THE STRYPES are one of the most exciting young bands of 2013- reminiscent and beautifully 1960’s rhythm and blues. Their debut album Snapshot is a timeless record with achingly-catchy riffs and beats that is so relentlessly frantic and perfectly vintage, you forget that these Irish lads are only just starting out.

And it took more than a love for rhythm and blues to create something like the rocketing debut Snapshot. At times you feel this record should be filed alongside the UK boom of r ‘n’ b that paved way to the likes of The Yardbirds, The Stones and Dr Feelgood- and they are all in there, be it through the bellowing lyrics reminiscent of Lee Brilleaux or the rapturous riffs of Keith Richards.

Standouts on the release include the simplistic She’s So Fine– a vintage sounding beast of a track that teases with its harmonica and ear-piercing electric guitar solos. Then there’s the proceeding track I Can Tell which trots into your eardrums with its perfect beat and deep, vintage lyrics.

You Can’t Judge a Book By the Cover – the track that got everyone speaking about The Strypes early on in the year- is a great gem of a song which captures the sound and style of the band in two short minutes.

Impressive recordings of CC Rider and I Can Tell from the band’s Glasgow King Tuts gig are also included in the album- live and loud, the band offer fans a chance to relive that gig in May that turned out to be one of the hottest tickets in town.

Rollin and Tumblin’ does exactly what it says on the tin. Ferocious, aggressive and rapid, an electric guitar and bass fight around the opening riff making it the most impressive musical arrangement on the record. It’s tracks like this that blow you away.

In just fifteen days The Strypes managed to recapture and recreate a record from a genre that has stood the test of time almost fifty years on. It’s baffling to think with their passion and charisma just what they will go on to produce as the years go on. Perhaps their stint on tour with the Arctic Monkeys next month will inspire a whole new range of inspirations…. We wait with bated breath.