The rise and rise and rise of Glasgow three-piece PAWS is no mistake, the band has been slogging away for the past couple years, but have always rewarded audiences with really enjoyable performances.
It’s paid off too, as this, their debut for the highly impressive Fat Cat Records and securing some increasingly big name tours.
It’s nice then that this, their first proper release lives up to the building hype and expectation surrounding this band.
PAWS aren’t a particularly technical or even massively original band, but this has absolutely no importance here.
The five tracks that make up this EP are expertly constructed little pop-punk gems which reminisce with plenty of your past favourites, but without being at all derogatory to what’s gone before and maintaining a defining and refreshing sound throughout.
Most successfully, the record manages to retain the lo-fi, gruff sound which the band clearly take from their influences, but strikes the balance to keep it listen-able and distinguished, probably best seen on opener ‘Bainz’.
Clear stand-out ‘The Hospital Song’ is a wonderfully snotty ditty of a track, carved from a similar vein to peers and touring partners Male Bonding, and perhaps reminding one of Nirvana’s faster and more fun moments.
The band are clearly aware of the track’s strong hooks, because EP closer ‘Oh, the Places You’ll Go’ features a similar and highly contagious melody, but shows off the band’s slower, more sensitive side.
Though the record pretty much just flips between these two modes throughout, the simplicity and awareness of its strengths leaves for a highly impressive listen to the young trio, who are certainly destined for bigger and brighter things.
Words: Adam Turner-Heffer
