Up and coming: Cuddly Shark

Published on Sunday 8 November 2009 20:55

WHO are Cuddly Shark? A mischievous trio – two guys, one gal – bred in Elgin but now based in Glasgow, who claim to be the city's "finest hillbilly rockers". While they do cover a cowpunk track, Boney Fingers, most of their invigorating oeuvre consists of headlong thrashy guitars, low-slung bass and shouty vocals shot through with pugnacious humour.

Does this shark bite?

Their self-titled debut album includes such pithy vignettes as Jamie Foxx On Later With Jools Holland (consisting of the one line "I heard you sing the worst song I ever heard"), plus the Elgin postcode-referencing The Punisher of IV30 and Shakey Baby, their idiosyncratic take on shaken baby syndrome.

What about the cuddly bit?

That would be their ace album cover – doesn't everyone love a cute bulldog with (digitally) painted toenails and his tongue (and other bits) hanging out?

What other folks are saying:

"Like Birthday Party being thrown down some stairs with Wire" – Subba-Cultcha

"Will induce all sorts of compulsive body movements on the dancefloor" – Is This Music?

Where can I hear more? www.myspace.com/cuddlyshark

&#149 Cuddly Shark is out today on Armellodie Records. The band play Henry's Cellar Bar in Edinburgh on 11 November and Captain's Rest, Glasgow on 16 November