Scots Way-Hay - The Artists Albums of the Year 2011 (Part 3)

What with all of the excitement of yesterdays BAMS post, I forgot I hadn't scheuled this post to go up. Better late than never eh?! This weeks chosen albums of the year come from Adam Stafford, A Band Called Quinn, St. Deluxe, Mondegreen, The Son(s), Bear Bones and Sparrow & The Workshop...

Micachu & The Shapes - Chopped & Skrewed chosen by Adam Stafford

Most of the albums that I've admired in 2011 have come from female perspectives - PJ Harvey, Tune-Yards, Sleigh Bells, St Vincent - but Micachu & The Shape's Chopped & Skrewed really comes out on top because it sounds like nothing else anyone released during the year. Virtually ignored by the public and lukewarmly reviewed by the critics (isn't all great music!) on its release, the LP is a live album, of sorts, performed only once and recorded at the time with the London Sinfonietta - a very bold way of recording an album. The musical content can be described as "Wonk-Step", a hybrid of avant-garde Classical, Dub-step and Pop with most of the music played on odd home-made musical instruments such as clanging percussion which sounds like pots and pan lids being smacked off of pipes and a Cello made out of an old CD rack. If that sounds like shite, it's anything but; the innovative Harry Partch-esque approach is offset by lead-singer (and composer) Micachu's sudden burst of gravely Pop choruses which leap out unexpectedly through the woozy milieu of discordant string screeches and trippy-as-fuck hip-hop beats. Then we'll descend into bonkers free-jazz which sounds like it's improvised but is actually scored to the letter, before blooming gorgeously into some sort of backwards melody that plays like a segue from a lost Technicolor Musical. At once nightmarish and beautiful, the LP ends with the worrying refrain "We've swam too far/We've lost our way" before the music fades and the audience are heard rapturously applauding, only for them to be chopped half way through the thunderous reception suddenly, without warning. A strange end to totally bizarre record. If, like me, you prefer your music to sound like a nauseating haunted house lost at sea then please give Chopped & Skrewed a spin.


Mazes by Moon Duo chosen by Brian McEwan (St Deluxe)

My favourite album of the year is Mazes by Moon Duo, who are the other project from Ripley Johnson (the guitarist in Wooden Shjips) along with his partner Sanae Yamada on synth/keyboards. It keeps a lot of the elements of that band - drones, repeated riffs, meandering guitar solos, lots of phase and delay. The songs are a bit more hooky and accessible though - some of it is relatively ‘pop’ if Wooden Shjips is ‘rock‘ - and it’s more stripped back in terns of instrumentation: drum machine, synth, fuzz guitar and vocals mainly.
You can hear lots of influences in there - Suicide, Neu!, Spacemen3 etc are some of the obvious ones - but it has a character of its own I think - great drone/psych/space-rock in its own right. The new Wooden Shjips record is really good too, but this edges it for me.


PJ Harvey - Let England Shake chosen by Matthew Gilliland (Mondegreen)

My surprise album of the year by a mile. I don't really like or dislike anything PJ released before this, so I was caught off-guard when I saw her playing The Words That Maketh Murder on Jools Holland. The songwriting here is on another level to anything else I heard this year - the lyrics read well on their own, all Olde English hindsight, angelic and reflective, but the instrument choices and the echoey church sound give this record an ethereal, otherworldly atmosphere, and I like how that sound haunts from start to finish.



Tamer Animals by Other Lives chosen by The Son(s)

The album of 2011 is Tamer Animals by Other Lives. They were the best act at EOTR too. However I'd punch you in the face if you told me that I can't also have Aiden Moffat/Bill Wells - Everything's Getting Older. That's a beautiful set of songs, one I suspect I will continue to listen to longer than anything else this year. Oh and I'm going to kick you square in the balls if you won't let me mention that anyone who professes to like music should buy The Ship's Piano by Darren Hayman, The Party's Over by KPK and Office Doodles by The Weary Band. Oh and the single of the year was Snakes in the Grass by Sparrow & the Workshop. Don't you dare cut this before I say how good factorycraft is.... still here? You'd better not have cut this.... Or else when I meet you I'm going to...

Mine is Yours by Cold War Kids chosen by Ben (Bear Bones)

I first heard this album shortly after its release in late January. I didn't love it at first at first and only listened to it two or three times. A couple of months later I was in a hip, independent boutique when the bongo and bass intro of Royal Blue started plodding over the speakers with all the warmth and familiarity of a Mr. Matey bubble bath. Frustratingly, I couldn't remember what it was and I was far too proud to get on my tiptoes to Shazam the Topman (the illusion is shattered) speakers. I rushed home to trawl the whole of Spotify and soon realised my new favourite song was one that I'd discarded months before. I hated myself. Mine is Yours is far and away the best thing Cold War Kids have ever done and with the possible exception of Cold Toes on the Cold Floor, it is one of my favourite records ever. It is melodytastic from beginning to end and if you are patient and forgiving of it from the outset, I promise you will love it forever.


Within & Without by Washed Out chosen by Louise (A Band Called Quinn)

My album of the year is Within & Without by Washed Out. I'm sad I missed him live when they played Edinburgh but this is an absolutely gorgeous record with amazing synth sounds & production. It sounds so effortless & the lyrics are great too, although you can't really make them out (look them up!). Amor Fati is probably the stand out track for me & around half a million other people but it's just such an uplifting, euphoric sunny sounding record but still manages to be melancholic & tap into all the right dark places too. I did greatly admire PJ Harvey's Let England Shake too but from a sheer sensory enjoyment perspective Within & Without gets my vote. On the home front great music from Remember Remember, Star Wheel Press, Hektor Berzerk & a lot of the acts playing the Hear Glasgow Thursday nights at George Square (plug plug). Emile Sandee too - she is the real deal.



Miracle Fortress by Was I the Wave chosen by Gregor (Sparrow and the Workshop)

Have to say that most of the new music I am exposed to these days, certainly in album format, comes from meeting and playing with different bands on the road and trading albums with them. In Munich we shared a bill with a Canadian band called Miracle Fortess. Their new album 'Was I the Wave' was my stand out favourite of all the records we stacked up in the front of the van this year. It's a fantastic mix of dreamy melancholic electronica, well-crafted vocal melodies and intricate drum patterns. I love the way it's been put together, the layers are superbly mixed and listening to it in a different way (like headphones as opposed to a noisy van) revealed another side of complexity that made me smile as I'd enjoyed it so much already I was glad they'd gone to that effort with the detail but not let it distract from the core of the music. First class!

Friday Freebies

PAWS
Ah PAWS, I fucking love PAWS. They're noisy as fuck, they do what they want and they have great tunes to boot. They have a demo called 'How Can I Depend On You?', it's on SoundCloud, it's free and you should download it.

The Little Kicks
Aberdeen's finest, The Little Kicks are all set release their self-titled, second album this coming Monday. As a wee teaser of what to expect they've posted up their song 'Call Of Youth' for free download on Bandcamp.

Hear Glasgow
Glasgow Youth Music Forum, Hear Glasgow are hosting a series of gigs on Thursday nights at George Square during December between 6 to 9pm featuring and array of local talent including Open Swimmer, Bear Bones, Miaoux Miaoux, A Band Called Quinn, Shambles Miller andThe Seventeenth Century. To celebrate the gigs they're giving away a free sampler on SoundCloud of some festive tunes from some of the bands playing at the events. Further information on the gigs can be found here.

Armbands For Eskimos
I have done some hunting online, but I really can't tell you much about Armbands For Eskimos, I think they might have something to do with the band Ambulances, but I am really just basing that on the fact that they sound a wee bit similar and that they follow them on Twitter. What I do know for sure is that they have a song called 'Prayer For The Lost' up for free download on Bandcamp and that it's also rather good.

Pulco
Again I don't know too much about this band, aside from the fact that I like the tunes. Bandcamp tells me they're a Welsh lo-fi outfit and that their Sketchbook Season EP is free to download. If they were Scottish I'd be all over this like a rash, which I guess just goes to show what a blinkered twat I really am.

Hipster Death Squad
Now how could I not post something by a band with a name that good. Seriously even if the songs were shit I would have to have posted something. Thankfully the songs aren't shit, they're pretty fucking awesome actually. They're also free to download. Nice.

Matt Norris & the Moon
One of the problems that I find with doing this post every week is that sometimes I forget whether or not I have posted some of these links before. Then again I guess somethings are worth repeating. Edinburgh outfit, Matt Norris & the Moon are one such band, they have a song called 'Volume Original First Light Of Day' which sounds a bit Mumford & Sons-ish, so if that's yer bag, then you'll probably dig this.

Shambles Miller
Glagsow's favourite lo-fi a folky-punkster, Shambles Miller has posted another one of his tunes up for free download. This new effort has been describes as being "a protest song about the protest song, in support of the occupy movement", whatever that might mean. Download 'For the Would-be Woody Guthrie' for free here.

monster island.
In terms of listening to non-Scottish music, 6Music aside, I really only hear new music from two other sources, The Waiting Room and Cloud Sounds. If you haven't checked these shows out get on it kids, they're braw. Ted from Cloud Sounds always amuses the fuck out of me, he knows he's funny and he even makes himself laugh, which I dig. He's also got a shit hot taste in music, and no I am not just saying that as he plays our stuff. He's introduced me to a lot of great stuff, which would include monster island. They have an album called 'cathedral steps' which is free to download on Bandcamp.

The Dodos
There was a time when I was very much down with the kids, almost hipster-ish (without the dress sense), I was very much on the pulse. Nowadays I have no fucking clue what's cool and what's not and I kind of like it that way. I guess that's just part of getting older. Back when I was 'with it', The Dodos were one of those kind of bands, I doubt that I'd ever find myself going back to listen to their older albums, but hey there was a time when they meant something to me. I guess that there must be some folk out there who still like them, so they might be interested to learn that the duo are offering up their new song "So Cold," in exchange for your email address.

The Spook School
Edinburgh four piece, The Spook School, have just posted up a new home recorded demo called 'Are You Who You Think You Are?' for free download on their Bandcamp page.

Laura Marling
From the bits and bobs that I have hear from the new Laura Marling album, it sounds pretty good. It's one of these albums that I keep meaning to check out, but never do. My loss I guess. If you haven't already heard it and want a taster, Amazon are giving away a free download of her song 'I Was Just A Card' here.

Scots Way-Hay #72 - Bear Bones

Yes, I am fully aware that the picture above is a bit shit, but then again how could I resist posting a photo of a man so happy with his bowl of Ricicles. The man in question is of course Ben the lead singer of Bear Bones, an '8 piece ensemble of accordion, brass, bells, banjo, strings, drums and voices'. I first came across the band last year when they released their debut single, 'Oil & Lacquer' late last year, but to my shame I didn't catch them live until just a few months back at the Wickerman Festival. I spent most of that weekend bouncing around like a drunken Duracell Bunny on speed, so some parts of that weekend are a wee bit hazy, I can still vividly recall just how much I enjoyed seeing Bear Bones. Their folk pop tunes are unmistakably Scottish, which as I am sure you know is a major plus point in my books. I caught up with lead singer Ben and his Ricicles to tell us a bit more about the band...

Would you care to introduce yourself to the Peenko readers?

Hi, I'm Ben and I play in a fabulous band called Bear Bones.


It’s that question that all bands seem to hate answering, but how would you describe the music you make?

I'd describe it as miserable drivel pimped out with beautiful melodies. There are a lot of layers and we aim to keep lots of the best parts subtle so that the songs unravel as you get to know them.


How did the band come together then?

I started writing songs for this project about 3 years ago but it took a long time to get to the stage where we had "a band". It's been a very fluid ensemble over the years and I've just realised that we've had nearly 20 different members since we started trying to piece it together.


So where does the band name come from then?

The name comes from the idea that I wanted the songs, first and foremost, to work with just acoustic guitar and vocals. I didn't want to be turning down gigs because the bassoon player had hurt his back or whatever. So that's where the idea of Bare Bones came from but that sounds lame and since we're more twee than an oak with a speech impediment I thought I better force an animal name in there too.


Is there a certain process that goes into the way you write songs?

The songs always start with just me and guitar and they go no further until the structure, guitar bits, melodies and lyrics are done. Then I usually play the song through to the band and realise I hate lots of it so take it back home and change those bits. Once that's done I write the other bits and take it back to the band and we learn it and make sure it all works. Basically, it's a very long process for me but a very short process for everyone else.


What artists would you say have had the biggest influence on the band?

Since I write the songs I guess it's everything I listened to growing up. Now, I could lie and name drop lots of credible bands but I'm not going to do that - the biggest influences on Bear Bones have been Kenny Rogers, The Dubliners and hours and hours and hours of Born To Do It by Craig David.


What would you like someone who’s listening to your music for the first time to take away from your music?

Preferably nothing about Craig David. The first time, all you can hope for is a hook that makes people want to listen again. Then on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th listens the intention is that listeners find more and more reasons to come back.


Do you feel that where you come from has had much of an impact on the music that you create?

A massive impact. I grew up on the Isle of Islay and, as clichéd as it sounds, never appreciated all the great things about it until I left. I was desperate to move to "the mainland" and meet new people. Now that I've met everyone in Glasgow I find myself pining for awesome Islay things like jumping off the pier even though you don't want to (pier pressure) or going to the beach at night and it being darker than Frankie Boyle doing a gig at Yorkhill. Lots of the songs I'm writing recently are based around things that happened on Islay and the music is certainly rooted in the Islay folk scene.


What has been your most memorable gig to date, (be it good or bad)?

The first time we got everyone to sit on the floor at the Captain's rest was awesome. Our music works so much better when people are sitting rather than standing and that was the first time we realised that. To be honest, since then, every show we've played has been amazing. We don't play that much so we're very lucky that when we do we seem to get the best people in the world coming along.


Aside from world domination, what are your plans for the rest of the year and beyond?

Just the world domination if I'm being totally honest. We've got some recording sessions booked to make a start on the album which is very exciting. We can't wait to get it finished and then force people to listen to it until they like us. That's the dream.

Bear Bones - Oil & Lacquer

Bear Bones play at Stereo tomorrow (20th October) along with Kitty The Lion, Chasing Owls and Bella Spinks. Further information on the gig can be found here.

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Friday Freebies

Right I know I said I wasn't going to do one of these for a few weeks, but seeing as my favourite bookmarks is getting out of control I thought I'd post up some links to some of the best stuff that I've found recently.

We Were Promised Jetpacks
One of the main reason for me wanting to post a Freebies was the new Jetpacks song, I fully appreciate that most of you will have already downloaded their new song 'Act On Impulse', but if you haven't then you really should as it's fucking ace, a welcome return and then some.

Letters
When Letters first burst onto the scene at the start of the year I must admit that I was a bit taken aback by the amount of hype they got from many of my fellow blogger friends. After hearing their new single, 'Flash! Lights', I have to put my hands up and admit that I was wrong, as this song is a wee belter and best of all it's free. You can download yourself a copy for free using the following link.

Bear Bones
I'll warn you now, I am going to mention Wickerman a few times in this post. Last weekend Bear Bones were the biggest surprise for me, I have heard songs in the past and enjoyed them, but I rally hadn't listened to them enough to fully appreciate just how good they were. They really impressed me with how good they were live, tight as fuck, with tunes to boot. You can download yourself one of these said tunes by signing up to their mailing list and they'll send you their track 'I Scare Easily'. Dae it!

Spaghetti Anywhere
It's almost a year and half since Jim Ayetunes sent me over an email about Spaghetti Anywhere, at the time we got ourselves just a little over excited about their self titled debut EP. Since then they've kind of disappeared of my radar a little, mainly because they're based in London and they haven't ventured north of the border for a gig yet. Hopefully they'll make it up one day, until then we can content ourselves with a free download of their new EP 'Doolally' which you can find on their Bandcamp page.

Amber Wilson
Hailing from Aberdeen, Amber Wilson was fucking great when I saw her play with Endor and Randolph's Leap a few months back. She's about to release her new double a-side single on Monday 15th August, again it's fucking great. You don't have to take my word for it as to how talented she is, you can find out for yourself, as by signing up to her mailing list you'll get a free MP3 of her song 'Things Will Be Better'.

Citizens
I might well have mentioned that I was at the Wickerman Festival last weekend, if not, I was and I had a fucking great time. I have promised myself that I will try and write a review when I get the chance. Although I have to admit that my memories are somewhat hazy, so a 2,000 word article on how I was drunk and can't remember anything might not be the most interesting post. One thing that I do recall is drunkenly debating (arguing) with one of Citizens about god only knows what. I think we must have talked all the way through Rachel Sermanni's set, but then again fuck it she was about 2 hours late for her headline slot. The following day I went to see Citizens play and they kicked the fucking arse out of the Solus Tent they were playing in. I also bonded with the same guy that I'd been arguing with. Fun fun times were had.
You can enjoy some fun too by downloading their EP Try Harder for free on their Bandcamp, those of a nervous disposition might want to avoid this one.

Kobi Onyame
Another act that I caught at Wickerman who surprised me a lot, was Kobi Onyame. I'll admit that I know fuck all about hip-hop, but I really enjoyed his set, so when I got back I did some hunting and found out that he has a free download up for grabs on his Bandcamp.

The Phantom Band
Having done Wickerman, I am now getting pretty excited about next weeks Belladrum Festival near Inverness. I know I am going to lose what little credibility I have built up already, but I must admit that I am pretty excited about seeing Deacon Blue. There I have said it, mock me all you want, but when I was very young they were one of the first Scottish bands that I really got into. Since then it's safe to say that my tastes have changed a tad, which leads me to the band that I am most looking forward to seeing, Glasgow's finest, The Phantom Band. It's only been a few months since I last saw them playing live, but it feels like it's been fecking ages.
Having messed about on their new Bandcamp page a week or so back, I came across this free download of their live cover version of Moondog's Fujiyama which was originally recorded as part of a Moondog tribute album that the band missed the submission deadline too. You can download it for free on their Bandcamp.

Kowalskiy
Hopefully you've been keeping up with Kowalskiy's blog so you'll already know that he posted his 13th Free Monthly EP a few weeks back. If you missed it, then you missed getting your hands on free tracks from Verse Metrics, Letters and Campfires in Winter amongst others. Getting downloading it here.

Dolfinz
Credit for this find goes out Matthew from Song By Toad, after he posted about them a couple of weeks back, I checked them out and was mightily impressed by what I heard. You can find out what all the fuss is about by downloading some free tune-age from their Soundcloud page.

The Strokes
Stereogum have posted up a tribute album of folk covering songs from The Strokes (only good album) 'Is This It', featuring contributions from folk such as Peter, Bjorn and John, The Morning Benders and Owen Pallett. Download it for free here.

M83
My partner in crime, Halina has spent the past week 'spaffing' about how amazing the new M83 song is. I actually still haven't heard this song, so I can't comment, all I know is that their new song 'Midnight City' is free to download in exchange for your email address.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
The come back I never thought would happen is about to happen, yes the worlds most stupidly named band are going to release a new album. As I have said before I am really looking forward to hearing some new material from them, their new single Maniac is free to download and I think it sounds ace.

Bobby Womb
Jon McCall, ex-Y’all is Fantasy Island drummer has issued his 2nd EP on Wise Blood entitled Dwarf Management, you can download it for free here.

Friday Freebies

Ghost Pants
Paul Carlin (aka the dude from Dananananaykroyd) is back with the third in his series of lo-fi EP's, and you know what, I reckon this might just be his best yet. Sticking with the 'heart's theme, this one is called 'Active Hearts' and although it's down as being free, I asked the man himself if it would be okay to say to folk that they can download it for free, he said 'yes'. What a nice man he is. You can get yourself a copy here. Ghost Pants make their live debut at the first ever Peenko 'Tea Party' next month at a very intimate venue in Glasgow (hint I mentioned this earlier in the week).

Bear Bones
It was only when I added this freebie in did I realise that I probably haven't mentioned Bear Bones on here before. I am pretty sure that I played them on one of my shows on Fresh Air, or at least I intended to, my memory is terrible for these kind of things. Anyway, enough of my ramblings, Bear Bones are Scottish, they write catchy indie folk pop tunes and they also have a wee freebie up for grabs. In December they are due to release a new single through new innovative label, Eli & Oz, as a wee taster of what to expect you can download their song 'Oil & Lacquer' for free here.


The Second Hand Marching Band and Benni Hemm Hemm
You might remember a few months ago that I posted a wee freebie from these two that they had posted in order to promote their joint gig in Aberdeen. Well now they're back giving away even more free songs as a wee taster of what you can expect at their co-headline gig at Stereo in Glasgow on November the 4th. Just click this link to download 3 free tracks.

The Go Team
They're quite possibly one the most fun live bands about at the moment, they're playing at Oran Mor in February and now they have a free track up for grabs. If you head over to their Soundcloud page, then you'll find their new track T.O.R.N.A.D.O which you can stream and download.

FOUND
As will be the norm for the foreseeable future, I have no idea what this weeks free track from those fabulous FOUND kids will be. I can however tell you what last weeks was, yes, I am that helpful/useless, last Friday they posted up a free download of Blood - Grumpy (FOUND's Blood Donation) . Bloody brilliant it was too, I am sure they'll have another corker for you this week, find out by clicking the link.

Gruff Rhys
Remember that rumour that was kicking about a couple of months ago that the Super Furry Animals had split up, thankfully it wasn't true. The band are on a bit of a break at the moment, but that doesn't mean they've gotten lazy, well at least their singer hasn't. He's been off working on some solo material, if you head over to his homepage, then you can download one of his new tracks 'Shark Ridden Waters' in exchange for your email address.

Interpol
I am not too sure how this link came about, but during the week the Pixies tweeted about how they'd played a gig with Interpol in Mexico and because of that they were going to be giving away two free tracks. Confused, then you're not alone.

Freelance Whales
The New York band have certainly been making massive waves this year, sorry that was a terrible pun. No seriously I'm sorry, I can't help being so cheesy. If you haven't already checked them out then I'd urge you to do some much needed catching downloading their track 'Enzymes' here.

Andrew Bird
I have the good folk at the Skinny to thank for this freebie, they RT'd it on twitter (if you don't know what that means I can't be arsed explaining), just right click save this link to enjoy a free download of 'Hot Math' from Andrew's instrumental LP 'Useless Creatures', which is out on October 25th.

Arran Arctic
Scottish musician Nonima has produced a cracking remix of Arran Arctic’s latest single, Interrupt Me! The remix takes the My Bloody Valentine / Kevin Shields / Asobi Seksu elements of Interrupt Me and whips them into a cavernous mish-mash of distorted techno frenzy! Download it here for free.

CMJ
I'm sure that a lot of you are already aware that there is a major music conference/festival taking place in New York this week. Scotland's very own Phantom Band are out there working their backsides off to show America how it's done. Sadly this free compilation that Stereogum have posted up doesn't feature a track from the Phantom's, instead it's got tracks from Marnie Stern, Sleigh Bells and Lower Dens. Sounds like hipster heaven to me.

Gizeh Winter 2010 Sample
Conquering Animal Sound have an awesome new track on the Gizeh Winter 2010 Sampler, also on there are free songs from Sleepingdog and Glissasndo, you can download it here.

City and the Sea
Canadian outfit, City and the Sea's new EP, ‘Leave A Light On’, is up for grabs for free, the band have worked with some of the producers that were involved in records by Feist and Apostle of Hustle. If that sounds intriguing, then you can find out more here.

Epic26
Edinburgh's Epic 26 have posted up their new EP up for free download, all you have to do to get a copy is just follow this link.


Kowalskiy's Komplimentary Korner

For those of you who are more regular followers of Friday Freebies might have noticed that my fellow blogger Kowalskiy has cut back on his regular freebie tip. We agreed that it would probably make sense to have him come back every month to bring you his 'Free Monthly Scottish EP'.
I know I keep saying it, but he does continue to up his game with every EP. This month he as a cracking wee EP featuring four of my favourite Scottish acts of the moment, The Seventeenth Century, RM Hubbert, Randolph's Leap and Zoobizaretta. There's another band on there too, I am probably best not mentioning what I think of them though....