Scoogz - About Time

‘About Time’ is the debut album by Perth, Scotland solo artist Scoogz. Well-known on the live scene in Scotland and beyond, he’s now put together this record – featuring some of the best musician’s he’s known and shared stages with, and detailing sixteen years-worth of adventures in a boisterous, fun and immersive seven tracks.

It’s been said Scoogz has “The voice of a man who eats gravel for breakfast.” We can’t think of a better description for the gritty, expressive vocals that steal the spotlight in opener Giant’s Footsteps. The song is a lightly driving folk rock track built on acoustic guitar and decorated with a bright horn section – our friend Chris Small contributed a number of instruments on the album, including the trombone here.

There’s plenty of variety in the songs on show, and Scoogz packs a lot into the relatively brief tracklist. There’s some truly affecting ballads where his voice softens just a touch, like the lovely celtic-tinged Home which sounds like something you’d hear in a cosy pub surrounded by the rolling hills of Scotland. The slower numbers are contrasted with a couple of thundering Irish-style punk/folk tracks. Lighter than the Dropkick Murphy’s, but heavier than The Pogues these songs are a blast, filled with fiddles, tin whistles, cracking snare drums and everything else you’d hope for. Our favourite has to be the rollicking Shanespotting – a tale about spending 18 hours wandering round London trying to meet Shane MacGowan. Apparently they saw every sight except The Pogues’ frontman, but all was well in the end as the song says, ‘Now it’s time to grab the train back to our land, but we don’t care we’ve got a bottle in our hand.’ MacGowan would approve.

The final track switches up the record’s sound again, with a gorgeous electric guitar melody leading the song in and recurring throughout giving the track a more modern feel. Your Old Man is a sweet song to Scoogz’s kids which opens with the line ‘Everything changed in a heartbeart, the first moment I heard you’ and continuing to a tuneful chorus, ‘I’ll be your compass to guide you through, I’ll be your shoulder to dry your tears, I’ll have your back so you’ll never fear.’ It’s a heartfelt song where the grit in the vocals only adds to the sincere feel of the track.

The seven tracks of ‘About Time’ seem to fly by, with plenty to take in as it unfolds. The mix of styles work well in context, all tied neatly by Scoogz’s rasping, evocative delivery and his obvious genuine affection for the music.