Label: Distilled Records

Despite repeated listens, I'm still slightly puzzled by this. The question remains, who is Taxi To Whitby for? Pepperjam's own description, 'rootsy soul', must be respected and in the vocal and string harmonies, high-register fretless bass and pleading lead vocal there are nods to Gamble and Huff-era Philly arrangements. But, just as that marker is laid down by opener 'Look At Us Now', the following track, 'These Days', with swirling Hammond, clipped guitar and snare rimshots brings in a Caribbean feel.

These reggae sensibilities are not a passing fad. When frontman Lorry Dowling hands the microphone to Katie Wellings and Kate Wild, the resulting light, spacey dub of 'Too Hasty' is a delight, sharing top track status with the pleading 'Into The Light'.

Throw in the cello-heavy ballads 'Heavy Steps' and 'Nothing There', the loose-limbed yet precise funk of 'Wide World' and the choral soul of 'Done It Now' and Pepperjam might claim that their Taxi To Whitby has room for Everyone.

David Innes