I happened to stumble upon Peggy Sue purely by mistake back in November and became a fan during the first few minutes of hearing them play. Playing a free gig in a tiny venue in Southampton, they were instantly bewitching with their hauntingly beautiful voices, gentle melodies and charming demeanours, the audience may have been small but it was certainly enraptured. It was hard to believe that these two girls hadn’t made the big time yet. It was on this chilly November eve that, at the end of their set, they thanked us all for coming and asked us to raise a glass to the news that they had been signed by Wichita Recordings and were set to make an album. Fast forward only five months later and the album is set for release in April.

Peggy Sue, formerly Peggy Sue And The Pirates, seem to be the newest act to come out of the recent influx of folk-inspired acts, following in the footsteps of Laura Marling, Noah And The Whale and Mumford And Sons. Initially made up of only two members, Rosa and Katy, both on guitar and vocals (and occasionally accordion), they added drummer Olly Joyce to the line-up. The band’s not so secret weapon is undoubtedly the effortless, husky vocals that both girls posses, their ability to blend and overlap their different sounds adds texture to their tracks without ever sounding over-bearing. Katy has a particularly impressive set of lungs, a beautiful voice that has a warmth and tone beyond her years.

The album itself is a triumph. It opens with the sultry and mellow tale of woe, ‘Long Division Blues’ which sets up the album perfectly, slowly building to a crescendo and falling back into a steady rhythmic pace. First single from the album, ‘Watchman’ is also a highlight, a more powerful, slightly angry sounding track. As the album progresses it becomes clear that the band are talented songwriters, they describe the album as being “about endings in one way or another”, this is apparent in most tracks where there is often an underlying scent of sadness and even bitterness. Other gems of the album include the frankly stunning ‘She Called’ and ‘Matilda’, which begins subdued and moody, but then crashes into an almighty rock out towards the end. This is a subtle and polished album, showcasing Peggy Sue’s awesome talent and potential. All in all, a perfect debut.