Kitty, Daisy & Lewis - Superscope (2017)

×

Kitty, Daisy & Lewis - Superscope (2017)

Close

Three siblings from North London, Kitty, Daisy & Lewis have set the British roots rock scene on its ear with their infectious energy and authentic approach to rockabilly, vintage country, and first-generation rhythm & blues – not to mention the fact that the youngest member of the trio hadn't yet reached her teens when they released their first single in 2005. Kitty Durham, Lewis Durham, and Daisy Durham were born into a musical family – their father, Graeme Durham, is a guitarist who is also a top engineer at one of London's leading record mastering facilities, the Exchange, while their mother, Ingrid Weiss, played drums with the pioneering post-punk band the Raincoats. In 2002, while attending an afternoon rockabilly gig hosted by Big Steve and the Arlenes with their parents, Lewis was invited to sit in with the band on banjo, while Kitty hopped behind the drum kit and kept time. The next time Big Steve played at the Durhams' local pub, Lewis and Kitty were once again brought up to the stage, while Daisy joined in on accordion, and the kids decided it was time to form a band of their own.

Wanting to fill out their sound, Graeme was drafted as a rhythm guitarist and Ingrid took up upright bass to join the family combo. As the youngsters began displaying a greater range of talent – Lewis plays guitar, lap steel, and piano along with the banjo, while Kitty handles percussion, harmonica, ukulele, and guitar and Daisy sings and plays piano as well as drums – they became an act to watch on the U.K. Americana circuit, and began recording their own material. Lewis put together a makeshift studio in their home using vintage analog recording gear, and in 2005 the kids released their first single, "Honolulu Rock," with Kitty 12 years of age, Lewis 14, and Daisy the oldest at 16. A second single, "Mean Son of a Gun," hit shops a year later; it was released as a 7" 45 and in a limited-edition 10" 78 rpm pressing. In 2008, Kitty, Daisy & Lewis released their eponymous full-length debut album, featuring the single "Going Up the Country." The trio's sophomore effort, Smoking in Heaven (preceded by the single "I'm So Sorry"/"I'm Going Back"), was released in May of 2011. After a few years spent playing shows, the band engaged Mick Jones (formerly of the Clash and Big Audio Dynamite) to produce their next record. He spent some serious time in rehearsal with the trio, then hit the studio, where they added some new elements to the trio's unique mix of sounds. The resulting Kitty, Daisy & Lewis the Third was issued in early 2015 on the Sunday Best label. When the group began thinking of their fourth album, they decided to take the reins themselves, making 2017's Superscope their first totally in-house effort. Featuring a cover shot by legendary lensman Steve Gullick, the album was the first for the trio to have no ska influences, though all the rest of their influences are still firmly in place.