Magnifique
Puggy are the new greatest indie rock band, far from the usual chugging and jingling guitars, their tunes have a frisson of Gallic charm in their crystal vocal melodies and use of piano to back rivetting tunes. The three-piece from Brussels, Sweden and the UK have one of the most exciting and spontaneous sounds since Devotchka and Beirut brought from exoticism to standard indie.
The first two tunes of, 'Dubois Died Today' are the finest introduction a band could hope for, 'Dubois' is an arresting melange of dark and theatric rhythm, skittering percussion and extravagant vocals with echoing harmony that would be the sound of Muse if they'd been more intimate and less experimental. 'The Luckiest Crime' continues the suspense with delicious vocals that wind their way around your brain like Parisian streets; it's cheap to make the French connection with a Belgian heritage, but the drama in the band's tone surely owes itself partially to the showmanship we relate with the French performer. 'We'll See' in contrast, takes on a Latino rhythm with a real party spirit and passion to its carefully plucked guitar notes and simmering explosion of percussion.
'Times Like These' is a rippling bundle of sentimental words and steel string guitar chords that cut through the melancholy atmosphere, while the cello on, 'Simple Drums' is a personal favourite embellishment aching its way out from beneath the intricate melody and caustic vocals. A departure from the norm, the soothing 'Don't Wake Me Up' is a refreshing ballad with fluttering guitar and soft, tender vocals.
There are moments of average, fluid but unexciting soft rock like, 'Sorry' and 'Chez Madame Louise' which just plays shamelessly upon the fact that any phrase sung in French is infinitely more beautiful than its English counterpart , but these are merely perfunctory stepping stones in the band's growth and to be excepted one would smile at a child's first efforts at the alphabet. Thankfully your lasting memory of Puggy's sound will be the splendid, 'Lonely Murder' which will loose you in its gripping tale conveyed through breathtaking vocals and instrumentation that articulates the band's with precision.
Puggy are currently supporting Incubus at the latter's personal request, although it's hard to imagine Incubus fans strutting their stuff to Puggy's gorgeous melodies, it's surely a matter of time before the secret about the best Belgian/Swedish/British mix up, probably ever, gets out.