Hands Up Get Down

In the old days bands would form via friends and networks, adverts in the NME or Melody Maker or notices in record shops. New Scottish band Fat Cops formed in a much more modern way - via Twitter.

I'll get the full lowdown on that in a feature length blog (interview and review) on their forthcoming debut album that will be released through Absolute via Universal/Sony DADC at the start of March.

The forthcoming debut self-titled LP coming in March

Fat Cops are a six-piece featuring Chris Deerin (vocals), Robert Hodgens aka Bobby Bluebell (guitars and vocals), Chris Ayre (bass and vocals), Euan McColm (guitars), Al Murray (drums) and Neil Murray (keys).

Chris (bass) formed the band after he was bequeathed a black Rickenbacker bass guitar by his late Aunt, Maggie Gulliver, who played it as a member of legendary 1970's girl group The Wee Besoms, Fat Cops take their name from one of their songs and also cover another on their debut LP.

As I say, more of that later. In the meantime debut single Hands Up! Get Down! offers a tantalising taster of what we can perhaps expect.

The song grooves and is full of feeling, harmonies, harmonica, hooks, guitar riffs and beats - captivating on first listen, even more rewarding after repeated listens.

The video fits superbly, a silhouetted Bluebell plays wah wah riffs as a garage opens, a drone camera rises over a sunny Clyde while Deerin wanders and runs around Glasgow wearing boxing gloves.

The hook is one you can sing during your first listen, I can imagine it going down a storm in a sweaty venue or at a sunny festival. Hands up, everybody put your hands up, everybody put your hands up, everybody's gonna get down is a chorus/hook that could easily come out of peak Nile Rodgers Chic in the 70's. Simple, catchy and over a disco/Madchester beat with funky guitar licks - it certainly caught my attention. There is the added bonus of Norman Blake on backing vocals.

Fat Cops only have one show in the diary at present, a show at The Social in London on Monday 4th March. Tickets HERE. But I'm pretty sure there will be a Scottish date or two in the calendar in the not too distant future - I hope so.

I look forward to hearing what this six-piece offers from their album.The talent, taste and soul on their debut has definitely caught my attention.