Cuddly Shark - Cuddly Shark

This album would make more sense if it was made by a group of long-haired, intensely trendy, drug-hungry young dudes from Brooklyn or Austin, Texas, and if it had been, Cuddly Shark would probably be getting a lot more attention. Cuddly Shark opens with the hard-rocking, muscular Bowl of Cherries, and follows with the equally arresting Woody Woodpecker. It then channels a range of American alternative influences – everything from Pavement to Pixies, Stooges to Cramps, rockabilly to straight-edge. It’s therefore surprising to find out that the band is in fact a boy-boy-girl trio from Elgin. But when you do learn that, it makes the record a whole lot more appealing. As they merrily sneer their way through the melodic riffs of tongue-in-cheek highlight What Goes Around Comes Around, you can clearly hear three people enjoying themselves thoroughly. It’s not where you’re from, it’s where you’re going – and Cuddly Shark have gone and made a cracking debut. [Euan Ferguson]