It's easy to get lost in love with Peggy Sue's debut album,
Fossils and Other Phantoms. The duo vocals of Katy Young and Rosa Slade, accompanied by the beats of drummer Olly Joce, compile a 12 track album that unveils the rawness of a passionate and at times, lethal love.
The indie folk band from Brighton, England released in 2008,
The Body Parts EP, which was later followed by
The First Aid EP, both through Broken Sounds Music. After almost 4 years of releasing singles and EP collections, Peggy Sue presented their debut album,
Fossils and Other Phantoms via Wichita Recordings, to critical acclaim. It opens up with the fervent track "Shape We Made"... the girl power triplet performs the track with tactfully controlled and ardent vocals, however underneath this brawny exterior is vulnerable and unguarded lyrics. The fleeting love presented in "Shape We Made" might not have been everlasting, but the relationship presented still seems to have left the partners scathed. Thus the empathy: longing for a once-present love is something many people can connect with.
The emotional bond with Peggy Sue's debut album is made stronger as the album's tempo picks up. The heart simultaneously beats with tracks such as "February Snow" and "Matilda". The reoccurring theme of a destructive, yet fervent love appears over and over, and the peaceful and luring vocals of Slade and Young complement the upbeat and hasty rhythm, creating well-balanced tracks that keep the listener lingering on for more. The leading track "Watchman" best exemplifies the triplet's skills of finding the ideal blend of the melodic instrumental sounds of Joce and the voices of Young and Slade. The folkloric sounds of the guitar, along with the perfectly harmonized vocals, establish the battle between lovers in an interesting initial aesthetic. As the song progresses, the lyrics create a volatile scene, one of providing the lover an ultimatum of either leaving indefinitely or taking a hand and staying. The emotive qualities are captivating.
Simply put, the tracks of
Fossils and Other Phantoms are therapy for all heartbroken lovers; just some well needed aid to endure the blissful days of summer. Those with lost love: let go of the ice-cream, drop the remote control, and embrace the songs of Peggy Sue. You'll be back on your feet by the fall. -
lonnie nemiroff
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