Produced by Iain Gore (Rumblestrips. Kid Harpoon, Blood Red Shoes, Hadouken) ‘Attack of the Hundred Yard Hardman’ sees Parka continue the relentless pace of current single Better Anyway with more raucous anthems. Packing in the punches from the offset the staccato rap of live favourite Bosses & Bastards sets the unruly party mood before the baggy stylings of Mr Optimistic which was co-written with Chewin’ The Fat actor Tom Urie. Tom has previously lent his vocals to Mylo’s Destroy Rock and Roll album and appears across much of the Parka’s debut.

Despite the uplifting feeling of much of the album, lead singer and songwriter Matty reveals that a darker side to some of the lyrics. “Better Anyway was written when I was unemployed and spent all my time drinking and sleeping. The track itself is an upbeat pop track which is a nice paradox against the quite dark, sad theme of the lyrics.” On the sure-fire indie/electro hit DJ In The Corner, Parka enlisted the distinctive vocal attacks of late 1990’s icon Saffron from Republica. “My friend Tommy from Popstarz suggested her after he heard we were looking for a female vocalist to sing on DJ. She has such a great energy that she adds to the tune and she is such an incredible person to work with.” There is the rabble rousing, self motivation of Wake Up Call (written after a bollocking from the bands record label!), while Stay Away sees the band at a rare introspective moment, backed by an 8-piece orchestra, a 3-piece horn section and Micko Larkin from the sadly missed Larrikin Love on guitar. “My favourite bands are The Eels and Blur... I love old two tone and also hip hop and dance so I try and blend as many styles as possible so none of the tracks come out the same. Our tracks vary from hardhouse/indie/rock with rapping vocals to acoustic drinking songs for a good old knees up!” Parka have amassed a legion of supporters following tours with the likes of Foals, Boy Kill Boy and The Young Knives plus shows such as support to The Twang and Stereophonics at XFM’s Winter Wonderland. The fans certainly turned out in force on their string of sold out dates in Scotland in March after the Scotland On Sunday newspaper named the band number one in their 10 Faces To Watch for 2008 poll.