Scots Way-Hay - The Artists Albums of the Year 2011 (Part 2)

If you're already getting sick of all of this talk about albums of the year, then you might want to stay well away from this site for the next two weeks. Continuing on from last week, here's the second out of four scheduled Artists Albums of the Year. This is the bit where I get folk who've done interviews for me over the past two years to tell me a bit about what's been tickling their fancy in 2012, we even have one of our artists choosing an album by someone else who's writing about their favourite album - I hope to fuck that makes sense to you. This week we have the choices of Sebastian Dangerfield, Bronto Skylift, Sugar Crisis, Song of Return, Mike Nisbet, Neil Milton, Washington Irving, United Fruit, French Wives and The Scottish Enlightenment...

Bon Iver - Bon Iver chosen by Stuart (Sebastian Dangerfield)

The first thing that came to mind was “Bon iver’s, Bon Iver”. Then I thought, “Is that too obvious?” Then I thought; that’s probably the reason why it should be my favourite album this year.
I was nervous to hear that Justin Vernon was bringing a band in to do his second album and to record it in a purpose built studio, just incase he lost that intimate and unique sound he had on "For Emma...". But it’s a huge step away from the first album and is arguably an improvement that seems more confident.
The sound and the production are bigger, the songs are more detailed, and there are a few controversial synth noises just to keep you on your toes. It also helps that he has a cracking voice and a great sense of melody.... and the show at Usher Hall this year was the tits.


Mogwai - Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will chosen by Niall (Bronto Skylift)

I find it difficult when talking about anything as the best of the year because my moods vary wildly throughout the year and something I was maybe digging a few weeks ago (say, Mastadon) might not be massaging my eardrums as I write this so I guess i have to think about the piece of work that has drawn me back time and time again like some kind of magical Pony Magnet...
Honourable mentions have to go to the cassette based rumblings of PAWS even though they did not make an album but released enough to constitute an album and to the BREW RECORDS BRW015 Split 10" with Kong/That Fucking Tank/Castrovalva/Shield Your Eyes which has been melting my head and making we want to live in Leeds.

So, after studying flow diagrams, pie charts and polishing all metal objects on site I can safely say my album of the year has been - Mogwai: Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will.
I remember when they released Rano Pano as a free download. I instantly thought "these guys have made a ripper of an album and are so confident of it's rippage that they have given this for nothing" And how true a thought that was.The flow of the album is beautiful.
The sound so mighty and immersive that you could almost believe that anyone could learn a foreign language using Linguaphone.In two weeks.
At times when i listen to it and I'm drawing pictures I find myself ;sketching the legendary nature pundit David Attenburgh (White Noise) employing sharp lettering and slogans (Mexican Grand Prix) and feeling like I could take on the whole empire myself (How to Be A Werewolf)
Oh yeah and the title alone makes me want to tear the clouds from the sky and use them as loofers when in the shower.


Veronica Falls - Veronica Falls chosen by Neil and Lorna (Sugar Crisis)

They're such a beautiful sounding band and the songs are rocky and dreamy and a delight. Loved them from the first chord.

Radiohead - The King Of Limbs chosen by Graig Grant (Song of Return)

There was a time, I know there still is for other people, where I'd always create a lot of pomp and ceremony about my first listen to a new record by one of my "favourite" bands (in fact, my first listen to sigur ros' "takk" on the day of it's release whilst hanging the free embossed poster I made sure i got in early for made me 15 minutes late for work and almost got me fired). But in spite of how I still feel after all this time, I am not sixteen anymore. By a long shot. And yes I did pick up "King of Limbs" on the day it was released, but what I am getting at is that it was much more of a slow-release drug affair, like all music and the changing way people use and listen to it these days.

Now I've followed radiohead since my teens, but what I think I appreciate most about their current 'embodiment', really from "In Rainbows" to present, is the distinct lack of pomp and ceremony. These guys have toured the world extensively. they have been the biggest band on earth at some points. But they are have not become the Rolling Stones, the don't live on separate islands that they own. they are just a bunch of regular guys living in rural Oxfordshire and using their time on earth to absorb beautiful and far out music, and transforming that education in to beautiful and far ourt music of their own. but yet, in spite of this new, accessible, down to earth persona, they have still managed to make something which is altogether elusive, mysterious, entrancing even. This combination makes a band magical, still makes one feel like the teenage fanboy.

And it's this mystery which draws me back listen after listen. It's a code. I remember from a great piece in Rolling Stone not long after it's release that "nothing at Radiohead HQ is an accident", meaning of course that the form and structure of the record, not to mention it's length, seem at first jarring. But it's all in there, waiting to be figured out. The content is there. It requires listening with intent to acquire it's hidden meanings. And that is what makes a great record. Mystery.

Gillian Welch - The Harrow & The Harvest chosen by Mike Nisbet

I fell in love with Gillian Welch on a cold dark night, out on the west coast mid winter, and I was a little drunk, the conditions were just right. Reading an online magazine and caught a picture of her, she look like she was from another time, and I had to know what this 'time' sounded like. Being a late comer to Gillian I didn't have to wait the 8 years everyone else did for this new record but god it was worth it! It's a world that I frequently sink into, a place I find painfully beautiful at times, a place that reminds me what a song can really do to you.

Highlight have got to be Down Along The Dixie Line & Hard Times, Gillian singing her cut throat lyrics 'I've never been so disabused, I've never been so mad, I've never been served anything that tasted so bad' underpinned by Dave Rawling on lead guitar (my favourite guitarist of all time, hands down by the way) with harmonies that at points can bring you to your knees.

If you've not ventured through the music of Gillian Welch yet, wait till it's dark, pour your self a stiff drink and welcome home.

Jóhann Jóhannsson - The Miners' Hymns chosen by Neil Milton

I first heard Icelandic composer, Jóhann Jóhannsson around 2006 when he released what has become one of my all time favourite albums, IBM 1401 - A User's Manual. Since then he has become a great inspiration to me so I was excited to hear he would release the soundtrack he had written to accompany the Bill Morrison film, The Miners' Hymns. Like everything that Jóhann does it seems to balance delicately between glorious, sweeping celebration and poignantly sorrowful nostalgia. Its use of brass, a group of instruments commonly associated with colliery life, perfectly identifies with the social history of the northern English miners that the film sets out to depict. The Miners' Hymns is a beautiful modern-classical requiem and one I can't recommend highly enough.

Mike Nisbet by Vagrant chosen by Joe (Washington Irving)

This album takes the prize for me. There’s no-one like Mike in Scotland at the moment. Taking influences from Nick Cave and Tom Waits, he’s produced something really unique with a lot of guts, dirt and soul. The song ‘El Frida’ shows a real step up in his song writing and guitar playing, and tracks like ‘Snow Me In’ and the title track ‘Vagrant’ show him at his most mournful and melodic. The record has consistent sense of morbidity, loss and desire set in Mike’s own desolate, wintry world. I think the reason I rate it so highly is because the listener is invited into this place, or at least catches a glimpse of it and sees Mike, guitar in hand, wandering down his long, lonesome road.

Empros by Russian Circles chosen by Marco (United Fruit)

Basically it is the best thing to happen to instrumental music since Godspeed.

A Different Kind of Fix by Bombay Bicycle Club chosen by Jonny (French Wives)

We were lucky enough to support this band at the tail end of last year, however, regrettably, I'd never paid much attention to them; previous offerings have never stood out and grabbed me in the way that this third record has.

Arguably a combination of genres from the first and second record, 'A Different Kind of Fix' marks a huge step up for BBC. A beautifully restrained effort, the album flows with such a consistent groove yet never threatens to lose it's dark, lo-fi appeal. Tracks like 'Lights Out, Words Gone' and the initial single 'Shuffle' demonstrates intelligent vocal layers and some truly remarkable rhythms. Heavier tracks such as 'Your Eyes' and 'Take the Right One,' although bold in exterior, Jack Steadman's haunting tone keeps them perfectly in line with the understated feel of this record.

A genuinely great album and I think I've given it as birthday presents to about 4 people which can't be a bad sign!


Happy as a Windless Flagchosen by Douglas Firs' chosen by David (The Scottish Enlightenment)

My album of 2011 is Douglas Firs' Happy as a Windless Flag, and this has got nothing to do with them being on the same label as us. The record is totally fascinating. I keep finding new things in it to wonder at. I cant imagine how some of the ideas came into being and It probably wasn't the intention, but it's like Edinburgh cast in musical form. Neil's delicately warbling murmur and the fragility of the performances really draw you into the dark, quiet closes within the music that separate great slabs of blackened grandeur. This bipolarity of intimacy and bombast, and the diversity of rhythm that carries the songs on dancing feet, makes it a totally satisfying listen, and a case study in why albums are a really good musical format. They also happen to be the best live band in Scotland as far as my experience goes. Long live The Douglas Firs!

Sunday Round Up...

Holy fuck a McMoly, time certainly does fly in doesn't! Was it really way back in May that we announced that myself and Ayetunes were going to putting on another one of our 'leg-end-ary' gigs together. I guess that time has a certain way of creeping up on you, as in less than a week away we'll be taking over Stereo for our fourth 'vs' gig and desperately pretending that we're proper promoters and that we know what we're doing (usually the bands see us right!).
In case you'd forgotten the line up it looks something like this Mondegreen, Miaoux Miaoux, PAWS and Adam Stafford - whose been daft enough to let us use this as his album launch.
If you haven't heard any of the bands before, then trust me they're all fucking great, but then again I would think that as we chose them.
I will warn you in advance there will be more shameless plugging of the gig throughout this week, so don't start moaning if I start to repeat myself, I'm just a little bit excited that's all.
If you get the chance make sure you tune into Vic Galloway's Radio Scotland show tomorrow night as Adam Stafford is in doing a wee session, which I am really looking forward to.
If you fancy booking your tickets in advance then you can buy them online here or you could always head down to Ticket Scotland as I think they had a handful left. Either way it'd be great to see some of you coming along for what should be a great night of music, plus there may also be sweets and hugs, but don't let that put you off.

Another gig that I am involved with is the launch of The Moth & The Mirror's first single on Olive Grove Records, 'Germany'. The gig is on Friday the 2nd of September, so get it noted in your diary/smart phone. It's only £5 plus there will be three cracking support bands, Amber Wilson, Blood Blood and I Build Collapsible Mountains. The Moth & The Mirror's song 'Lights in the sky' is still available to download for free on their Bandcamp page.

On Friday coming, Song By Toad is putting on the second of his 'Toad at the Circus' gigs at the funnily enough the Electric Circus in Edinburgh. This week he has our very own Randolph's Leap, Amber Wilson and Matthew Healy (from Awe), it's only £5 to get in and it all kicks off at half seven. Without wanting to sound like I am bowing smoke up their arse, Randolph's Leap now have the added bonus of having a brass section which makes them even more enjoyable to watch, yeah I know what you're thinking 'is that really possible?', but trust me it's fucking awesome, or at least it was at Wickerman. Plus Amber and Matthew are both fucking great, if we weren't doing AvP the next day I would have gone for this for certain (I'm using my one weekly pass for out gig). Aye so go, it will be dead good...

If you can't make it to our AvP gig next Saturday (20th) and you reside in Edinburgh, then you might want to get yourself along to Pilrig Church, where Oxjam are putting on one of their takeover gigs featuring The Last Battle, Sebastian Dangerfield and Letters. Tickets for the gig are available from online here or you could get your backside down to Avalanche and get them for just £5, otherwise it's £7 on the door, plus it's BYOB, nice. Further information can be found on Facebook.

45/R are putting a cracking wee gig on Sunday the 28th of August at the Captain's Rest in Glasgow, featuring Dundee legends Avast! (feat. members of Stapleton) who have reformed and are playing Glasgow for the first time in many many years. Support on the evening comes from the excellent Happy Particles and GRNR (Gav from Findo Gask's solo project). Tickets for the gig can be bought in advance via the following link.

On the Friday the 26th, Pin Up Nights have James and Doc from the Twilight Sad joining them on the decks at the Flying Duck. Plus there will also be live sets from electronic act Machines in Heaven, "purveyor of beats" Oh You Dancer and the pleasingly Sonic Youth-sound-a-likes Ev.


One of my favourite local bands, French Wives have been busy in the studio recording their debut album, which is due out on Electric Honey Records next year. They've just completed tracking the album, so to celebrate they're putting on an intimate wee gig in Glasgow at the 13th Note on the 4th of September. Support on the evening comes from Shields from Newcastle and Perthshire outift, Poor Things. Tickets are for the gig are only £5 on the door, you might want to make sure you get down nice and early to this one as it should be pretty rammed.

After giving away new song 'Act On Impulse', We Were Promised Jetpacks have provided us with another wee taster of what to expect from their forthcoming album, by posting up their new single 'Medicine' to stream on Souncloud. The band are also going to be playing live on Ally McCrae's BBC Introducing show on Radio 1 live from The Bongo Club in Edinburgh on September 4th. Joining them on the evening will be Profisee, Bwani Junction and Hostage, there were some free tickets for the gig up for grabs here, but I am guessing that by the time that this goes up they'll be well gone.


Right we'll wrap this wee ramble up and leave you with this odd as fuck video from Lady North, who's split single with PAWS came out on Monday there through Gerry Loves Records

Lady North - "It's All About Gettin' That Claude Monet" from Gerry Loves on Vimeo.

Scots Way-Hay #65 - Sebastian Dangerfield

Some times with the large volume of stuff that I get sent there are quite often bands that I mean to come back to, however, due me being quite forgetful they end up slipping through the gaps. Sebastian Dangerfield are one such band,when they sent me their debut EP, 'The Sound of The Old Machines'way back in April, I remember thinking this is a bit good, I'll need to come back to it. I of course forgot and it wasn't until just recently that I decided to revisit the EP and remembered just how much I had enjoyed it. Imagine a less pretentious Broken Records and you are half way there, they have the rousing anthems and they have pop sensibility. If their first release is anything to go by then I hope to hear a lot more from Sebastian Dangerfield over the next few years...

Would you care to introduce yourself?

Certainly, we are a 3/4/5 piece (depending on our wandering guitarist and our part time fiddle player!) who largely hail from Edinburgh, although the bass player is from the sticks just outside Edinburgh and the fiddle player is an American currently hiding in Newcastle! Team sheet below:

Stu Baggs - Guitar, Vocals

Dave Baggs - Guitar, Banjo, Vocals

J Baggs - Drums, Vocals

Jim Baggs - Bass

Abbie - Violin

How would you describe the music you make?

Where to start?!? It's a rare mix of; country, indie, rock, americana with hints of bluegrass and the odd meatloaf solo. To be honest you're probably best just to listen to the songs!

How did you come together as a band?

Seems like a long time ago now, but if memory serves I think Stu Baggs and Dave Baggs met on account of living in the same street, where they found J Baggs the drummer on Gumtree. Jim Baggs completed the original foursome on account of being an old mate of Daves, despite only having 9 & 1/2 fingers and no bass at the time of his appointment.

How did you start out making music?

We'd just practise once a week and in-between playing cards seemed to write a few songs, so we started turning up at small Edinburgh venues to play them live.

What process goes into the way you write songs?

It usually goes one of two ways:

1: somebody will declare a "10minute tune" followed by 10mins of music inspired by one riff or beat that's been lying dormant in somebodys head for a while - mostly it's a load of rubbish but sometimes it throws up a nugget.

Or

2: More commonly, someone, usually the mysterious Stu-Baggs, has an idea which we work through adding in the various other elements until we are happy and can return to playing cards.

Who are your big musical influences?

There are a few! All of us have pretty ranging tastes, but the common ground would be:

Ryan Adams

Old crow medicine show

Tallest Man

Frightened Rabbit

WWPJ (We are related after all)

Tom Jones (no joke)

The daily disputes:

Bob Dylan

The Smiths

The Stone Roses

..... J-Baggs will take the default position that unless they are dead they ain't worth listening too!

What kind of influence do you feel that where you come from has had on the music you create?

None?

What can people expect to see/hear from your live shows?

The live shows are usually tonnes of fun, we try not to take it too seriously and just have a good time. Its not unknown for us to sport costumes or bring along mascots! But it is really about the music. It's also a great chance to hear what people think about the music god or bad afterwards.

Has there been a particular gig that has stood out for you so far (good or bad)?

Supporting WWPJ at the Liquid Rooms was pretty special and is probably the biggest audience we've played to. Our recent EP launch was great fun too as we were all kitted out in the old time costumes with our video playing in the background. Don't think there are any bad memories, but if anyone says they saw us play the Ark, it's a lie!

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

Well!?! You'd have to ask our guitarist who has just ran off to America! Resultantly we're gonna be doing a few gigs as a 3piece and writing more new songs. We've a gig at Sneaky Petes on July 2nd, where we'll be playing most of the new hits mixed with a few classics then hope to get involve with the festival when it rolls into town.

Sebastian Dangerfield - The Sycamore Tree


Sebastian Dangerfield's 'EP "The Sound of The Old Machines" is available to download now through iTunes and directly from their Bandcamp. You can catch the band playing live this coming Friday (2nd July) at Sneaky Petes in Edinburgh alongside Steve Heron and Ded Rabbit.

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"Time is precious and everyone wants a piece of it"

"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.

Some Songs EP by alshields

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.