A BEAST of an album is just what you might expect from one of the area's most popular bands.

And that's exactly what they've served up for their latest recording in name and in sound.

Beast is the follow-up to the Wivenhoe-based band's 2013 debut, Smalltown Troubles, but when it comes to difficult second albums, lead singer Fiona Harmon says musically they were raring to go.

"We started about a year ago," she tells me, "with Marshmen and Capo 4, which kind of set the tone for the album. Nick (Munt, Fiona's co-writer in the band), came up with the name and local artist Paul Rumsey did the front cover for us.

"I suppose the idea was to make some kind of comment about society being in a straitjacket trying to get out but for me it has a more melancholy feel and family and home. It's also about us beginning something new in terms of sound and line-up."

In terms of the line-up that's the band's new bass player, Polly Haynes, who in her own right is one of Colchester's most impressive young singer/songwriters.

Since starting back in 1999 as a reggae covers band, and through various line-up changes, the group can now rightly be regarded as one of the area’s most well known and popular outfits.

Founded on the songwriting partnership of Fiona and lead guitarist Nick, the group also consists of Phil Pain on keyboards and drummer Andy Kearton.

"The writing has always been pretty fluid," she adds, "Nick and I are in the studio twice a week and sometimes are up to three/four in the morning. This album was all done on a budget and in an old school way on an eight-track. We then got it mastered at Jay Stapley's Driftwood Studios on Mersea, and he has done a fantastic job with it."

Holding true to their ska and reggae roots, Beast manoeuvres itself around the musical genres also taking in trip hop and dancey beats and grooves.

Beast is out now, available to buy from hobochang.bandcamp.com with the official launch taking place at Maison Mollies, Station Road, Wivenhoe, on Saturday, April 15, from 7.30pm.