Every so often in an all too stagnant music scene, there comes a record which is more than just a breath of fresh air, but is more like being shot in the face by a fireman’s hose while screaming out a recital of ‘Livin’ On A Prayer’; and, to end 2009, Cuddly Shark have created that such record.

The Glaswegian three-piece are pretty much impossible to pigeon hole into a category with their music swaying from full throttle edgy punk, to slabs of country twang, with good helpings of gentle indie janglings and pop sensibilities, Cuddly Shark leaves no one out as the exciting twists and turns of the record leave you a gasp, uneasy, and wanting so much more.

Opening with a frenetic ‘Bowl Of Cherries’, Colin Reid barks into the faces of all who will listen, and especially to those who refuse to do so. Cuddly Shark seem to have remembered the power of the original two/three minute pop song, but have just shoved a rock’n’roll rocket up its arse. ‘Woody Woodpecker’ really encapsulates this, fastly building a gentle rhythm of foot tapping melodies, with witty and sing-along lyrics, combined with crashing guitars and screams of joy, it is ultimately faultless. But you could say that about any song on here from ‘Instru-Mentalist’ to the musical equivalent of crack cocaine, ‘Shakey Baby’.

Their Weezer-meets-Pixies-meets-Fugazi music practically holds no limits, as proven in their stupidly awesome cover of Hoyt Axeton’s ‘Boney Fingers’ which just seems to come out of nowhere, much like everything else on the album. You will not know what type of song will be next to charge out of the speakers, from the incredible slice of punk ‘The Sheriff Of Aspen Bay’, or the 52 second long ‘Jamie Foxx On Later With Jools Holland’ which simply contains the lyrics “I heard you sing the worst song I ever heard”, and promptly ends.

But these guys aren’t pretentious; they simply play and execute a joy in their music many seem to have forgotten about. It’s so simple, and yet so exciting. To put it straight forward, Cuddly Shark have reminded me why I love music.

Peter Clark