I’ve been immersing myself in some Dundonian culture lately thanks to Teckle & Hide the latest, and strongest, album from The Cundeez
An Intoxicating Heady Brew
100% proof claims the album cover, and its claims are not wrong. The sixteen tracks served up are an intoxicating heady brew. The Cundeez cementing themselves as a North East Scotland powerhouse. One minute offering an ultimate good time party anthem, guaranteed to have any party jumping as they provide the raw unfiltered craic, once again promised on the album cover. I’m not going to lie though, the party might get messy, there are no guarantees how things might end up. The next minute, making some serious societal observations tackling weighty subjects and not holding anything back musically as the band brings the uproarious thunder.
Undefinable
It is nigh on impossible to define The Cundeez, I defy anyone to label them or fit them nicely into a box. They are what you want them to be. Undefinable, apart from maybe in their own words…Oary Rock. They take elements of traditional Scottish folk music but are in no way derivative. They borrow from punk and ska, but it feels like they are taking the influences down a path less trodden, making them very much their own. They are The Cundeez and they are from Dundee. Simple. Teckle Steady, Tay Beat…Fuck it, just listen, forget about the shitshow that is 2020 and hae a guid time (as long as you do it in a responsible socially distanced manner…).
There is no denying their roots. Made in Dundee the album cover proudly boasts. Three tracks on the album also featuring the name of the city. Then there is the unique Dundee dialect showcased front and centre, from the album title right through the lyrics and vocal delivery on the album. Gary Robertson probably does more for keeping Scottish language and traditions alive on this one album than that loathsome long- haired narcissistic muppet Neil Oliver could hope to manage his lifetime.
Dundee
Staying on topic, Dundee. The album opener takes the name of the city as its title. And what a belter it is too. It heralds its entrance with a crash and a clamour, the band coming together with an almighty potency in this instrumental tour de force, the icing on the cake being the bagpipes from Gary. Traditionally, a piper was sent into battle ahead of the hordes to scare the shit out of the opposition and warn them what was about to be unleashed. Well, just wait…
Immediately following Dundee, the band launch into their mighty tribute to Hebridean musical sensations Peat & Diesel. The atmospheric opening with crashing waves and sonorous lamenting disguising what is about to be unleashed, as the bagpipes are added to the mix and Shaun Kerr brings the thunder on the drums. The song is packed with humour and picture painting storytelling.
Ehm Feelin’ Teckle
And as if that wasn’t enough to start the party, without time to breathe, Ehm Feelin’ Teckle bursts into life. You’ll probably already be familiar with this belter of a feel-good tune having been released as a shared 7” with Texas Mod Crushers on Tarbeach Recordings last year. If you don’t end up with a fucking massive grin on your face after listening to this, you have no soul.
Pop Culture references abound. With a Yabba Dabba Doo in Ehm Feelin’ Teckle to a Scooby Dooby Doo in the breakneck high-octane rocking pub crawl adventure that is Scooby Dubh (see what they did there…). Up Fir the Craic continues the good feelings later in the album. If you aren’t up for the craic by the time this tune arrives The Cundeez are obviously not for you.
Ramones meet Joy Division
All parties need a party pieces, The Cundeez have three on this album. First up it is their Ramones do Joy Division with added skanking guitars and bagpipes version of Love Will Tear Us Apart. I’m sure Joy Division purists will be squirming, but fuck them, what’s not to love about this. I never thought I’d be bouncing around the living room skanking to Joy Division. Magic. As well as this sample their further tribute to Peat & Diesel with their storming cover of the bands Horo Gheallaidh ramping up the party atmosphere several notches. Then later it’s Buzzcocks turn for a makeover with their classic Ever Fallen in Love receiving the bagpipe treatment.
Full Throttle
Party pieces aside, this is not by any manner a one-sided band, their many dimensions allowing them to tackle some weighty topics. A couple of back to back tracks here prove you can create tunes allowing you to let your hair down and free your inhibitions while still having something to say. Bow to No-One is a comment on the futility of religion while Them and Us is full throttle bang on banging stream of consciousness comment on the social divides that are all too prevalent in 21st Century Scotland. Gary’s fierce polemic against injustices sound-tracked by crunching guitars, resonantly omniscient bass lines and thunderous drums.
Elsewhere revel in the stark and addictively hypnotic Made in Dundee and bounce around to the house to the call to arms of Rebellion complete with notable machine gun drumming. Stevie’s bass comes to the fore in the lively refrain of I Am Gangster. The album closes with some well-kent tracks given the lehv studio treatment Cundee Radio’s Sehturday Night; the ska infused thundering rocker Gangs O’ Dundee from Lend Wiz Yir Lugz & Austerity.
Taps Aff.
When live gigs eventually come back, my wish is for a double whammy featuring The Cundeez and Peat & Diesel, I’m well up for the craic. In the meantime, get the beers in and make the most of the latest lockdown.
The Cundeez – Facebook