"Time is precious and everyone wants a piece of it", very profound words, sadly it wasn't me that first said. Credit for that goes to a nice fella called Danny who manages the Sea Kings, never the less what he had to say struck a chord with me as nowadays I do find it a lot harder to keep on top of everything that I get sent. I used to be able to pride myself at being able to keep my inbox relatively clear, however in the past few months I guess things have just gotten on top of me and I now have a stack of unanswered emails waiting to be dealt with. So if you've sent me anything over the past few months and haven't heard anything back from me, I am not ignoring you, I just struggle to find the time to reply to everyone. For that reason I thought it would be a good idea to post some links to things that I have listened to and enjoyed recently.
First up we have Doug Johnstone and his debut solo EP, ‘Keep it Afloat’ which is officially due out tomorrow, but you can already nab yourself a copy on his Bandcamp page. Spookily I had been talking to my wife about Doug just a couple of days before he got in touch, however, it wasn't because of his music, it was because he had just released his latest book, 'Smokeheads'. As we had picked up his last novel, 'The Ossians' at Fences' Home Game Festival back in 2009, I was intrigued to hear what his music would sound like. Having cut his teeth in Scottish 'lo-fi shamblers' and part-time Fence Collective associates Northern Alliance, Doug's debut EP features songs about parenthood, homesickness, the creative process and having a car crash with Bjork. This won't necessarily appeal to everyone, as it is quite a lo-fi release, the lyrics are a wee bit clunky and he doesn't have the greatest voice in the world. That being said, I do really like this EP, there is something very endearing about it. If you are going to give it a chance then check out 'Keep It Afloat'.
Blue Sky Archives released their new EP, 'Plural', Blue Sky Archives', way back in March, but I've only now found the time to get round to listening to it (see I told you I was rubbish). The Glasgow five piece are quite unique in that their sound blends elements of post-rock with pop, as the summer months approach I am sure that you can expect to see them sound tracking a number of festivals.
Having firmly established themselves in their home town, Edinburgh four piece, Sebastian Dangerfield, release their new EP, ‘The Sound of the Old Machines’ this coming Monday (2nd May). The record is a mixture of brand new material and re-workings of previously self-recorded tracks. Having already gained a lot of exposure after featuring in the Pop Cops' last Music Alliance Pact post, the band look see for bigger things with this a catchy wee pop record.
Some of you with good memories might be able to remember the very first Scots Way-Hay post that I featured was with an Edinburgh called Ardentjohn, way back in February of last year. Since then things have been pretty quiet from the band, so it came as a nice surprise to receive word from Al Shields from the band who had been busy working away on a solo EP, Some Songs. Taking much more of a country tinge to his sound, Al is currently working away on his full-length debut album, which is due out later this summer 2011. You can stream his latest below and find out further information on his website.
I am going to sign off this wee post with some brutal fucking noise from Glasgow's very own United Fruit, who's debut album Fault Lines is out at the end of May. Having listened to my partner in crime, Halina of Glasgow Podcart cream her pants over this band for a while now, it has taken me an age to finally get my finger out and give them the once over. On first listen their At the Drive In meets McLusky noise is very much in your face, in a good way. Keep your ears peeled for a lot more from the Glasgow four piece.
This weeks cover comes from a band who I featured as part of my Fresh Meat Monday posts a few weeks back. They were kind enough to share a cover they recorded a while ago of an old Italodisco song by Charlie called "Spacer Woman". If this tickles yer fancy then you can catch them live tomorrow night at the Get A Room Festival at the Brunswick Hotel in Glasgow alongside an array of local talent including Bad McNulty (formerly B-Line Movie Junkees), Fangs and Woodenbox with a fustful of fivers.
This weeks Freebies is pretty sparse I am afraid, mainly because I haven't come across that much, that and I am having to write this up on a Wednesday night as I was/will be out the Pensioner album launch on Thursday/last night. Here's some wee treats for you to enjoy anyway...
Twilight Sad Their new album might is not due out until later in the year, but Kilsyth's finest sons haven't forgotten about us. They've very kindly made an Acoustic EP available for free download to keep us all going. You can nab yourself a copy in exchange for your email address over on the bands blog.
Okkervil River You can download Okkervil River’s “Wake And Be Fine,” from their forthcoming album I Am Very Far, for free over on RCRD LBL.
We See Lights There are three words that are pretty guaranteed to grab my attention, 'twee', 'folk' and 'Scottish'. Edinburgh outfit We See Lights tick all of these boxes. So it came as no surprise that I found myself really enjoying their new EP, which funnily enough is called Twee Love Pop. You can make your own mind up though by downloading the first two tracks from the EP for free from their Bandcamp page.
Pinky Suavo I must admit that I had never heard of Pinky Suavo until this week, the only reason I came across them was because they were supporting Pensioner at their Edinburgh leg of their album launch tour. You can download 'Hooks' from their forthcoming EP, 'Go For The Gills', or free on their Bandcamp. Those of a rock persuasion should lap this up.
Kid Karate Random rubbish fact for you, last Saturday rather than get myself along to Tuts for some Bronto/St. Deluxe/PAWS- action, I found myself on babysitting duties, and ended up watching the Karate Kid. It wasn't as bad as it sounds, honest. I appreciate that was a very tedious linkage to this freebie, but hey it's the best you're going to get. Kid Karate are from Dublin, they have an EP called Heart out at the moment. It's very good, you can download the lead track, Black & Beige from it for free here.
Mimas Glasgow Podcart were raving about this tune earlier in the week, bloody beautiful it is too. Nice find Ms Rifai! You can download their song Relationship on Soundcloud for free.
Milk Maid If you sign up to the Milk Maid mailing list you will get yourself a free MP3, demo version of 'Dead Wrong'. The Robot Heart The Brighton band are offering a free download of their song 'Singing to the ghost' on their Myspace
Have I mentioned that the label I co-run have a new album coming out next week, if not, then we have a new album coming out next week from Dundee's finest, Pensioner. I think they're going to take quite a few of you by surprise as they're not exactly folk. I have to credit where it's due as it was my partner in crime Halina who brought them to my attention, as she really wanted to work with them. Even before I heard their music, I must admit that we were onto a winner with song titles such as 'Annannannawiddecombe', 'Bruce Forsyth's Chin it to Win it' and 'Enter Shakira'. With titles like you've really got to have the tunes to back them up, Pensioner do in spades. Not normally the kind of stuff that I would actively find myself listening to these days, I am chuffed to bits that we'll be releasing their debut album. Right that's enough of my ramblings, here are the Pensioner boys for more 'sensible' words...
Would you care to introduce yourself?
Mike Lennie. Bass guitarist. Gemini.Ross Middlemiss. Guitarist. Leo.
How would you describe the music you make?
(Mike) Structurally unsound.
How did you come together as a band?
(Mike) Well after the Beatles split up I really missed the thrill of playing to big crowds. I'd always respected Cal as a guitarist so when he called with the offer of joining a supergroup he was putting together I jumped at the chance. I think Ross' creative output suffered when he left Sun records and he was kind of just going through the motions during the '70s. I always got the impression that he wanted to team up with other songwriters he admired in order to light a fire under his ass. Mark was the obvious choice of drummer, his session work with the Plastic Ono Band was exemplary and we all felt he would provide the solid backbone we needed. Nothing flashy, let the songs shine through on their own merits.
I can't really remember for sure though, to be honest the '80s are kind of a haze.
How did you start out making music?
(Ross) I started off by playing Beatles songs on my brother's crappy Yamaha keyboard in my early teens. It had the best 'demo' feature I've ever heard on a keyboard, shifting from ragtime to stadium rock in the crack of a poorly synthesised crash cymbal. Eventually I wanted to join a band, so the keyboard got ditched in favour of the bass and the guitar because no one wants to start a Jean Michel Jarre covers band in high school. I didn't start writing anything of my own until my late teens; I remember it being toe-curlingly woeful.
(Mike) To get chicks.
What process goes into the way you write songs?
(Mike) Sometimes Ross and/or Cal come to practice with something semi-formed and beat Mark and I until we've learned them flawlessly. Other times we take unrelated, unfinished jams and haphazardly cut 'n' shut them together.
Who are your big musical influences?
(Mike) We're all constantly getting into different, quite disparate stuff. Hence we've never really decided whether to make pop music or horrible noise!
(Ross) Cal really likes the collected works of Chaka Khan, for reasons beyond the realm of comprehension.
What kind of influence do you feel that where you come from has had on the music you create?
(Ross) I would say that we're quite lucky in Dundee in some respects. Other than the 'lad-rock' movement of recent years, there aren't really any other obvious trends in music up here. If you don't like 'lad-rock', then it only serves to catalyse you into making the music you want to make. The bigger cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow are permeated with a multitude of trends that disappear as quickly as they arrive, so much so that I think it'd be harder for a young band to establish themselves and maintain longevity if they are particularly susceptible to the influence of others. Life is simpler up here. As a band, we subscribe to the view that if a song is good, then it is good.
What can people expect to see/hear from your live shows?
(Mike) Sexy men, great music.
(Ross) Adventure! Mystery! Romance! More adventure! Actually, wasn't that the tagline to The Jewel of the Nile?
Has there been a particular gig that has stood out for you so far (good or bad)?
(Ross) I really enjoyed our recent support slot with The Phantom Band. Lovely fellows too. They are a great band.
(Mike) Elton John. Wembley '04. Damn!
What are your plans for the rest of the year and beyond? Do you have any new releases planned for any time soon?
(Ross) We are releasing our debut album 'Yearlings' on the 2nd of May through Olive Grove Records, then we plan to bask in the ensuing glory and riches. Seriously though, we've started work on album number two, and we're hoping to fill up the rest of the year with shows. On the other hand, we might just give the smack a go - you're only smoking it.
Pensioner's debut album 'Yearlings' is released on Monday 2nd of May though Olive Grove Records. The band celebrate the albums release with shows in Edinburgh tonight (27th) at Sneaky Pete's along with PAWS and Pinky Suavo. Then the next night (28th) they're in Glasgow at Bar Bloc with the Darien Venture and Mondegreen, I'll be at this one propping up the bar so come and say hi if you're about. It's also Halina's birthday so we plan to celebrate in style. The band round up their tour with a hometown show at Dexters on Saturday night (30th). If you live in or near these towns then get yourself along if you can, they put on quite a show apparently.
We are David Nicklen and Stephen Donkin, sometimes known as Birdhead.
How would you describe the music you make?
We are loathe to use genre tags, so we will say that we use drums, guitars, synths, laptops, loops and vocals to make a propulsive, primal and hypnotic noise.
How did you start out making music?
We met each other playing in a psychobilly band about five years ago, called The Rohypsters. Once that disintegrated, we decided to continue together, and after a couple of aborted bands, we decided to jettison the extra members and go forth as a duo, which has worked out pretty well so far!
What process goes into the way you write songs?
We often start with an idea for a loop, and then just jam with it in the rehearsal room until we find some parts that we like. From there, we will try and make some sort of structure out of the parts and then usually the vocals will come last, because neither of us are natural singers...However, we have recently changed our setup with our laptop etc we think it might have an impact on our songwriting process, which should be quite interesting.
What can people expect from your live shows?
We are often commended on our live shows, partly because I think people expect less from a duo than from a full band, and we produce a pretty big sound and energetic performance for just the two of us. As for the music, you can expect everything from drones, bluesy guitar riffs, electro synth lines, barked vocals, lots of lyrics about space and that....
What are you all listening to at the moment?
Stephen - I’ve been listening to a lot of Suuns and there is a Pilooski remix of a Tame Impala track that I’ve been listening to. But to be honest, I can’t stop listening to these two OFWGKTA albums, by Tyler, The Creator and Earl Sweatshirt.
Dave - A fair bit of 50’s and 60’s transatlantic soul, Captain Beefheart has also been on the play-list recently. The new PJ Harvey album has been spun a few times recently along with the last Wooden Shjips album.
What can we expect to see/hear from you in 2011?
We released our first EP in March, so we hope to follow that up with another release of some kind, we have a few remixes in the pipeline too, so we are looking forward to getting them out there. Other than that, we just hope to play some more good shows and hopefully play in some other cities around Scotland!
The Seventeenth Century return with a their second EP, cunningly entitled 'EP2', on the 2nd May. The release will be available exclusively on Limited Edition 10” vinyl, which includes a free digital download code. The band celebrate the release with a gig at Oran Mor this coming Friday (29th), with support from The Scottish Enlightenment and Sunshine Social. Now that's one cracking line up if I do say so myself. Having caught 17C at the same venue just a few weeks back, I can vouch that they were in top form. The Scottish Enlightenment have been favourites of mine for a while now, it's been ages since I saw them live, so I am really looking forward to seeing them again. As for Sunshine Social, I will admit that until I got told about this gig I'd never heard of them, however, now that I have I will be making sure that I get myself along to this one nice and early -I might well be lying to myself here as nowadays with Erin on the scene I feel like I am continuously running late, I will try and get there on time though! Tickets for the gig are on sale now on Ticketweb and on Ticket Scotland for just £5.
Seeing as most of us are all off work tomorrow, there's not really an excuse for you not be venturing out this evening (not unless of course you want to avoid the war zone cause by Old Firm chaos). If you're looking for something cheap, yet utterly brilliant to do, then look no further. As part of their 3rd birthday celebrations, The Captains Rest have Kid Canaveral, Mitchell Museum, How to Swim, Heart Beats, Apples of Energy and Dear Mountaineer all playing and tickets for the gig are just £3. Plus as if that wasn't a bargain already, pizzas and burgers are also only £3. Which means you can get yourself a drink, get some scran and get into a gig for under a tenner. Nae bad, nae bad at all... Also, Kid Canaveral and Mitchell Museum on the same bill at the Captains Rest, I wish we'd thought of that ;)
The third ‘Brain Storm’ event is set to take place on Saturday 7th May 2011 at Edinburgh’s Sneaky Pete’s and will help raise money for Edinburgh’s Sick Kids charity. The event will be headlined by Bathgate alt-rock duo The Fire and I, with support from Edinburgh trio Scrap Brain and female fronted Glasgow pop-rockers Acrylic iQon.
The event is also the first announced fringe event of the official launch party for No Colour Too Strong to Paint, a charity compilation album of Edinburgh bands organised by Youngteam Records to raise money for The Sick Kids Friends Foundation and the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh. Scrap Brain have contributed their track ‘I Want You, You Want the Devil’ to the 21-track album.
ickets are available for low price of £3 in advance from TicketWeb, Great Junction Street Music Studios, or from Scrap Brain. Tickets will be £5 on the door.
I'll round up this random wee news post with a video I got sent by a band called Natalie Pryce. If you like folk such as Nick Cave or Tom Waits, then this should be right up your street...
I am feeling a wee bitty delicate today, too many shandies with Jim Ayetunes at the 13th Note might well have had something to do with that. Thankfully though Nic has been pretty good to me, letting me have a lie in and bringing me tea and toast in bed. Normally I like to have these posts up nice and early, so apologies for the lateness in getting this up. A morning of listening to Adam & Joe and trying (and failing) to do the Uncut crossword were far more appealing than hauling my backside out of bed. As for last night I was out seeing Campfires in Winter and So Many Animal Calls, who's EP launch it was. It has been ages since the Campfire boys played live, too long in fact. The boys were on top form, with Denny from Macabre Scene continuing to stand in until the boys can find a new drummer. If anyone knows of a sticksman looking for a new band then give us a shout. The two new songs were sounding ace, plus it looks as if they have taken on baord some of the criticism they received for their last EP, as they seemed to take a much more mature approach to their sound. As for So Many Animal Calls, I was genuinely taken aback by the crowd reaction they received, that was the first time in ages that I have seen so many of the audience loudly singing along with the songs. I couldn't help but thinking that their lead singer bared a resemblance to Justin Bieber (I now know who he is), which possibly explained the amount of female attention he seemed to be getting. From the buzz they have around them I think we can expect to see bigger things from them.
I should point out now that I didn't actually mean to turn this post into a live review, honest I didn't. I had in fact meant to ramble something about hipsters, Neutral Milk Hotel and how I am hungover, instead I will wrap up this post and leave you with this cover of Two Head Boy by My Latest Novel.
Today has pretty much been a total right off for me, it's nice and sunny outside and I have spent most of my day writing press releases and trying to reply to emails. Having left this weeks Friday Freebies to the last minute, I am now finally finished for the day. Time to get out and enjoy some sunshine, but before I go I just wanted to share this video for the new Sparrow & the Workshop single which has been tickling my fancy a lot this week as Sean Keevney had it as single of the week. If this song is anything to go by then then their forthcoming album Spitting Daggers promises to be an absolute corker.
Edwyn Collins Edwyn’s collaboration with The Drums is available to download for free on his homepage.
Kowalskiy Our blogger mate posted up his 10th Free Monthly 5-track Scottish EP this week, this months EP features Bottle of Evil, The Last of Barrett's Privateers, Jump: Press A, Loch Awe and Pooch. You can find find out more details here.
Johnny Reb Having spent much of last year out in Portugal recording with Morrissey's guitarist Boz Boorer, Johnny Reb have made all of the sessions they recorded free to download on their Bandcamp.
Burnt Island Peenko favourites, Burnt Island will be playing at this year’s Edinburgh Grassmarket Festival and at Fence's Homegame. Festival To coincide with these appearances, their label Chaffinch Records have made their song The Year Of Open Doors available for free download.
Panda Su The awesome Panda Su released their new EP on Monday there, as part of the promotional tour they recorded a session for Folk Radio. You can download the session in full here.
United Fruit If you like your bands to be noisy then United Fruited should be right up your street, you can make your won mind up though by downloading their song 'Go Away, Don't Leave Me Alone' for free here.
Alexi Murdoch The title track of his new album Towards The Sun is available for free download via Bandcamp. Check out the Pop Cop for an interview on his feelings about nationality.
Parts & Labor KEXP have a free download of new Parts & Labor track 'Rush' up for grabs here.
Dan Dan Dan Edinburgh's Dan Dan Dan have a couple of free downloads up for grabs on their Bandcamp. Ya Ya Club As a precursor to his debut commercial release, 'Born In The Eighties E.P.' Ya Ya Club have recorded an additional acoustic E.P. which can be downloaded for free here.
My fellow blogger and friend, The Pop Cop recently had Rachel in to record this session for his show on Sub City Radio. Being the nice fella that he is he passed the songs over to me to share with you all. You can listen back to the show in full on his Sub City page, along with all of his shows to date.
Track Listing 1. Skip The Youth 2. Good Arms vs Bad Arms 3. I Feel Better 4. The Loneliness And The Scream 5. Be Less Rude 6. The Twist 7. Fast Blood 8. Nothing Like You 9. Modern Leper 10. Old Old Fashioned 11. Fake Empire (National cover)/Backwards Walk 12. Living In Colour Encore 13. Poke 14. Keep Yourself Warm
I always find that the best way to find about new music is to listen to you peers, in the past couple of months two of my fellow bloggers, Manic Pop Thrills and Song By Toad, have both been raving about this weeks newest addition to the Scots Way-Hay club. Having heard their name banded about by such respectable sources pricked my attention, their scuzzy shoegaze sound took me a couple of listens before it clicked but once it did I was hooked. Formed from the ashes of St Judes Infirmary songwriters Grant and Ashley Campbell, Edinburgh School for the Deaf remind me a lot bands like Jesus and Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine when Grant takes the lead role and cult Liverpool band, Johnny Boy, when Ashley is doing the honours. It's a cracking wee combination, you can expect to hear a lot more from Edinburgh School for the Deaf in 2011...
Would you care to introduce yourself?
Jamie - Drums /clatter Grant - Child's bass / Yammering. Kieran - Guitar/Vocals/Ear ache Ashley – Vocals/guitar/centre of storm calm
How would you describe the music you make?
Jamie : Someone said we were shoepunk (shoegaze and punk) the other day. I like to think we sound like an indie pop band with feedback and literary pretensions.
Grant : Songs made to be pop, doomed by our inability to master populism rooted in a history of unpopularity.
Kieran - There’s pop tunes at the core of it, underneath all the reverb, fuzz and wailing guitars there‘s melody. Although our style tends to alter slightly depending on who’s signing; all the songs definitely have a distinct sound and feel to them. I still like the term ‘Death Jangle’ :)
What process goes into the way you write songs?
Grant: In our previous band, Ashley and I used to sit down and write all the songs together, with a very clear division of labour in the same way as we had always done since kids. With ESFTD things have been much more haphazard, less regimented, everyone writes and there are no distinct roles. This album itself is the sound of us racing euphorically towards a sound and vision that we could call our own. It includes all of the passionate, love-struck trips and prat falls along the way!
Kieran - Together? Well, I’d know the others from their previous band Saint Judes Infirmary through putting them on and serving them drinks in the dear old Southern Bar in Southside a few years back, we got to be friends and started going to each others gigs, I was a huge fan of Saint Judes so when the guys approached me with talk of a new project I was stoked!
What process goes into the way you write songs?
Kieran - We have two 8-track recorders in the band that ideas get jotted onto and get played in the car to and from rehearsal/gigs, we quite like to air any form of idea whether it be a set of acoustic chords or programmed electronics or even 7 minute long string epics we’ve made on the latest toy we’ve got our hands on……then we do our best to destroy them .
Who are your big musical influences?
Jamie : As a band I think we are all fans of JAMC, VU and Phil Spector. After that it all goes somewhere different. Cliché I know, but I listen to as much as I can, whether it's Ritchie Hawtin, Odd Future, Guitar wolf or Otis Redding.
Kieran - I’d agree with Jamie, there’s a big Mary Chain influence there, personally for me though I really love the aggression of bands like A Place To Bury Strangers and No Age, recently I’ve been listening to a lot of the resurgence of American slacker bands like Yuck and Male Bonding and think that has maybe been trickling into the new stuff I write, does that make me a hipster??
Grant: I really like Slumberparty, K -records stuff, The Fall, recently I've been getting into Turkish and Welsh freakbeatish- stuff. Most lyrics are just so harrowingly banal that I would rather listen to music in a language which I don’t understand -luckily enough being Scottish, that's pretty much every language other than English!
What kind of influence do you feel that where you come from has had on the music you create?
Jamie : I'm not sure. I come from a smallish town outside Glasgow (incidentally the same one as The Twilight Sad), but being as it was so close to Glasgow there was plenty to go and see musically. In the past I think coming from a small town would have informed your taste to an extent. Now with the proliferation of the Internet you are not as cut-off - you can get tips and suggestions on whom to listen to from NY to Auckland.
Grant: Ashley and I are from Kirkcaldy. I don’t mind Kirkcaldy but as Lou sang for Drella, the best thing about a small town is that you know that you want to get out.
Kieran - I think geographically speaking it doesn’t really make much of a difference, I grew up in Birmingham playing in punk and grunge bands but could have just as easily have been in a post rock or twee indie band, I think it’s just the time and place your in but that place could be anywhere. We’re definitely not part of any Edinburgh ’scene’ anyway.
You are releasing a single and an album with Bubblegum Records, how did you end up hooking up with them?
Jamie : We were playing a gig in Perth and Gary, Bubblegum records CEO (he will not enjoy us saying that) came along, and it all just clicked. We were blown away by his enthusiasm and dedication, not only to us, but just to music in general.
You were previously Deserters Deserve Death, why the change of name?
Kieran - For a couple of reasons, it was taken from an old commando comic but we started getting sent certain sour emails from people who actually believed in the execution of soldiers leaving battle, then we decided maybe the sentiment was open to horrible interpretations.
I have always wondered, but never thought to ask any bands before, so you can be my guinea pigs. Do you feel that you like to play music more for your own or others enjoyment?
Jamie : I think it is a bit of both. I think, trite as it sounds, being honest with what you are doing helps, it's better to try and convert people to your cause than change to suit them.
Kieran - I agree, it’s always good to know that people liked a show or track but that can’t be the only reason you do it, I know we put a lot of ourselves into our music be it through Grants lyrics or physically through actual blood and sweat during a gig and that’s not for show. A good example in answer to this question might be when we played a gig to a packed Forest Café in Edinburgh 5 minutes after a dinner service and a string quartet, and I remember thinking “they are going to hate us!…excellent”
Grant : I want to play the noise that I want to hear. If no one likes it, if no one listens, if people stopped turning up at gigs then I will just play in the rehearsal room. I'm utterly selfish. If the crowd don’t get it, then I just think less of them! It's not arrogance but sincere, if perhaps misplaced (?), absolute, nigh imperial belief in what we are doing.
Starting a band, playing in a band has become nothing more than a leisure activity, a gap year activity, a reason to dress in X and sound a bit like Y, because this girl likes Z who was apparently influenced by Y.
Unfortunately this intransigence often takes the physical manifestation of me on stage getting petty and noisy and making things unbearable for the rest of the band and thus, by extension the audience. I am pretty much a total pr**k in this respect.
What are your plans for the rest of the year and beyond?
Jamie : More recording and more playing in and outside of Scotland.
Grant: To finish the second album and for it to begat a new Scottish Renaissance. To find bass fuzz that sounds like Selda's (My Turkish heroine) guitar.
Kieran - More pedals! No, enough. We’re gonna get the album out, see what happens, see if anyone takes notice and then either way start work on album number two.
Edinburgh School for the Deaf release their debut album, 'New Youth Bible' on Bubblegum Records on the 1st June, the album is preceded by a double sided single "Orpheus descending/Orpheus ascending" on April 29th. You can catch the band playing live this coming Saturday (23rd April) at the Wee Red Bar in Edinburgh with Black Heart Generator and Verse Metrics.
The band are going to be through in Glasgow on Friday 13th May at Nice And Sleazy's supporting Johnny Rebb. Followed by gigs in July on the 1st at the 13th Note, Glasgow supporting Plastic Animals (E.P launch) and PAWS, then the following night (2nd) they are playing at a Song By Toad night @ Henry's Cellar Bar, Edinburgh with The Louche FC.
"I should warn you there's a wee set of titties on the cover, try and contain your excitement (is that a yacht in your pocket!?)" - Al, Le Reno Amps
In terms of trying to sell a record to me, Al from Armellodie certainly knows how to grab my attention. Yes, the album has titties on the cover and yes that did excite me, but once I got over all the excitement of the album cover I was pleasantly surprised by this hidden gem of a n album. On what is their third long player, the boys from the Highlands have produced a corking wee album that covers an array of genres from creepy pop through to country. Like a roller coaster, it's not a comfortable ride, but it's certainly one that you will want to go back on. Here's Scott Maple from the 'Amps to talk you through the album
This One's Not Waiting
Ironically, this one did. Al disputes this but I'm sure we premièred this as a duo to a bunch of disinterested schoolkids about 4 years ago. A long time ago indeed, but we don't hold grudges.
Often we write as individuals and finish up a song together, but this one we wrote in tandem, chucking shit at the wall and seeing what stuck. We had a lot of fun with this one. I think if there is a Le Reno Amps' sound, this may define it.
We need another song for the album. "what about that Elvis Costello cover Al?" "it's not a fucking cover" "oh, well let's do it anyway"
Sinners
Bit of a push this, but what happens to all those hopes and dreams that are never realised?
I'm Alive
They come and go, those new sensations - with compensate imaginations. So why oh why am I still alive? It's simple really, we do what we do because we do what we do. We may all be shouting into a void but it beats doing nothing.
Cottonmouth Rock
Musically, it's an Elton John steer on a duo who stopped before starting. Lyrically it's about reminding you to put the cat out at night before you go to bed. Sonically it's Suzi Quatro, pre-menopause.
This song is saying that if you're the committing type, don't commit to anything unless you're 100% committed. Musically it's another waltz, but we took it somewhere different - for us at least. I'm not sure if we put enough bridges in though, if we'd added one more bridge this song could have crossed the Ljubljanica.
You Must Remember
Bit of a character song this, written from the psycho's perspective. "I used to be a werewolf but I'm all right nowoooooooohh!" For anyone who's ever had a psycho for a boy/girlfriend, I apologise.
Stuck in Your Throat
When we were recording the guides for this, I was like "I don't know if this is going to float Al", and Al was like "Oh I'm really confident this is going to float". Then when we had tracked it Al was like "I don't know if this is going to float C" (for that is what he calls me), but I was like, "Oh this is defo going to float like. It's unconventionally conventional" Then when I mixed it we were both like "Yay, this defo floats". We've been trying to write a troll or cyclic piece into a song for ages now, and we finally managed it with this song.
Faded Star
I used to be the shit, but now I'm just shit. Nothing to look forward to but dark empty space.
Appetite is available to buy now on Bandcamp, the band celebrate the launch of their new album with a gig at the Captains Rest this coming Thursday (21st of April), with support from Douglas Firs, Super Adventure Club and Galoshins. Tickets are only £5 and it all kicks off around 7:30pm.
Good day, I'm Graham Crossan and I'm the writer and 'liberal benevolent dictator' in the Glasgow-based music project 'The Great I Am'. I'm also an unapologetically lapsed zen-buddhist with Presbyterian overtones, if that's of any interest?
How would you describe the music you make?
The music The Great I Am make is of no specific genre, though at this time I do favour electro/hip hop and traditional celtic based stuff.
How did you start out making music?
I started making music as soon as I learnt the riff to 'Smells like teen spirit'. That was my generations 'Louie Louie' you know. From there I just bumbled and fumbled my way through a multitude of styles really, and realised I didn't have a favourite type of music. This was the genesis of The Great I Am - if I like it, its in. I was also fed up of being in bands doing one thing one way with a set line-up.
What process goes into the way you write songs?
There's a few ways I write songs. By fluke or happy accident is a common way, ie, just absent-mindedly buggering about on the guitar until something takes shape of its own accord. I walk a lot because I realised that they sometimes just pop into my head that way. I will then stop and sing the different parts into my phones recorder, starting with crap beatboxing. As for lyrics, the same methods apply, as does talking in tongues whilst washing the dishes.
What can people expect from your live shows?
The initial live shows should be a right old genre-jumping, instrument-swapping knees up. Soon enough we'll be able to do a full electro/hip hop show, or a full live band/acoustic show as well as a mix of the lot.
What are you all listening to at the moment?
I know that Greg Hurst (Magic Daddy) was right into Radioheads new album last time I saw him, Julian Corrie (Miaoux Miaoux) is listening to a lot of experimental dubstep, micro-house, and post electro, Dave Gillies (Dirty Keys) played me some experimental hip hop last time I was over, Chris McCrory (Male Pattern Band) posts a wide range of stuff he's into on facebook. Juliana Napier (Punch and The Apostles) I've not heard from in over a year (She stays in Berlin with the rest of PATA now), and I've not seen David MacDonald (Rio Butterfly Band) for a wee while either. Just now I'm listening to a lot of Classic FM, as I've never made a serious investigation of that music. I'm only starting to learn which composers I really like, and I dont know the spellings of their names yet!
What can we expect to see/hear from you in 2011?
This year, as aforementioned, you will see us doing something a bit different on the live scene. Also, Greg Hurst (Magic Daddy) and I are working on an exclusively electro/hiphop album right now. I've got a 3rd album of guitar/drums/bass tunes mostly written, and want to record that with Chris McCrory as he is also a producer. I'm aiming to release albums 2 and 3 at the same time (hopefully autumn), then work on the bits and bobs I've got for album 4. We hope to play some UK/european festivals, and maybe establish a collective of 'bands that dont really fit' to do regular club nights. A few people want to pass our stuff onto a few legendary labels aswell, but we're going to need to show our mettle first!
