The Peenko Show - Fresh Air Sessions

As some of you were aware I did a stint on Edinburgh student radio station, Fresh Air, for three weeks during the festival. I am pretty sure that any of you that heard the show will agree, a future career at Radio One isn't very likely. That being said I did get to play a lot of great music, hopefully I managed to introduce some new music to some of you. I have already posted the first show that I did, I am still waiting to receive copies of the 2nd and 3rd shows (Hitch, if you're reading this, could you please send me a copy...pretty please).
As well as getting to play songs and talk mince, I was also lucky enough to get Edinburgh artists I Build Collapsible Mountains and Come On Gang! in to play a song for me. It was honestly a privilege and an honour to have them come in and do this for me.
I Build Collapsible Mountains, aka singer songwriter, Luke Joyce played the song 'Rails', taken from his forthcoming mini album, 'A Month Of Lost Memories'. While Come On Gang serenaded us with their forthcoming single 'Fortune Favours The Brave'. The recording is a bit crackly, but it still sounds amazing. Look out for the official release next Friday.

I Build Collapsible Mountains - Rails (session track)
Come On Gang! - Fortune Favours The Brave (session track)

Fresh Meat Monday - q without u

photo by myspace.com/johnlewisphotography

Would you care to introduce yourself?

4 skinny Glaswegian’s who should no better, or Tam (guitar & vocals) Andy (bass & vocals) Scott (synth & trumpet) and Calum (drums & percussion) to our mums

How would you describe the music you make?

I suppose it’s kind of unadulterated indiepop, but then that sounds wanky, but I suppose it’s hard to describe music without coming across as a wank. So there you have it, describing music makes you a wank, no offence Lloyd! ;)

How did you start out making music?

Andy, Calum and I met in the usual boring way through mutual friends and by mistake in 2004 then Scott joined in 2007. we started out in much the same way we are today – playing gigs with bands we genuinely like, recording and releasing records through and with people we like and trying to make sure we have as much fun with it as possible.

What process goes into the way you write songs?

Two Oxo cubes lightly basted with melody

What can people expect from your live shows?

We normally play things around 103% faster live, throw ourselves about a bit and crack rubbish cock jokes inbetween songs. Ultimately we try and make it entertaining without coming across as trying too hard. I’ve seen far too many bands playing gigs whilst looking like they’d rather be *anywhere* other than on stage


What are you all listening to at the moment?

Personally I’ve been listening to the Beach Fossils and Wild Nothing albums and I also absolutely love the new Meursault album.


What can we expect to see/hear from you in 2010?

We’ve just released a new single “paper cuts” which you can download from our Bandcamp page and we’ll be releasing our second album “do no harm” around September time, there’ll be various gigs to support both releases hopefully across the UK

q without u - Paper Cuts

Myspace

Weekly Round Up (29/08/10)

Monday - get yer teeth into some tasty Fresh Meat brought to you by B-Movie Junkies, plus I had Calamateur's Moray Firth Session
Tuesday - Aberfeldy were in session for Vic G
Wednesday - A Band Called Quinn were the 30th entry in the Scots Way-Hay club
Thursday - a session from The Burns Unit on Marc Riley's show
Friday - Freebies!!! including stuff from Randolph's Leap and Martin John Henry. Plus a sessions from Haight Ashbury and the Shutter on Vic Galloway's show
Saturday - Washington Irving covered Hot Chip in We've Got It Covered


News, gigs and any other gubbins......



As I am going to be a bit preoccupied this next month, I have organised a series of posts featuring DIY Labels in Scotland. So over the next six weeks you can expect to see interviews with the folk that run Wiseblood Industries, Armellodie Records, 45 A-Side Records, Seventeen Second Records, RE:PEATER RECORDS, Too Many Fireworks, Chaffinch Records, Gerry Loves Records, Instinctive Racoon Records, SL Records and Song By Toad Records. Having edited them all, you can trust me when I say that you are in for a treat as you gain an incite into some of the most exciting labels in Scotland, plus there will definitely not be any 'King making' ;)




Former Scots Way-Hay starlet Julian Corrie, aka Miaoux Miaoux releases his new single, ‘Knitted’ this Wednesday (1st) on download and limited edition CD with knitted sleeve.
It will be available from his homepage, it also features a remix from The Japanese War Effort and a special live track, which will be exclusive to the physical release. The whole thing is in aid of charity, as Julian explains: “A friend and I had the idea for knitted CD covers. We approached a knitting group at Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres and they agreed to do it in return for a donation to the charity. I’ve recently lost someone very close to me to prostate cancer, so I’ll be donating some proceeds from the single to both Maggie’s and Cancer Research.”
Miaoux Miaoux plays at the Captain’s Rest in Glasgow tonight, alongside Fox Gut Daata.


If you are in the capital tonight and looking for a good way to round off your festival experience, then Fiona Soe Paing is performing her "No Man's Land" score supporting the Hidden Orchestra's live re-working of Powaqqatsi at the Roxy Art House. Due to a weird timing issue, Hidden Orchestra are on at 11.30, and Fiona at 12.30 (I think).

On Thursday night at the Roxy, Edinburgh's Amy Duncan, a singer and multi-instrumentalist from Edinburgh, launches her new album 'Potential-Space'. The night will feature 3 sets, one from Scottish harpist and composer Fiona Rutherford will be playing her own compositions on clarsach, accompanied by Amy on doublebass . Followed by electronic artist Bradley Burns playing some of his tunes on laptop, then Fiona, Bradley and Amy will then together play songs from the album. You can listen, and if you like it, order 'Potential-Space' now from her Bandcamp.

Amy Duncan - Natural

On Thursday night, our good friends over at Elba Sessions are having their tenth (yes tenth!), Elba Sessions Presents evening. As always they've got a cracking line up in store for you, this months features Finn Lemrainel (of Trapped in Kansas fame), Shauna Joy and Lynne Louden, and as if that wasn't impressive enough, it's free entry.

We're Only Afraid Of NYC - Live at the Reading Festival 2010

Track Listing
1. It's Tidal
2. Louder Loudest
3. Where We Go At Night

Download
Watch the videos

We've Got It Covered #15

You should hopefully remember I featured Washington Irving back in June, great wee band they are too. They're stable mates with the excellent French Wives on innovative Glasgow label Instinctive Raccoon, if you haven't already downloaded yourself a copy and you like this cover, then make sure you hunt down their 'Little Wanderer, Head Thee Home' EP, it's full of cracking indie pop tunes.

Washington Irving - Boy From School (Hot Chip cover)

Haight Ashbury - BBC Radio Lancashire Session (26/08/10)

Track Listing
1. Freeman Town
2. 3 Little Birds
3. Million Man March

Download

Shutter - Vic Galloway Session (26/08/10)

Track Listing
1. New Starts
2. 2012
3. Pillers of Creation
4. Sedona

Download

Friday Freebies

Randolph's Leap
The former AvsP starlets have posted a free tune up on their Bandcamp page. 'Special', is a whole lot of twee indie pop fun, these guys (n girl) continue to impress, I can't wait to see what they come up with next. Also, while you're on there, make sure you have a hunt about as there are plenty more freebies to be had.

Martin John Henry
The former De Rosa front man posted a cover of Tom Waits, 'Rain Dogs' up for free on his twitter account earlier in the week. To download it, simply right click and save, hey presto, you have yourself some free tune-age.

Chemikal Underground
In this months newsletter the kind kids at Chemikal have given us not one, but three songs for nowt. A Glamour' by The Phantom Band (Excerpt), 'Reverberation Mambo' (Joakim Remix) by Panico and an abridged version of Aidan Moffat's 'Year of Open Doors' short story, 'The Donaldson Boy'. What a nice bunch they are.

Eagle Winged Palace
The second band to take me up on my suggestions of freebies are a 'weird little folk group' from LA by the name of Eagle Winged Palace. They've just released released their debut album, "Where We're Coming From" and they'd like to share a free MP3 'Movin' On To Avalon' with all of you lucky kids (it's one of those right click save freebies).

Blackbird Blackbird
I have featured these guys in Friday Freebies before, it really does feel as if the blogosphere has a lot of love for this lot. They have posted up an EP of Rarities which you can download for zero pennies on their Bandcamp.

The Second Hand Marching Band
They're playing at the Tunnels in Aberdeen next month with Eagleowl and Benni Hemm Hemm, in anticipation of the gig they're giving away a free EP featuring all of the bands. Download it for free here.

Fran Healy
The Travis-front man's debut solo album' Wreckorder' comes out pretty soon, as a taster you can download the song 'Holiday' taken from it, free in exchange for your email address.

Polly And The Billets Doux
The band are giving away free MP3, 'To Be A Fighter', taken from their current album, you can find it on their SoundCloud page.

Manic Street Preachers
They're not really my cup of tea, but I know a lot of folk love this lot. If you're excited about the forthcoming new album, then this is for you, it's a free download of new song 'I'm Leaving You For Solitude'.

Vincent Vincent & The Villains
Young and Lost Club's Digital Club have a free Download of Blue Boy, you can get it here. There are other free downloads from Semifinalists, Cheatahs , Othello Woolf and Gypsy And The Cat up for free here.

Amiina
The Icelandic quartet have posted up a free song from their forthcoming album, 'Puzzle', download 'Over and Again' here.

Spring Offensive
They have put up one track, it's thirteen minutes long and it sounds a bit like Death Cab For Cutie. 'The First of Many Dreams about Monsters' is free to download here, it has the extra added bonus of it being a direct download, none of this give your email address in exchange business.

Dance To The Radio
The uber cool Leeds label has posted a cracking wee compilation up for grabs on the NME's website. Featuring tracks from Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, Spectrals and Bear In Heaven, you can download it here.

The Xcerts
New track, 'Let's Run' which was recorded during the album sessions for their forthcoming second album 'Scatterbrain' is available for free in exchange for your email address.

Hidden Orchestra
I picked up on this one through the BBC Introducing podcast, it's quite atmospheric, and it's fre or at least one of the tracks, 'Footsteps' is over on their Bandcamp.

Intercontinental Music Lab
This recommendation came courtesy of the fabulous Incredible Flight of Birdman, a cracking wee find it is too. Rather than waste your time with my waffling, here's something I copied and pasted earlier... "the Intercontinental Music Lab has produced five albums. They’ve all been produced in the same way. We came up with a concept or theme for an album, then asked people to choose subjects around that theme and compose some music. The theme for our first album was science. Our musicians composed instrumental pieces of music about scientists or aspects of science. Once the backing tracks were completed we swapped the tunes online and composed lyrics and recorded vocals over each others tracks, taking the subjects chosen by the musicians as inspiration. These techniques have led to some really successful collaborations." Sound good to you? then check it out here.

Fiveng
They're Pitchfork darlings and they have posted some free tunes up on their Bandcamp for free, gather round hipsters this sound like it might well be for you. Their debut single 'Give me a taste/Jonah' is up for download, fans of Panda Bear should lap this up.

Guanaco
Fans of drone/folk might like this, it's a free EP from Guanco, it's called 'Begging Your Pardon Miss Joan' and you can download it here.

The Vulcam Freedom Fighters
If moody rock ‘n’ roll with endless Star Trek samples, then this is for you. You can download loads of songs from Kentucky’s Vulcan Freedom Fighters here.

Kowalskiy's Komplimentary Korner

Matt Berry
This week the doc has gone with a freebie from Matt "Dr. Lucien Sanchez Berry (or if you ever even Watched Garth Marenghi's Darkplace), who has a new EP out. Mr K went to see him a few years ago at King Tuts and to this day it's still one of his most memorable gigs, both for the music and the comedy! Just click the link to download his 'Summer Sun' EP.

The Burns Unit - Marc Riley Session (24/08/10)

Track Listing
1. Trouble
2. Since We've Fallen Out
3. All Of This In Writing

4. House On The Hill

Download

Scots Way-Hay #30 - A Band Called Quinn

Photo by Jane Rolland

I've featured a lot of indie folk-pop bands recently, so I thought it was about time that I branched out a little. A Band Called Quinn are most certainly pop, but there's no folk to be had here, this is electro-pop done at it's finest. It was their last album, 'Sun Moon Stars' that first brought the band to my attention, at the time I remember thinking that I liked what I heard but that they reminded me a bit of Goldfrapp. Which was especially odd as the 'frapp don't really do much for me, but this did. The stand out track for me from was 'Glimmer Song', it was their lead singer Louise Quinn's shimmering voice that struck the right chord with me. This is unashamed pop, if there's any justice in the world then you'll be hearing a lot more from this band.


Would you care to introduce yourself?

I am Louise Quinn singer/songwriter with A Band Called Quinn.

Where are you based?

Glasgow.

How would you describe the music you make?

It's like sticking your head in a tumble drier at a psychedelic launderette.

How did you come together as a band?

We were dressed as aliens wandering the streets of Glasgow around Christmas time and decided we should make music. We all love sci-fi, lo-fi, hi-fi & wi-fi and decided to unleash our sound on the world.

How did you start out making music?

I wrote my first song Halloween Midnight when I was seven. My brother Shug was older, cooler, had a great collection of punk seven inch singles and played guitar. I wanted to be him.

What process goes into the way you write songs?

Anything can influence a song; a word; a film; a sweetie wrapper. I have melodies in my head and a probable undiagnosed personality disorder but sometimes you need silence to let it all breathe.
Who are your big musical influences?

All the big hitters Lou; Iggy; Debbie; Patti; Ella; Billie but also films.

You were recently involved in the ‘Storm the Charts’ campaign, for those who don’t already know what that is would you mind explaining it a little? Do you think it worked for you as a band?

Storm The Charts was Wes White's attempt to populate the entire top 40 with independent artists on the same week. 40 bands were selected out of 600 applicants to have their track put forward by public vote and panel members such as Huw Stephens & Emily Eavis. STC didn't achieve it's initial aim but our track DIY got to no.4 in The Amazon Indie Charts & 6Music got behind the campaign so a lot more people are aware we exist.

On previous albums you seem to have roped in some pretty big names to play on your records, who’s been lucky enough to play with you and can we expect to see any unexpected ‘names’ featuring on your forthcoming album?

We have been lucky enough to record with Alex Kapranos; Kid Loco & The Pastels. Our next album features sleeve-notes penned by Britain's best selling crime writer & Rebus creator Ian Rankin!

What are your plans for the rest of the year and beyond? Do you have any new releases planned for any time soon?

At the moment we are working towards the release of our next album The Beggar's Opera which is a collection of songs written for award winning Scottish theatre company Vanishing Point's futuristic update of John Gay's 18th Century play. We toured in the show last year and it was an amazing experience for the band; the set, the costumes, the visuals... it was a real spectacle. The show 'caused a lot of controversy in the theatre world - some critics giving it one star; some five. A lot of people really loved it and kept asking if they could get hold of the songs so we decided to record them. The first single is Here's To Us out on the 4th of October. I am absolutely delighted with it - I think it's the best single we've ever recorded & there's some really exciting remixes by Celebrity Murder Party; Colin Waterson & Ban This Sick Filth. We're going to be shooting a video for it with Iman4D (Willie Richardson) & playing a few dates to launch the album (out on the 25th of October).

A Band Called Quinn - Here's To Us (Ban This Sick Filth mix)

A Band Called Quinn play King Tuts tonight (25th) alongside MAY68 and Epic26, you might still be able to get cheap tickets directly from the band here.

The band release the soundtrack to the acclaimed Vanishing Point's Beggar's Opera on the 25th of October with lead single Here's To Us out on the 11th of October.


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Aberfeldy - Vic Galloway Session (23/08/10)

Track Listing
1. Malcolm
2. Let Her Dance (Bobby Fuller cover)
3. Somewhere To Jump From

Download

Calamateur - Moray Firth Radio Session (22/08/10)

Track Listing

1. Banoffee
2. Honestly

Download

Fresh Meat Monday - B-MovieJunkies

Photo by Wes Kingston

Would you care to introduce yourself?

We're B-Movie Junkies and we're based in Glasgow although we're from across the UK. We're a six piece band comprising (in alphabetical order):

Sharyl Alexander (Vocals)
Anny Deery (Synth)
Greg Hurst (Keys/Electronic wizzardry)
Chris McNulty (Drums)
Mari Stevens (Vocals)
Nick Wilson (Bass)

How would you describe the music you make?

Anny: Some might say it's electro-pop with a filthy bass drive!



Greg: Bass-heavy pop with raw drums, weird synths and 2 female vocalists. Everyone in the band has different musical backgrounds, but personally when we started I was listening to artists that mix rock, pop and dance like LCD Soundsystem, Hot Chip, or Santogold, so that was a starting point for me. Though I don't think we actually sound like any of the above... and we're definitely not 80s copyists!

Sharyl: Straight- up pop with a growling nod to something more sinister.


Chris: Poppy with elements of funk, disco, 80's electronic. Everyone in the band has very varied tastes in music so it allows us to come up with a very interesting sound.


How did you start out making music?

We've all come at music from different angles.



Anny: I'd never been in a band before but have been in and around music all my life. I used to play violin and viola in orchestras and ensembles as a teenager and was often noodling around on my SK1 Casio. I got involved with this band when I saw a Facebook status on Clair (Clair Crawford, Piggyback Management) our manager, looking for a keyboard player. We met after being out at a Bastard Dancehall with Andy Weatherall night in Stereo then on to an afterparty where we chatted about upcoming rehearsals. I went along to the rehearsal, having borrowed a Micro Korg from S-type Beats AKA Bobby Perman and I remember the first thing we did was jam in D. We then went on from there, in fact the basis to one of our songs was formed during that very first rehearsal...

Mari: I have always made music. I love writing songs and singing in a band. I am inspired by beautiful soulful melody, the dancefloor and the ethics of punk and hip hop. I have been in bands before from the unique Jacobilly Bush Box to the funk collective Elias and soundsystem Ground Control. I released a couple of tunes with Airfix on the Glasgow Underground Label. I used to do it all the time and hadn't done it for a while and Clair was looking for songwriters and vocalists for her music project which became the BMJ.

Greg: I've been recording electronic and dance music for over 10 years as Magic Daddy, but this is the first time I've ever been in a band. It's weird having to play in time with other people instead of working on my own!


Nick: Whilst I also like the funk, a firm bass line seems to be what BMovie Junkies want. Played violin in orchestra at school, just like Anny :-) I took bass guitar up after being inspired by the likes of Chris Squire of Yes, Derek Forbes of Simple Minds, Bernard Edwards of Chic, all of whom bring extra melody and rhythm to bass playing..

Sharyl: I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember and was classically trained at age 12. I found that a classical style of singing did not feel natural to me and so would spend hours in my room singing along to Donna Summer, Randy Crawford, Sade, just whatever I could find from my parents music collection. However, my dad is a heavy rock and metal fan, and my taste quickly turned to the likes of Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Nazareth, Rainbow and the vocalists in such bands never failed to amaze me. My first band was ‘The Afterhours’, a heavy rock blues band, and we had several successful gigs but sadly we had to part ways. A year ago I met Clair, our current manager, who discovered I was a singer and asked if I would be interested in joining a pop band...and the rest is history!

Chris: Have dabbled in Electronic production without much success then decided to take up the drums in 2007. Been in a couple of not so serious bands. This is the most exciting project I've been involved in.


What process goes into the way you write songs?

Anny: Credit here goes to Mari. She comes resplendent with lyrics then are often kicked off by drums or bass. We've also tried different approaches as, Greg Hurst AKA magic Daddy, is an electronic producer so he's got a few tunes we've reworked or incorporated into our set. Credit here goes to our original bass player. Steve Urqhuart who for six months held down our bass-end and produced our first demos - our only demos to date!

Mari: Writing as a band we all bring ideas that we build on and many of the tunes have come out of a jam. I sometimes have a melody going round my head and I hear a phrase that triggers either a chorus lyric or verse idea. Sometimes a song springs from nowhere lyrics and melody together. I use Garageband to record ideas. I write pop songs, ideally to make people dance so I write about love and romance but there is a bit of the old social commentary and the odd political thread in there too.

Greg: Mari, one of the singers, has lots of lyrics she's been writing for years, so either she comes to practice with a song idea which we try and flesh out, or one of the band comes up with a musical idea which Mari tries to fit lyrics to. It's very democratic, and entirely based on jamming together. We all write our own parts basically. I've never written music this way before and it's a lot of fun.

Nick: I've been here for the last 4 / 9 songs we currently have, and the process seems to be jam something that people like the groove to, then find some words and melodies over it, quite organic actually, that's the good thing about being in a group


What can people expect from your live shows?

Anny: Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll! Ok, we're not a rock n roll band but we all love that ethos. There's a fine blend of male and female in the band so whatever your persuasion there's something for everyone. We're raw, passionate and energetic. Some of us tend to jump around on stage and you can experience the male form in it's highest order through the sodden t-shirts of Chris as he works so hard on drums.

Mari: We have video graphics which accompany the set. I love seeing something visual with my music so we have tried to do that from our first gig.



Greg: A lot of energy, 2 great frontwomen, me with a Korg machine making weird noises.. above all, POP.. in a good way...

Nick: Its kind of art-rock meets pop & soul, lots of energy and tunes


Chris: Energy and Fun!


What are you all listening to at the moment?

Anny: I've just been listening to the new Arcade Fire album. They've employed some really good hooks in their blend of music and I love a good melody! Fuck Buttons have been getting a look in as well as sneaky peeks into our friends FOUND new album.

Mari: My nephew made me an excellent summer mix with Dead Man's Bones, Twin Sister and White Hinterland. Chart wise I like the new Goldfrapp LP. Was enjoying some Joni Mitchell with an old pal the other night and dancing to Depeche Mode and Lionel Ritchie on VH1 earlier tonight. Heard a Caribou remix of Always On by Silver Columns which was ace.

Greg: Caribou, Joy Orbison, Fuck Buttons, Teenage Fanclub, an African house mix I got in South Africa.

Sharyl: If you opened my ipod you’d usually find a large selection of classic rock from the likes of zeppelin, rush and kyuss but there is the odd fresh album there from the likes of massive attack, NERD, and that lassie who’s milkshake brings all the boys to the yard.


Chris Lots of shit (the good shit) such as Buff1 (hip hop), Hudson Mohawke, Mayer Hawthorne, Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, Camera Obscura, Chic etc.

Nick: Miss Pooja, Dafa ho ja 40 Below Summer, Self Medicate Leoš Janáček's String Quartet No. 2, "Intimate Letters" 3 Inches of Blood, Trial of Champions Korn, Evolution Steve Angello feat Robin S, Show Me Love Make The Girl Dance, Kill Me


What can we expect to see/hear from you in 2010?

Greg: We're recording songs right now, 4 initially but aiming for a 12-track album. We've got 10-ish just now so we need to write a couple more! We're doing it all ourselves, with the aim of getting it released by someone if we're lucky, or releasing it ourselves. Watch this space... over the next month... well our Myspace at any rate... And lots of gigs; we've got 4 or 5 scheduled for the next couple of months, and there'll be more...



Chris: Plenty of gigs, maybe a release or two but I think 2011 will be our year.


Voodoo by B-MovieJunkies

B-Movie Junkies have the following dates coming up;
8th Sep - 13th Note supporting Sister Mantos
1st Oct - Bloc
15th Oct - Classic Grand

Soundcloud
Myspace

Weekly Round Up (22/08/10)

Monday - The Douglas Firs brought us some Fresh Meat-y goodness
Tuesday - The Zephyrs session for Vic G, plus Steve Mason did a wee tune for 5Live
Wednesday - the fabulous Yahweh became the 29th member of the Scots Way-Hay club
Thursday - Withered Hand in session for Marc Riley, plus one of Admiral Fallow's live tracks from their gig in Paisley last week.
Friday - the world famous Friday Freebies comes up with the goods once again.
Saturday - The Second Hand Marching Band take on At the Drive In, it has to be heard to be believed.


News, gigs and any other gubbins......


This coming Friday (27th) at Stereo sees the launch night of 'No Dancing', a new night 'which will strive to bring together the most exciting and thought-provoking acts playing in Glasgow today'. Bold words, but then again the line up for their innaugural night is an absolute belter, playing on the evning they have Adam Stafford (Y'all is Fantasy Island), Deathpodal, PAWS and RM Hubbert. Now if that doesn't get you slightly excited then nothing will! Tickets are only a fiver, a bargain at half the price. For further details check out the KMR Promotions website.


Foxgang are putting on a cracking wee shindig on Tuesday (24th) at the Bristo Hall (above the Forest Cafe) in Edinburgh. Check this for a line up French Wives, White Heath, Faction Fiction (Formerly Casino Brag), Sebastian Dangerfield, Washington Irving and your hosts Foxgang plus DJs Rock N' Roll Dance Party. Now that's a cracking wee line up and I haven't even got to the point to where I mention that it's free.
In addition to this, Kowalskiy has just posted up a compilation featuring tracks from each of the bands for free on his Bandcamp.

Foxgang - White Picket Fence

Edwyn Collins - Live at the Shepherds Bush Empire (05/11/95)

Track Listing
1. The Campaign For Real Rock
2. Gorgeous George
3. Rip It Up
4. A Girl Like You

Download

The Delgados - Live at the Royal Festival Hall 1998

Track Listing
1. Arcane Model
2. Pull the Wires From the Wall
3. Repeat Failure
4. Take Me Out
5. The Actress
6. Thirteen Gliding Principles
7. Weaker Argument Defeats The Stronger

Download

We've Got It Covered #14

If you never come across the Second Hand Marching Band before, even if you have and you haven't heard this song before then you might be in for a shock. The SHMB are a large collection of musicians who play uplifting folky big band pop. At some point there can be upwards of around 20 of them playing at once. It really has to be seen live to be fully appreciated as to how to impressive it all is. When they recorded this cover as part of a Vic Galloway session last year it came as quite a surprise to see that they had decided to take on At the Drive In's 'One Armed Scissor' from their classic album Relationship of Command. Take it on they did, and they really did make it their own. This is one of my favourite covers that I have posted so far, enjoy.

Second Hand Marching Band - One Armed Scissor (At The Drive In cover)

Friday Freebies

Mondegreen
I caught this three piece supporting we're only afraid of NYC last Friday, bloody great they were too. You can have a listen for yourself by downloading their 'Headless' EP for free on their Bandcamp page.


Marthas & Arthurs
The first band to take me up on my newly embeded link to email me any Freebie suggestions, and a wee cracker it is too. They're partly Scottish and they make some gorgeous wee tunes, a fine start if ever I had one. You can download their new EP, 'Apes in Aeroplanes' for free on their Bandcamp page.

Broken Records
The Edinburgh outift have been hidden away writing their second album, 'Let Me Come Home' which is due out on the 25th of October. Recorded in Glasgow with producer Tony Doogan, plus guest vocals by Jill O'Sullivan from Sparrow and the Workshop, the album is highly anticipated by many of us Scottish bloggers, as a taster of what to expect you can download, 'A Leaving Song' by signing up to their mailing list.

Conquering Animal Sound
The good folk over at Gerry Loves have just posted up Meaursault's remix of 'Giant' by Conquering Animal Sound up for free download. I'm not normally a fan of remixes, but I think this is rather nifty, get downloading here.

Gold Panda
The experimental instrumental hip hop type has announced that he will release his debut album, 'Lucky Shiner', in October, preceded by a single, 'Snow & Taxis'. However you can already download 'Snow & Taxis' from www.luckyshiner.com just now, which makes feck all sense to me, but what do I know.

Sub Pop
I'm not sure if I have posted this before, mainly because there are so many free compilations up on Amazon these days, even if I have this is worth repeating. There are a load of free tracks up fro grabs from the likes of Wolf Parade, Avi Buffalo, Nirvana and The Shins. Download it here.

Departures
The Detour boys described this band as 'one the best bands in the whole country right now', high compliments indeed. See if you agree by downloading their EP for free here.

Epic26
Give them your details and they will send you a link to download their track “Sorry It Hurts”.

Jim Noir
Mind this guy, he did that 'Eanie Meany' tune a few years back, well he's got a new EP out, it's called 'Melody Junction' and it's free to download here.

Abunai
There is a whole host of free stuff to download from the psychedelic outift, get it over on their Bandcamp page.

The Concretes
A new album is due in November, it's apparently going to be a disco album. Fuck knows what that'll sound like then, This is Fake DIY have a free download of 'Good Evening' taken from said album, if you fancy checking out this new direction they're taking, then you can download it here.

Fight Like Apes
The Irish outfit have posted their track, 'Poached Eggs' taken from their forthcoming album, 'Body of Christ and The Legs of Tina Turner'. All you have to is hit the 'Pay With A Tweet' button and with one tweet or facebook post you get a copy of the song.

Gay Blades
You can get a free download of 'Try To Understand' from The Gay Blades new album 'Savages' for free here.


Kowalskiy's Komplimentary Korner

5-track Scottish EP #2
Continuing on with his series of rarities, Mr Kowalskiy has pulled another rabbit from the proverbial hat this month with a cracking EP featuring rare and unreleased tracks from five Scottish artists. This month he has Beerjacket covering the Xx, The Fusiliers, Evil Hand, The Little Kicks and Washington Irving. The boy continues to outdo himself!

Invisible Elephant

Also featured this week by our good pal the doc featured these guys earlier in the week, he described them as "as easy-listening post-rock, at times like a stripped-back My Bloody Valentine". If that sounds like it'd be up your street, then you can download their album 'The Lights Go Out', up on their Bandcamp page.

Withered Hand - Marc Riley Session (19/08/10)

Track Listing

1. Providence
2. It'a Wonderful Lie
3. Heart, Heart

Download
SL Records

Admiral Fallow - Live at Paisley Town Hall, BBC Radio 2 (19/08/10)

photo by Luke 'Silver Fox' Skywalker

Track Listing

1. Dead Against Smoking

Download

Scots Way-Hay #29 - Yahweh

The first time I heard Yahweh was back last year on the inaugural Under the Radar podcast, there was a lot of great tracks on the show, but for me this was the one that stood out. Later that week I found myself in Avalanche Records in Glasgow (now Love Music, although it will always be Avalanche to me), intent upon buying their album 'Tug of Love'. The two things that stood out from that day was taking the CD home and gleefully unwrapping the brown paper bag and string package like it was some treasured possession. The second was sitting in my back garden in glorious sunshine, drinking far too many beers and listening to this album on repeat until late in the evening. I also remember waking the next day, feeling disgustingly rough and thinking to myself was that album really as good as I thought it was or was I just pished.
Thankfully though it wasn't just me being my drunken bum-self, it sounded just as good in the sober day of light. So that's my rambling story about how I first came across them, I suppose I should try and give you a better incite into the band. Yahweh is essentially the project of a talented young gentleman by the name of Lewis Cook. Originally from the Dumfriesshire town of Moffat, but now based in Glasgow, he makes lo-fi electronica music, that in the past has been compared to artists diverse as Boards of Canada through to Arab Strap. For me personally, I find it to be quite a unique sound that takes lots of the best bits of all of his influences and makes them truly his own. The new single, 'Make Me Stop' even improves upon this original promise, this is a band that will continue to grow their sound. Hop on, it's going to be one hell of a ride.


Would you care to introduce yourself?

Hello, I'm Lewis Cook and I make music under the name of Yahweh.

How would you describe the music you make?

It totally depends on who I was describing it to. If I was speaking generally, I'd just say weird pop music.

How did you start out making music?

I started off learning nu-metal songs on the guitar when i was wee and never really had the desire to learn how to play an instrument properly that much. In some respects, it was all about the quick fix. 'I can play three chords now. Listen to how these three chords sound when I press this button! Now when I turn this knob up! And this pedal...' etc. I'm still the same, I think. Even with programming and recording, I just like to press buttons and turn knobs to see how they sound and don't have much time for manuals and tutorials. The only instrument I have ever spent time learning to play the traditional way was the sitar and I don't use that for Yahweh very often at all.

What process goes into the way you write songs?

I don't think I have ever really written a song 'properly'. Maybe this idea of a 'proper' way to write a song is made up in my head but I imagine it to involve sitting down with intent to write something -perhaps with a purpose in mind - and then going about it in a semi-rigid and vaguely formal way. I don't know if anyone writes music like this but I never have. I never know what the finished song will sound like when I sit down to record it. Quite often, I'll record a loop or a guitar piece or a section on the harmonium or maybe just my voice then come back to it a few days later then add something else on top of it. More often than not, I like trying out some less 'tuneful' techniques over the top of what I already have recorded like field recordings, feedback, record crackle, tape hiss and stuff. By the end of that session, I often listen back to what I've recorded and hate what I've done and be quite depressed about having wasted 5 hours on something as crap as this. Maybe a few days later I'll listen back to it and think 'Wow! This actually sounds quite good! It just needs this and that...' and then it turns into a song.

Who are your big musical influences?

I genuinely don't feel as if there's anyone in particular I want to sound like. I listen to a lot of music and I'm definitely influenced from the things I listen to, probably more sub-consciously than I'm aware. That said, I think in some cases there's more to learn from the philosophy and intent from an artist than necessarily stealing aspects of their sound. For example, I'm definitely influenced by dub music in the way that it embraces irregularities and celebrates the 'faults' of music technology. There's something about that that really does something for me. I love the way that artists like Crescent, Broadcast, Colleen, Susumu Yokota, Jeffrey Lewis and Fennesz seem to me to be investigating a similar line of thought in their own very particular ways. I'm also really interested in the meditative qualities that can exist in music which is something I haven't explored as much as I'd have liked to in Yahweh so far.

Your latest release was a split single with Gerry Loves Records, how did that come about?

I met Andy and Paddy in a working men's club across the road from Crossmyloof train station in Glasgow. We were there to see Conquering Animal Sound and Barn Owl. One of the guys overheard me mention something about my band when I was talking to my friend and asked me what my band was called. I think they must have heard my music before because when I told them that I made music as Yahweh, they were insistent on buying me and my friends beer. I'd like to say that happens all the time to me but... Anyway, I'd kept in touch with Andy and Paddy, going to the Glasgow launch of their first release which was the split single with Conquering Animal Sound and Debutant and sent them through a couple of tracks in May asking them if they'd be interested in releasing it. We decided to go with Make Me Stop as the main track but the other track, Waves, comes with the record as a download too.

Yahweh - Make Me Stop by gerrylovesrecords

For me personally it seemed like quite an odd choice to have yourselves doing a split single with Trapped in Kansas, as you don’t seem to be a similar ilk of music. What was the thinking behind it all?

The thing that really made me sure that it would be good was looking at Gerry Loves Records last release and how much I liked that record. For me, I think both the artists on that record are also really quite different from each other but it works beautifully as a release. Trapped in Kansas are doing different things musically but I think there's definitely mutual respect for what each other is doing and hopefully there's an audience that can appreciate both. I think there definitely is but even if there wasn't, I don't think that's any reason to put anyone off from buying the record if they like one of us but not the other. I think one of the beautiful things about GLR is the passion and love for music that resonates from Andy and Paddy, not for one particular style of music but for music generally and a desire to create something special.

The band name seems to me, to be quite a bold statement of intent, why did you decide to go with Yahweh?

There's definitely an aspect of rebellious teenager wanting to be controversial there but it also seemed to work well on another level. I really liked the idea of appropriating something incredibly majestic and taking the word and associating it with something entirely unrelated. In a lot of ways it's totally out of place as a moniker for what I do but that's kind of what I like about it.

You recorded your debut album ‘Tug of Love’ almost entirely on your own, how have you found it working with other musicians?

I still do almost all the recording of my tracks myself, mostly down to the way I record the music. However, when Yahweh plays live, we consist of 3 of us (previously 4 until Hugh sadly left to live in Berlin for a year) which is me, Sadie and Stuart. We all met properly through the band and have become really good friends. I think we all respect each other a lot musically and the live set benefits a lot from everyone's input. Sometimes it can take over an hour before we actually pick up any instruments when we practice through talking and drinking cups of tea. I wouldn't have it any other way though.

What are your plans for the rest of the year and beyond? Do you have any new releases planned for any time soon?

I keep promising that we'll do a tour of some sort. We were offered a few gigs on the continent this summer after I asked around on the internet but it's just a case of making things financially viable. We're looking into booking some dates outside of Glasgow in October though. As for releases, maybe there'll be another one before the end of 2010.


Yahweh - Glasgow Smiles Better

Yahweh's split single with Trapped in Kansas is available to buy new on 7" and download through Gerry Loves Records for the very reasonable sum of £3.50. Their debut album, 'Tug of Love' is still available to purchase, although copies are pretty limited so be quick. This was one of my favourite albums of last year, I'd urge you to check it out.

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The Zephyrs - Vic Galloway Session (16/08/10)

Track Listing
1. Creative Faith
2. I Didn’t Mean To Hurt You (Felt cover)
3. Paint Your House

Download

Steve Mason - 5Live Session (14/08/10)

Track Listing
1. Am I Just A Man

Download

Fresh Meat Monday - The Douglas Firs

Would you care to introduce yourself?

Hello, my name is Neil, and I make music under the moniker "the douglas firs", which I have done so since Summer 2003

How would you describe the music you make?

It is the music of one man, potentially mad, going mad again, and again... In actuality, the first record was an amalgamation of all my favourite music thrown into a mixer and reproduced badly, in effect accidentally making something that sounds original. I recorded a lot of it in churches, as they were the only places kind enough to let me use their equipment.

The new record is a lot darker and minimal, with more emphasis on dischord, disharmony and dissonance. The three Ds (of death?).

I love ambient music, so I've tried to replicate that element using organic instruments. There's piano, sax, trumpet, organ, and so on.

The first record, yet to be released, is a concept record that is, on the surface, about flags, sight/blindness, life/death, synaethesia, the hardening of the soul. Oh - and moths.

How did you start out making music?

Using a four track and an acoustic guitar, in my shed in Aberdeen. I recorded about 40 demo songs in 2003.

What process goes into the way you write songs?

I've been trying out different methods - recently I've discovered the joys of working under pressure. I have been utterly suprised I could work this way. I have found I write really quickly, and there is an element of creativity you can force into existence. This was when I had a church residency for one month last year.

Saying that, some songs have taken years and years, and some have still never been fully realised.

What can people expect from your live shows?

It's a little more pronunciation live, with about seven people, and more guitars. There's an emphasis on principles, or ethics. Fugazi are one of my favourite bands...except maybe we're a little less aggressive.

What are you all listening to at the moment?

I'm particularly liking the following - Sean McCann, Polvo & Kurt Vile.

What can we expect to see/hear from you in 2010?

An EP, an album, and maybe even a second record - if I can ever allow myself to be happy with it.

The Douglas Firs - Soporific

Myspace