When their first 4-track CD came out, it confirmed The Daze as not only one of the best songwriting bands in Dundee, but one of the best songwriting indie bands in the country, the tracks being played to death by local DJ's throughout the city at gigs, lapped up by the audiences and a positive joy on Tay-FM and Wave 102 Radio stations. Concerts were just amazing but the one thing you thought that the band could do with is perhaps a track or two with an extra sense of power and aggression, to balance out the insanely catchy four tracks that were the central core of the live set. The band duly obliged in the form of this roaring gem of a track called “Young, Free & Easy” that proved to be just what the set needed and became the set opener in concert that really got the audiences up on their feet right from the start.
Now, performed live, this track absolutely erupted into life with a vengeance, so the band could be forgiven if, at this stage, a recorded version did not quite have the energy of the live version, However, you don't have to forgive a thing because this recorded version is everything you could want from the liver track, and more. First off, it launches into life with this wondrously forceful lead guitar riff that is the stuff of dreams, before, with a shout, the band roar in and Robbie's vocals grab you by the throat as this strongly delivered, slightly hoarse (in a good way) vocal is sung with extreme passion and strength. The song races along with all guitars blazing, as the rhythm section hammer away, the drums sounding crunchy and you can't help but get caught up in its spirit and feel, Via a wickedly economic guitar break, the well written song tears along like a hurricane and if you're not leaping around the room to this, you'd better check your pulse – 'coz yer probably dead!
If that wasn't enough, a brand new song called “You'll Never See That Day” carries on where this left off. Only here, the power and passion has added to it, the catchiness and hooks of the previous EP as well as a soaring chorus and some superbly sung harmonies to give extra depth to the guitar whirlwind, rhythm thunder and more of the trademark strong vocals. It, too, races along but you hear all the words on a splendidly written song, and it wins in every way.
Virtually since their first steps into a live setting, the band have closed their sets with something called “New Day Dawning”, as brave and bold a move as any indie band has ever undertaken, for this track, which could last anything between six and sixteen minutes depending on how they were feeling, started slowly, gradually intensified, dropped back, built up then finally grew stronger and stronger as the finale approached, amazingly embraced by the fans time after time after time as a truly anthemic set closer. Well, the god news here is that this recorded version loses none of the structural integrity and gloriously expansive arrangements that the live versions have always delivered. In truly epic style, the band have conquered the track to provide one smoking, incendiary gem of a version. It starts with lilting bass and tapped sticks, light drums, cymbal splashes, distant guitar feedback, a ringing series of guitar chords that break into this sizzling searing sea of guitar riffing, with seemingly endless layers of guitars chiming away, before the guitars drop back as the high-flying mix of mournful and impassioned vocals are sung to perfection by rhythm guitarist Robbie as Scott's lead guitars stride all over the mix and Rab Johnson's drums sound really solid, as he hammers the foundations from dramatic to driving. Slowly the horizon fills with guitars as the rhythms fire along, the drums roll over the landscape, a lead guitar emerges from the wall, taking off to the skies, then it all drops back once more as another verse of the now addictive song, is delivered with yearning and emotion for all its worth, the hook just taking you into its world with absolute assurance. As the last vocals sail into the sunset, Scott's wah-wah guitar adds to the massive expanse of ringing lead and rhythm guitars, and this breathtaking instrumental finale begins to roar into life with the whole band blitzing away as this huge sea of guitars fills every part of the room and your head with the most glorious sound that any band has ever come up with, and the effect is just shattering as it all fades, but you want it to go on for a lot longer. Simply awesome!!
So there you have it – another absolute triumph. Not only that, but combined with the four tracks from the previous EP, proof that here are not only seven tracks that would make up one of the finest debut albums to come out by an indie guitar band on the planet, but prof that this band are something that will surely be absolutely huge before too long. It doesn't get better than this!!