Friday Freebies

Pensioner
Our very own Pensioner are very kindly offering fans the chance to snap up their cracking debut album Yearlings for free on their Bandcamp page. Be quick mind as this offer is only going to be available for a few more days.

Aerials Up
Those lovely Aerials Up kids are giving away a free download of arguably their best song, All Your Mothers Daughters here.

IndianRedLopez
As a Christmas gift to us all, Aberdeenshire's finest, IndianRedLopez have posted up their cover of Twin Shadow's Castles In The Snow for free download on their SoundCloud page.

Armellodie Records
Scottish indie label, Armellodie Records are giving away a free sampler compilation, featuring tracks from the likes of Chris Devotion & The Expectations, The Scottish Enlightenment and Super Adventure Club. Download the sampler for free from their Bandcamp page.

Gargleblast Records
As a special wee Christmas present, the nice folk at Gargleblast Records have posted up a link to a folder containing all of their free downloads from their December giveaway '12 Days of Xmas' project. The compilation which features songs from likes of Life Without Buildings, Foxface, Desert Hearts, Pan, De Rosa and specially written song from Martin John Henry can be downloaded using this link.

Merge Records
Yet another label giving away a sampler are American indie label, Merge Records who are giving away a free 12-song Winter Sampler featuring tracks from the likes of Lamchop, Superchunk and one of my favourite songs of 2011 from Eleanor Friedberger.

Cancel The Astronauts
Those nice Astronaut boys were getting into the festive spirit last week as they posted up a new version of I Am The President Of Your Fanclub (And Last Night I Followed You Home) for free download. The revamped version features has more synths and banjo, but thankfully no sleighbells though, you can download it here.

Amazon
The online retailers have a whole host of free MP3's up for grabs, including songs from the much hyped Bwani Junction, the world's next Mumford & Sons - aka Dry The River and Australian outfit, The Jezabels.

The Rose Taylor Project
As a wee prelude to their new album Twin Beds which comes out on Oddbox Records in February of next year. The Rose Taylor Project are giving away a free download of the song Wedding here.

The Very Most
They might not be Scottish, but this American outfit sure do love music from our wee nation. It was my friend Mark that first brought them to my attention with their song, All The Best Bands Are From Scotland, a cracking wee pop tune that name checks nearly every great band that Scotland has ever produced. They recebtly released a special Christmas EP, and you can download sampler track Wombling Merry Christmas for nowt here.

Doris Mavis
Innovative up and coming label, Electropapknit, have posted up a free download of some tracks from Doris Mavis, an experimental lo-fi outift from Glasgow. The band who are made up of members of Copy Haho and pvh, have an EP called Moris Davis, you can grab it for free here.

Tom Robinson
You might only know him as that well-spoken and much loved 6Music presenter, but back in his heyday Mr Robinson was one of the most popular rock stars in the country. I guess you all probably know the song, 2-4-6-8 Motorway, but might not know much more. Well now you can yourself more acquainted with his past work as it's all up on his SoundCloud for free download.

Pareto
Ahead of their appearance at King Tut's next month with Dilectrics and Bear Arms , Pareto are giving away a free download of their track The Antidote on their Bandcamp page.

Kevin P. Gilday
Glasgow's post-punk poet and former frontman of electronic duo, How Garbo Died, Kevin P. Gilday ha released his debut solo album as free download on his Bandcamp page.

Dog Is Dead
The NME starlets are giving away for free their cover of The Waitresses song ‘Christmas Wrapping’.

The Bird and the Monkey
If you're quick off the mark then you can download yourself a free copy of Scottish, The Bird and the Monkey 's debut album BalloonBaboonBallroom, be quick mind as this will only be available until New Year’s Day.

Dan Mangan
If you go and 'like' Dan Mangan on Facebook he'll give you a free download of his song Post War Blues.

Gothenburg Address
Edinburgh post rock outfit, The Gothenburg Address have made the live recording of their come back show free to download here.

Frank Turner
To celebrate the end of 2011 Frank Turner is giving away new track called 'Happy New Year' as a free download here.

Pensioner - MFR Session

Track Listing

1. Annannannawiddecombe
2. Massive Ferguson

Download

Pensioner - Ally McCrae Session (01/08/11)

Track Listing
1. Massive Ferguson
2. Big Trouble In Little Richard
3. Annannannawiddicombe
4. Enter Shakira

Download

Blah Blah Blah - News

I do try my best to be subtle when it comes to mentioning things about our label, Olive Grove, there's a fine line between news and spam, so I will try and keep this short. Randolph’s Leap have a new double A side single, ‘Counting Sheep’ / ‘Deep Blue Sea’, coming out next Monday (16th). To celebrate the singles release we're having a wee launch night at Mono on Tuesday 17th May with support from The Moth & The Mirror and Burnt Island. Entry for the evening are only £3, which includes a download of the single, you can buy tickets in advance from Ticket Scotland.

Randolph’s Leap - As I Lie In The Mud

Burnt Island - A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never

The Moth And The Mirror - Wondering Song (live at the Mill)




It's not all that often that I mention gigs in Paisley, mainly because they don't happen all that often and when they do they're usually not worth mentioning. Next Thursday, 19th, is an exception to the rule as UWS Union Paisley are having their annual End of Year Music Festival, an this year they've raised the bar somewhat with a cracking wee line up featuring, Admiral Fallow, Aerials Up, Alan McKim, Kitty The Lion, Michael Cassidy and Johnny Barr. Tickets for the gig are only £3 and it all kicks off 6pm. Further details can be found here.

Aerials Up-Broken Wing

Michael Cassidy - Everybody's Scared


You might have already read about Scotland's new 'super group', Hairy Area over on The Pop Cop blog a week or so back, if you didn't then go and check it out as it's far more informative than any of the shit I am likely to write. Comprising of 3 members of We Were Promised Jetpacks plus members of Endor, Sebastian Dangerfield and Lady North, they might not quite be a super group in most folks eyes, but that's still a talented wee line up.
Having finished their recording their second album, the Jetpack boys found themselves with time to kill, so they ended up forming Hairy Area, or at least that's what I think I was told. I was a bit tipsy when I got this information, tipsy enough that I kept thinking they were called Hairy Mary or Hairy Muff. Anyway, if I haven't already lost you with my ramblings and you fancy checking the band out in the flesh, then you're in luck as Instinctive Raccoon are putting on their debut show at Stereo this coming Saturday (14th May). The night kicks off at 11pm through until the wee hours of the morning. Tickets are just £5 and be bought in advance here.

Hairy Area - Scaffy Bag-off!


If you live through in Edinburgh and you like indie music, then you really should be getting yourself along to Limbo Live, who are consistently putting on some really excellent bills. This month is no exception, as they lined up a cracking wee line up featuring The Lovely Eggs, plus Peenko favourites Kid Canaveral and Cancel The Astronauts, plus Zed Penguin who are new to me. Tickets for the gig are just £7 (until 24th May), and £8 on the door. Further details on the evening can be found on their fancy new website.


Lastly, congratulations to the following bands who have been selected to showcase at this goNORTH festival: Aerials Up, Always The Sixth, Be Like Pablo, Bwani Junction, Capitals, Charlie’s Ranch, Cities And Skylines, Crayons, French Wives, Finding Albert, Homework, I Build Collapsible Mountains, The Imagineers, Indian Red Lopez, Kid Canaveral, Kobi Onyame, LightGuides, Maple Leaves, Mitchell Museum, Pareto, Parma Violets, Panda Su, PAWS, Tango In The Attic, The Black Hand Gang, The Boomshank Redemption, The Boosts, The Frues, The LED The Little Mill Of Happiness, The Leonard Jones Potential, The River 68’s, The Scottish Enlightenment, The Second Hand Marching Band, The Whisky River Band, Trapped In Kansas and Vukovi.
June can't come soon enough for me now!

Scots Way-Hay #57 - Pensioner

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 - Gadgie Weddin'


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.

Bandcamp
Twitter
Myspace
Facebook

Friday Freebies

Apologies for the lateness of this weeks freebies, I have up north all week visiting my folks and I didn't get back until late this evening. Rather than relax and put my feet up I am going to batter through a very full inbox, but before I do that I managed to knock together this weeks Friday Freebies. Don't say I am not good to you!

Pensioner
Have I mentioned that our label Olive Grove have another album coming out very soon and that it's completely different to anything we've done before? If not, then we have a new album coming out very soon and it's with Dundee's finest Pensioner. The album genuinely took me by surprise, I fully expect it do the same to a lot of you. In anticipation of their album, Yearlings, the band have posted a free download of their song Gadgie Weddin' on their Bandcamp page. Get stuck in kids.

Martin John Henry
After a barn storming set at the recent Kid Canaveral SXSW fund raiser gig, the former De Rosa front man announced this week that he will be playing at this years Home Game festival in May. To celebrate this, he's made all of the songs on his Bandcamp free to download, I would suggest you check out 'I Love Map' which has been a personal favourite of mine for a while now.

The Head and the Heart
Mind I was banging on about this lot at the start of the year, possibly not, but you really should check this Seattle band out as they're a cracking band. You can download yourself some tunes here in exchange for your email address.

Verse Metrics
Edinburgh outfit, Verse Metrics have posted their song 'Horoscopes' from the E.P 'VM1' for free download on their homepage in exchange for a tweet/facebook post or you can get it direct on their Soundcloud page.

Panda Bear
Noah Lennox, he of Animal Collective fame is back with a new album, Tomboy. Following on form the success of Person Pitch, you can download new track Last At The Jetty here.

Silver Caves
On the 30th of April the good folk from the Glad Cafe will be putting on another gig in the southside, this time round they're returning to the Pandora Bar on Victoria Road for another evening of quality music. This time round they've got Fox Gut Daata, Silver Caves (formely Barn Owl) and Field Mouse providing the entertainment for the evening. You can check out Silver Caves by downloading a couple of free tunes from their Bandcamp page.

My Morning Jacket
I can't say that I have been a massive fan of My Morning Jacket, I did try and buy into the hype when everyone was creaming their pants over It Still Moves, way back in 2003 (fuck, that makes me feel very old). Since then I haven't really bothered with them, some of you might still like them though, so you'll be interested to know that new song "Circuital" is free here.

And So I Watch You From Afar
Belfast pot-rockers return with new album, 'Gangs' at the end of this month. You can download new song 'BeautifulUniverseMasterChampion' from it, for free on Soundcloud.

Sputniks Down
Ever wondered what RM Hubbert's singing voice sounds like, well wonder no more by downloading this free tune from Sputniks Down here.

Mitchell Museum
Ever wanted to hear Raindeer from Mitchell Museum covering Roy Orbison's 'Crying'? No me neither, but you can download it for nowt here, there is also a video to go with it too. He's also promised to post a cover version every two weeks, so prepare yourself for more of this nonsense in the weeks to come.

Friday Freebies

I Build Collapsible Mountains
You might remember I posted a link to this mysterious band a month or so back, well now the secret is out of the bag (it's Luke from the Gothenburg Address's side project). He's back with a new song 'you shaped spaces' and once again it's up for free download, as always I urge you to check it out. There are also talks of the two of us possibly putting something out together in future, yep he's that good.

Bear Driver
They might not be Scottish, but there's a lot of Peenko love out there for the Leeds quartet. You hipster kids out there are going to lap this stuff up, the rest of you with ears should also love it.
If you sign up to their mailing list they'll send you their song, 'Thousand Samurais', also, while you're on there you can also do a wee jigsaw puzzle, if you complete it you get rewarded with some tunes to stream. Class idea, from a class wee band.

Cults
You might well remember me getting all excited about this duo a while back in Friday Freebies, well it looks like I'm not the only one who loves them too. Late on Tuesday night my good friend Ian from Have Fun At Dinner text me to announce that there was a new Cults song out there on the web. Thanks Acorn. Anyway, you'll find free download of their new song 'Oh My God' which is the final installment in Adult Swim’s amazing 8 Singles 8 Weeks feature.

q without u
The Glasgow pop-starlets have a new single in the offing, so what better way to get yourself acquainted by downloading their debut album, 'Shut up, I invented you', for free over on Lastfm.

The A Forest
The Dundee outfit have posted a free download of their song 'Polar White' (cracking wee tune it is too) and you can download it for absolutely zero pennies over on their Bandcamp page.

Royksopp
They're doing a 'Track of the Month' feature at the moment, there's a whole host of free songs up for your perusal here.

The Cinnamons
The Glasgow outfit have posted their song 'Welcome to the Business' up for free on their Bandcamp page. The song is the first of 5 singles which will be released through out summer 2010 as part of their 5 Songs of Summer E.P.

dems
Former 'Fresh Meat-er' dems has just uploaded a new track, 'Lioness' up on his Bandcamp page. You can get yourself a copy of this cracking wee tune by heading on over here.

So Many Animal Calls
The Glasgow indie pop outfit have just posted their new EP 'Your House Is A Hospice' which they are saying acts as a wee teaser for the upcoming So Many Animal Calls EP, which they promise will be coming soon. Get yourself a free copy over on their Bandcamp page.

Pensioner
The Dundee rock outfit have uploaded their self-titled EP up for free download on their Bandcamp page.

Chapel Club
Holy shit, the Smiths have reformed and recorded a new song, all it needs is for the lead singer to be swinging round a bunch of daffodils and you could imagine you're really listening to Mozza and co. or perhaps it's just NME favourites Chapel Club. Sign up to their mailing list and they'll send you a song for nowt (alternatively you could just click this link, which should hopefully bypass all the sign up bollocks).

The Bird And The Monkey (Sarahjane Swan & Roger Simian)
Another fine release from the good folk over at Shark Batter, click the link and you'll find yourself a free download of their song 'If Love's a Cure'. Keep you eye out for their forthcoming "Ossie Dean" EP.

The Smashing Pumpkins
Mind when they were good and Billy Corgan hadn't disappeared up his own arse, me too. Those were good times. Want to see if he's managed to recoup any of that talent that he once used to have, well now you can by heading over to the 'Pumpkins homepage where there are a whole host of free songs for you to download. Personally I won't be bothering, I don't want to destroy any more of my youth.

Memphis Industries
It's home to Tokyo Police Club, the Go Team and The Ruby Suns and the like. Now they have a couple of new acts on their roster, so to promote them they're giving away some tunes. If you fancy checking out Frankie Rose and the Outs or Dreamend, then just right click the links.

Drums of Death
You can sign up for free MP3s of Lonely Days and Lonely Dub taken from Drums Of Death's debut album 'Generation Hexed'.

Kowalskiy's Komplimentary Korner

The Robocop Kraus
"I liked this band since their "They Think They Are..." album a few years back, though I only bought the album for the band name! Guess you could call them Germany's answer to Phoenix. Anyway, The Robocop Kraus have a new EP coming out and they're giving away the 1st track ("Sometimes I Wonder If You'd Been A Dog In A Previous Life") for free if you sign up to their newsletter" - another excellent find by the Doc!