The music of Kitty, Daisy & Lewis is very much a family affair; the eponymous teenage siblings (15, 19 and 17 respectively) are aided by their mum and dad on guitar and double bass, and their debut was recorded in a DIY home studio with the aim of recreating the atmosphere of their energetic live performances. The result is a fittingly youthful and joyous record combining a diverse range of influences from blues to country, made up of a mixture of covers of rock & roll classics, original tracks and instrumentals.
The exuberant single 'Going Up the Country' sets the tone for a short (less than half an hour in total) but brilliantly enjoyable collection of songs that revels in an almost unfeasibly authentic 1950s sound. If you didn't know it was made in 2008, the album could easily pass as a lost classic from the heyday of rock & roll. 'Ooo Wee' (my personal favourite) would be perfect for the jukebox in an old-fashioned diner, while 'Buggin' Blues', penned by Lewis, fits in perfectly alongside the cover versions. 'Honolulu Rock-a Roll-a' will lodge itself in your head for days and 'Polly Put the Kettle On' is one of those songs you just have to get up and dance to. Punctuated by infectious handclaps and harmonies, the 10 tracks whizz by in no time at all and leave you eager to hear more.
Kitty, Daisy & Lewis may hark back to times past rather than creating a new sound, but there's something thrilling about the home-made aesthetic of this debut. The band members' youth in itself is notable, but it's not the most impressive thing about them; there are plenty of teenagers in bands, but few who choose such a unique direction, or manage to pull it off with such aplomb. Aside from being a highly listenable album, 'Kitty, Daisy & Lewis' also acts like a beginner's guide to rock & roll and is virtually guaranteed to get you hooked on this delightful sound.
It may be somewhat ironic that the best new album I've heard this year sounds as though it could have been made half a century ago, but that really shouldn't put anyone off giving it a listen. The year may not be over yet, but I feel confident enough about the record's timeless appeal to say it's definitely amongst the very best you'll hear in 2008. This young trio's first set of songs proves that Kitty, Daisy & Lewis have bags of talent and promise - I can't wait to see what they'll achieve in years to come.
