Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Cross Rhythms reviewers have been following the steady progress of this Essex five-piece for some time. Eight of the cuts here were originally released in two limited edition EPs and both ‘Kookee’ (8 squares, CR68) and ‘Stigmatized’ (8 squares, CR70) got the thumbs up from Midshipman Rimmer. Clearly Kookee have a wide stylistic persona, one second grabbing the listener with REM-style melancholia (“I’ll Be Fine”), the next roaring into full tilt loud guitar rawk (“Losing Time”). Ben Blackaby has a winning way with wistfully emotive vocals, the band switch from jangly guitar winsomeness to funk rock with impressive tightness and I’d put Kookee forward as a band who could go far in the mainstream, as that clearly is where they’re seeking to make an impact.

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