Fresh Meat Monday - Randan Discotheque

Would you care to introduce yourself? 


Hello, I'm Craig Coulthard singer and songwriter from Randan Discotheque.   


How would you describe the music you make? 

I try to avoid it, but I'll give it a go - song based, mostly fun, sometimes sad. I like a good tune, and I like words.   


How did you start out making music?  

In my bedroom at about 13, with a guitar I played one string at a time, while whispering vocals into a vestax 4 track. Then once, I sang Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues" at a family karaoke thing, which was the first time I sang to anyone. I then started a band with two best friends at school, called "General Cuthbert" and we played covers of Stone Roses and the Grange Hill theme tune, plus we wrote our own songs - "Hippos & Dung" and "Peas on my Knees". The band also consisted of Dave Maclean from Django Django. Strangely, he never brings those days up when talking about his musical education....   


What process goes into the way you write songs? 

It depends, songs can begin as just titles, or melodies I hear when going to sleep, or blog entries, or sentences read in books. Bits and pieces snatched from sketchbooks - very occasionally, a song comes fully formed in about 15 mins - Grandad's Coffin and My Dad's Going to Afghanistan were like that. Songs which are fully formed normally come from translating actual experience, with little embelishment (like those two songs) into melody. Other times, bits and pieces are played out to others in the band, and it finds its own shape.   


What can people expect from your live shows?  

Not a lot at the moment as we haven't played for over a year due to various logistical obstacles. I've just been writing new songs in the last couple of weeks, so once we start playing again, I would suggest people expect a higher tempo, and a lot of use of a new instrument I've made - The Shoogle Stick.   


What are you all listening to at the moment? 

Nic Jones "Penguin Eggs", Zazou & Bikaye "Noir et Blanc", Doubleheart "Roots", Michael Marra "Gael's Blue", Iris Dement, King Sunny Ade    


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

Well, I hope we can get another album, after Sonderweg, out double quick, so I hope before the end of the year we'll be out playing, and the shoogle stick will also be witnessed in full effect.



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Friday Freebies

we're only afraid of NYC
I don't think that it's much of a secret round these parts that I'm a big fan of we're only afraid of NYC. Since the release of their debut EP, zero.one way back in 2009, they've continually gotten better in my eyes (and ears). Today sees the release of their new EP zero.four, which again sees the band take another massive step forward. Fuck knows how they're going to move upwards from this point, for now though I don't care as this EP's the dogs proverbials. Get in about it kiddie-winks, it's free...then again I guess you already knew that.

The Seventeenth Century
Bloody hell, this weeks Freebies is starting to look like a who's who of former AvP headline bands. Not only are the NYC boys getting into the spirit of sharing free tunes, we also have those wonderful Seventeenth Century boys getting in on the act with a couple of free tunes. Both of the tunes were written on their tour of the Netherlands earlier in the year, one of which was written in and recorded in just one hour especially for a Dutch radio station. Some bands never write a song this good in their whole life time and those talented fuckers came up with this in just 60 minutes. You can find out for yourself by downloading the songs for free from their Bandcamp page.

Drunk Mule
Having just given away their album 'Crash Test Y'self' for free, Drunk Mule are now back with a cracking wee festive tune called 'Feels Like Christmas', which you can download from their Bandcamp.

Stanley Odd
Edinburgh hip-hop outfit, Stanley Odd have continued on the success of last years Oddvent Calendar by doing it all again this year. For a whole host of free tunes and some cracking videos just follow the link.

Perfume Genius
If you were a fan of Seattle songwriter, Mike Hadreas aka Perfume Genius 2010 debut album, 'Learning', well you might be excited to learn that he''ll be back in the new year with a new album called 'Put Your Back N 2 It'. You can download 'All Waters' taken from said forthcoming album, for free here.

OnTheFly
Fence stalwart, OnTheFly is giving away his double album, DFNC001 as a free download on his Bandcamp. The album which is packed with an array of Remixes & Rarities, totalling 30 tracks all, acts as wee teaser of what we can expect from his debut album which is due out some time next year.

The Plimptons
It's that time of year again when bands start posting up their festive tunes to share with us all. The Plimptons have been getting right into the Christmas spirit, they are giving away a 3 track festive download called “Christmas All Over This Town” which can be downloaded for free from their homepage - they've even made a wee video to go with it too.

Randan Discotheque
How could you not like a band who describes their sound as being 'historico-funpop', I guess that none of that will make any sense until you actually give the band a listen. With a new album due out in Spring of next year, the band have decided to give away their new "The Purgatory E.P." for free on their Bandcamp. The EP features 3 new songs, "Old & Grey", "Who Took the Booze?" and "The Blackness" and there's also a cracking wee video to go with it too.

Hipster Death Squad
If there was an award for the best named band of 2011, thenHipster Death Squad would win it hands down. Having previously raved about their last single, it's good to see the band are back with another cracking wee release. Their new EP, Big City Nights is up on their Bandcamp to download for nowt and it's fucking ace.

Darren Hayman
The former Hefner frontman is giving away free mp3 download every day throughout December 2011 in the run up to Christmas. So far he's posted up tunes from the likes of The Mountain Parade, Josie Long & Ralegh Long and Stars In Coma. Find out more here.

Jack James
Scottish singer-songwriter, Jack James has been making a bit of a name for himself in this past week. Having posted his third album "Leaving Town" up for free download on Bandcamp, he managed to attract a whopping 66 thousand people (fuck me) to his site. Needless to say he soon ran out of free downloads, however, being the good soul that he is, he's reposted the album to download for free here.

How to Swim
Another band getting into the festive spirit are Glagow lo-fi indie pop outfit, How to Swim, who have just released their very own Christmas EP. Featuring 2 original songs and a cover of Pal McCartney's 'Wonderful Christmastime', the EP is free to download on their Bandcamp. The band celebrate the release of their EP in style next Friday (16th) at their 'Xmassive Discrimbobulation' gig at Sleazys in Glasgow, with support from The Store Keys and Adam Stearns.

Julia and the Doogans
What's that, you want even more free festive tunes. Well here's Julia and the Doogans take on the Christmas classic 'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas' which is free to download on Bandcamp.

mini50 records
Edinburgh label, mini50 records are getting right into the festive spirit as they've just posted up their Winter Sampler on Bandcamp. Featuring tracks from The Kays Lavelle, Graveyard Tapes and Chris Tenz, you can download it here.

Gringo Records
Nottingham DIY label, Gringo Records have a free sampler up for grabs, featuring tracks from the likes of Part Chimp and That Fucking Tank. Grab it here.

Mr Peppermint
The latest offering from Scottish DIY label, Winning Sperm Party, comes from noisy rock outfit Mr Peppermint, who's third album is free to download here.

Lovers Turn to Monsters
I have said this plenty of times, but I'll say it again, Kyle Wood aka Lovers Turn to Monsters , is one prolific young fella. I have lost count of the number of releases he's put out this year, as it's the festive period he of course has an EP to in with it. Download 'Feed my Christmas Time' for nowt via his Bandcamp.

Hopefully that's enough freebies to keep you entertained for a bit, next weeks post might be a bit more sparse as I am out next Thursday night...

Friday Freebies

Campfires in Winter
I couldn't not mention this, in fact I have been dying to share this with you all for a while now. Monday there saw the release of the Campfires debut EP, 'Cardboard Ships', they just finished a wee tour of folks flats this week, which was a hell of a lot of fun. They're playing this evening at the Pin Up Nights festival, it should be a cracking evening. Anyway, enough of my ramblings get downloading their EP over on their Bandcamp now.

Adam Stafford & The Death Bridge Convention
He runs one of the most innovative labels in Scotland, Wise Blood Industries, he is the front man of cult Falkirk band Y'All in Fantasy Island and now he's gone and released a covers album with his backing The Death Bridge Convention, there really is no stopping Adam Stafford. You might remember that I posted his cover of the Twilight Sad in the first ever 'We've Got It Covered' post, well now you can download the album in full. Check out his takes on various artist including Daniel Johnston, Sting and Devo, here.

Randan Discotheque
You might remember this lot from last years single 'Daily Record May 18th 1993' which pretty much did as it says on the tin, it was them singing about all the headline that they found in the paper from that date. Class wee tune it was too. Now they're back and this time they're jumping on the freebie wagon, what kind souls they are. They have posted “U/18’s”, a collection of songs recorded between 1996 and 2001 up for free on their Bandcamp.

Retreat Festival
You might have picked up on this in my last Weekly Roundup, basically it's a wee festival that's taking place in Edinburgh in the last weekend of August. To entice you in they have posted free downloads from all of the bands, it's quite a compilation that they have for you. Make sure you check out Benni Hemm Hemm's song 'Retaliate', one of the finest songs to have come out in 2010. There are also tracks from folk like Meursault, eagleowl, Wounded Knee and The Douglas Firs. Download yourself a copy here.

The Miniature Tigers
I know I featured them a few weeks back, but as they never got the full attention that their debut deserved I am going to try and make sure a few more folk pay attention to their second offering. Stereogum have another song taken from it, 'Bull Fighter Jacket' is up for grabs here.

Debutant
He's a member of Meursault, he also does his own solo ambient stuff, he's one talented bugger and he has also posted three songs for free download over on his Bandcamp page. Get stuck in.

The Cinnamons
You might remember that the I posted the Cinnamons first single from their '5 Songs of Summer' project. If liked what you heard or you missed out the first time round then it's time to do some catching up as they have posted up two more songs, 'Where We're Going' and 'Leave If You Want To', for free on their Bandcamp.

Merge Records
Have posted a free sampler, featuring tracks from Radar Bros, Superchunk, Spoon and She & Him amongst others. To get get yourself a copy you have to register your details, if that sounds like a fair deal to you, then get in about it here.

Marnie Stern
She has a new album coming in October, as a wee teaser she's given The 405 a free download of one of the tracks, 'For Ash', which is taken from her self titled album.

Sonny Marvello
The Glasgow outfit are currently working on an EP, which is due out some time in October. They are such a nice bunch though, so they've posted up a free high quality demo of their song 'Love Ain't Sweet' on their Bandcamp. They're also playing at tonights Pin Up Nights Festival at the Flying Duck, which promises to be an amazing evening.

Macabre Scene
The Glasgow band are just about to go on a short hiatus as one of their members is disappearing off to Denmark for six months. Fear not though as they tweeted a couple of demos for your listening pleasure, right click save the following 'Planks' and 'Garage Band'.

Les Savy Fav
Pitchfork have a free download of their new song 'Let's Get Out of Here' up for free download in exchange for your email address.

J.Tilman
The Fleet Foxes drummer continues to hammer out cracking tunes of his own, his new album 'Singing Ax' is due pretty soon. As a teaser you can download 'Three Sisters' from it for free here.

Sean Carey
This week really is all about the drummers, this time it's Bon Iver's man at the back Sean Carey, who has a solo album coming out on the 24th of August through Jagjaguwar. If his song, 'In the Dirt' is anything to go by, then Justin 'Bon Iver' Vernon might just need to watch his back.

Song of Return
Who you might remember as Union of Knives, have posted a whole load of songs up on their Soundcloud which are available to download completely gratis. Thanks to Jim Ayetunes for the tip off.

Dinosaur Pile-Up
They have posted a free download of their B-side 'Birds & Planes' over on their homepage.

Space Ghost
The Oakland outfit have posted a free download of their 'Ghostly EP', you get yourself a copy here.

T Break
There are a whole host of MP3's up for you to download over on their website.

Kowalskiy's Komplimentary Korner

Dios
The much missed Planet Sound once raved about the LA band's single, "Some Alcohol", and after coming across the single again in a drawer, the good Doctor go googling to see what they were up to. Turned out that they had a new album out last month on iTunes plus a live gig there too. If you go here, there's a link to download a track from the live gig, all you have to do is sacrifice your email address.

Randan Discotheque - "Daily Record May 18th 1993"

Love this song!!! Go buy it here
Or download their first album for free here