David Series: Meerkat Parade Own Label

The first sound on this debut album by Edinburgh-based guitarist David Series is the resonant double bass of James Lindsay, before slide guitar sighs in, accompanied by keyboard player Huw Rees and drummer Max Popp. Following that brief opener, Rees provides some ambulatory piano ranging through Mr Frisbee while things really start to shift halfway through Oink (tune titles tend to be as enigmatic as that of the album), when the whole quartet powers into a hypnotic groove, guitar searing out from time to time.

The tuneful Hermwei sees guitar and piano step out in engagingly conversational mode, while there’s some brief but eloquent sounding from Series and Lindsay in Where’s

Waltzy? The closing Scoobie Snack once again sees the band build up a head of steam, with intense riffing from organ and guitar while Popp’s drums kick up a stir. There’s great listening here but also a certain restraint: I’d love to hear them live.