It's difficult not to take to a band whose line-up includes members credited with "sixstring shotgun/ off-kilter lyrics/ wailing harmonica" and "fat jazz double bass/leopardskin fun-fur". Let's face it, it beats plain old "guitar/ vocals" any soddin' day of the week, doesn't it?
And so it proves when looned-out London trio BIG STRIDES plug in and get down to thrashing out some of the most infectious, chorus-ridden blues-pop to blow a raspberry at the pigeonholers for many a long month.
Comprising Marcus O'Neill ("shotgun"), Lewis Kirk ("low-down funky beats") and Tom Pi (the aformentioned "fat jazz" leopard skin chapeau-wearing geezer), Big Strides knock out some well phonky pop-addled attitude during the course of this three-tracker.
"Suicidal"'s the main track and it's terrific. What does it sound like? Er, how about Morphine with Carl Barat taking over from the sadly deceased Mark Sandman with lyrics supplied by Chris Difford? No? Well, that's about the closest this riddled hack can get. Whatever, it's quirky, sardonic pop of the highest order featuring Marcus O'Neill coming over like 'Viz' comic's Suicidal Syd ("I was standing on a cliff but I didn't know if......there was anywhere else to go") before his loved one sweeps to the rescue and Marcus serenades her with a chorus of "You make me feel less suicidal than I was before" AND peels off a fab guitar solo as a further token of his gratitude. Cor!
The excellence continues during "Carfire" and "Back To The Lemon". The first is an attitude-stuffed semi-acoustic swagger rather like G Love And Special Sauce only ten times better. This time, Marcus lets loose an acoustic slide guitar solo like the talented get he is before they hi-jack the pissed-up tramp who played harmonica on The Libertines' "Can't Stand Me Now" to appear on the fade. What's that you say? It's really Marcus on the blues harp again? Nah, I don't believe it. He can't be that talented, surely?
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Finally we get the ultra-daft "Back To The Lemon" where Marcus and co get a bit jiggy with a knackered old van as it's transformed into a love palace on wheels. "I'll take you back to the lemon for some punishment," sings saucy Marcus before promising his girl she'll end up with "oil stains on your jeans." The romantic old devil. One can only hope he's not referring to the three-wheel off-yellow van once used by Trotter's Independent Traders, mind.
Anyway, top pop fun for all, basically. Big Strides strike me as the kind of anti po-faced trio who could thaw the iciest of hearts and - on this form - can't fail to be brilliant live. Unlike their name they are truly anything but pants.
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