if the wait was incurred as a process of searching for the perfect vocalist, the band have struck gold. Possessing a voice that can project both tenderness and toughness, she adds an exciting dimension to the tightly executed material.

The EP kicks off with the quirky pop of Tiger. Part sing-a-long, part seemingly nursery rhyme, Tiger follows in the tradition of songs such as The Beatles' Ob-La-Di-Ob-La-Da. It's a slightly curious lead track but one that really captures the playful essence of the band. The power-pop of We Expected follows and is the most radio-friendly of the four tracks. It also demonstrates that McColl's lyrics have lost none of his knack of combining both the insightful and the humorous.

Addressing disappointment and broken dreams, the song asks are you shining in debating chambers, as I sit here counting change for strangers? Warm and Fuzzy is the weakest track as it sees the band striving with limited success to shoehorn their sound into a formulaic White Stripes rocker. The EP ends on a high with Snowboard', a delightful 'wall of sound' slow-burner with a stunning vocal from Fili. By contrast, Snowboard, sees the band successfully take Phil Spector's 1960s girl-band template and stamp their own identity onto it. This first EP from The Hussys has been a long time coming but it has undoubtedly been worth the wait.

Their slightly off-kilter but paradoxically classic approach to song writing is highly promising and promises much for future releases. For further details and booking information see: www.myspace.com/thehussys www.thehussys.com

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