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!

We've Got It Covered #79

It's been a busy wee week round these parts, what with me pestering the Scottish blogosphere into getting their votes in for this years BAMS award, getting ready to start a new job next week and finally recording the second Peenko Podcast last night. I have to admit that I am bloody knackered, thankfully though I have a pretty good weekend ahead of me. Tonight I'll be catching up with friends, then heading along to catch St. Deluxe and Mondegreen at the Captain's Rest. It's been ages since I last caught the St. Deluxe boys playing live, if my memory serves me right (which it often doesn't), the last time I saw them was way back in February of last year at a Podcart night. So I must admit that I am really looking forward to catching them playing live again, plus there's the added bonus of Mondegreen who are always cracking live. As a wee taster to get you in the mood here's St. Deluxe covering the Jonathan Richman classic 'She Cracked', enjoy...

St. Deluxe - She Cracked (Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers cover)

We've Got It Covered #46

So I am awake at an ungodly hour on a Saturday and for the first time in ages it isn't just because of Erin (Peenko Jnr.) today in case you had forgotten, is Record Store Day, which means that alongside many fellow music lovers, I will be making the effort to head along to my local independent record store. My shopping wish list at the moment so far consists of the The Twilight Sad/Frightened Rabbit cassette and the new St Deluxe EP which is only going to be available on 10" vinyl (no download). Havin heard the EP, I would urge you to check it out. You can also catch the band live next Saturday (23rd) at King Tuts in Glasgow alongside PAWS and Bronto Skylift. Anyway, enough of my ramblings, I need to get my finger out and get myself into town, before I go here's St Deluxe covering Johnny Cash, enjoy.

St. Deluxe - Big River (Johnny Cash cover)

Scots Way-Hay #55 - St. Deluxe

Once upon a time a wee baldy ginger man from Scotland heralded St. Deluxe as being "a Scottish Nirvana for the 21st Century...". No this wasn't my fellow blogger Jim 'Ayetunes', instead it was the notorious Alan McGee, aye him what discovered Oasis.
At the time I am pretty sure that the band would have been flattered to have received such high praise from someone so prominent within the music industry. I am guessing by now that it's a comparison that they're getting pretty sick of, especially with lazy buggers like myself bringing it up all the time. Yes, St Deluxe do have a sound which is reminiscent of a lot of grunge bands, but to simply tag them as another Nirvana-wannabe simply doesn't do them justice.
My first experience of St. Deluxe was at the Glasgow Podcart's Christmas party a couple of years back at the 13th Note in Glasgow. Having only ever heard a few of their tunes prior to that night, I went in with an open mind as to what to expect. I left with a copy of their eponymous debut album and a big cheesy grin on my ever so tipsy face.
With a new EP set to be released this coming Saturday as part of this years Record Store Day celebrations, I caught up with their lead singer Martin to ask him a few questions to introduce you to the band, their plans for the future and the like. On top of all of that, they've also very kindly given me a wee exclusive download of new song 'After The Fire', which is the lead track from their new EP of the same name.

Would you care to introduce yourself?

We are, we are, we are St Deluxe!

How would you describe the music you make?

Fuzzy, warm, poppy, noisey, sometimes droney, sometimes loud...

How did you start out making music?

We all come from quite musical families which helps when you're starting to pick up an instrument. Jamie's Dad Duncan Cameron has had a recording studio for years and played in a few succesful bands in his time, so he's been surrounded by music for a long time!

Jamie and I had been pals for years and we met Brian and our original drummer Stuart when Jamie started playing with Francis MacDonald. When we decided to form St Deluxe it felt like the most natural thing to go with the four of us.

Stuart has since left to concentrate on his own project 'The Wellgreen' and now Ross Cameron (Jamie's brother) is our sticksman!

What process goes into the way you write songs?

We usually start off with any one of us bringing in a riff, chord progression, melody or lyric that is taken into the practice studios at Riverside and bashed into a finished song.. We like to push things about and try to make things that are exciting for us to play first and foremost.

Who are your big musical influences?

There are many people/bands/things that are influences on our music. People we know or have worked with like Stuart Braithwaite and Calvin Johnson on this record and more recently Gordon Keen from Captain American/Eugenius. Bands that completely blow you away regardless of genre or time. If it's Spacemen 3, Pavement, Black Flag, The Stooges, Earth or Deerhunter.

You’ve been compared to a number of bands over since you started, which ones are you now sick of? And what’s the most flattering comparison been?

I'd actually say they are both going to be the same band, Nirvana.

Alan McGee of Creation Records - never afraid of a bit of hyperbole - said "St. Deluxe are brilliant, a Scottish Nirvana for the 21st Century". This was taken in equal measure as something to beat us with or to praise us with. It's such a grandiose statement and I would never think that we could reach the heights that Nirvana in terms of the sweeping change in music and fashion that followed their popularity. It's also easy for people to dismiss the quote as another McGee'ism but I also find it hugely flattering that he saw something in us as a band that could invoke some kind of feeling to people, maybe not in the scale to which Nirvana ever did, maybe just in a Scottish band scale.

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

Being Scottish and from Glasgow, or an outskirt called East Kilbride has had a pretty huge effect on the music we create. We've been lucky to have seen loads of bands come through Riverside Studios over the years. People like Teenage Fanclub, Eugenius, the Jesus and Mary Chain etc…

Also, living in Glasgow gives a lot of opportunity to go and see loads of live music as it seems to be a place that bands always have marked when planning tours.

Your new single, ‘After the Fire’, is due out on the 16th of April to coincide with Record Store Day, how important do you think it is to have events like this to show your support for local independent stores?

Yeah, of course it’s a great thing to be involved in and support as we’re all big collectors of music and it’s such a shame to see small independent stores suffer, as it’s one of the true ‘indie’ routes for bands to go down.

Are you fulfilling a boyhood dream by releasing your forthcoming single on vinyl?

This will be our 4^th single release on vinyl but our first 10” as the rest have been 7”. Still, 10” records are few and far between these days and the packaging is really special for this release. It’s in a brown paper ‘Record shop’ bag which will have an illustrated screen print. We’re super excited about seeing it once it’s all finished!

An array of talented folk were involved in the production of the new record. Would you could to share with my readers who’s involved and how you managed to rope them all in?

Well most of them came from just chancing our arm and asking people to do it or through doing some things and making pals with people that way.

We put on Sonic Boom (Spacemen 3, Spectrum) in Stereo. We just got in touch with him by email asked him to play, sorted out some press and posters and promoted the gig as best we could! He had asked we get Stuart Braithwaite on the bill as a guest DJ. He was really cool and we just got chatting about asked him later if he fancied it. Turned out we are the first band that he has produced, so we’re pretty excited about getting it out there!

With Calvin Jonhson we just spied he was playing in Glasgow. A gig in a church up the west end in which he played on his own with an acoustic and no PA. We thought we’d just email him and ask him if he had any spare time in his tour schedule to come to Riverside and produce one song with us. He did, and it worked out great! He ended up staying at my flat while he was over and was a fun guest to have! In a production sense though, he was great. He really changed the structure of the song and made it better than the demo we had sent him. It was an education seeing how he works and fucks things up in a good way!

Joe Foster released our debut album on his record label ‘Poppydisc Records’ Joe’s famous for his work as a Creation Records producer doing some of the earlier, nosier stuff that came out on the label. He’s a bit more about creating a vibe in the studio which is pretty cool.

We’re also recording some of the new album with Gordon Keen from Eugenius. He’s been great to work with - all the guitar work that we love from those Captain America and Eugenius records has always been a big inspiration. His arrangement ideas and work on guitar tones have been used to good effect on the new stuff as well as some more quirky things that he likes to add!

We’re also very lucky that Duncan Cameron is our ever present guy behind the mixing desk and has so much experience and can work with anyone that we always have his guidance to maintain that certain thing that makes a St Deluxe record always sound like a St Deluxe record!

You’re now working with hip new London label, ‘The Dream Machine’, how did you get involved with them?

The guy John Lynch came to see us play a gig in London for a promoter called ‘Sonic Cathedral’. He really liked the band and is friends with our manager. John had a record shop in London called the Dream Machine which kind of specialized in Shoegaze and Psychedelic obscure vinyl. He heard the recorded versions and was thinking about starting up the label and saw it as the perfect record to kick start it!

What are your plans for the rest of the year and beyond? Any chance of a new album before the end of 2011?

Maybe we’ve kinda touched on this already but we’re working on the new album at the moment and will hopefully have it ready pretty soon. The new album will have these 3 songs from the new single on it but it’ll be new recorded versions of them. Riverside Studios have opened a brand new studio and we thought it best to re-record them to give the album some consistency as the results we’ve been getting are pretty phenomenal in a sonic sense. Also, as I said before Gordon Keen has been helping with some production on this record and it’s great to have another ear and some fresh ideas!

St. Deluxe - After the Fire (exclusive)


St. Deluxe release their new single, 'After The Fire' as part of International Record Store Day celebrations, (Saturday the 16th of April) through Dream Machine Records. The single is only going to be available on limited edition 10" vinyl, as a wee teaser of what you can expect the band have very kindly given me a wee exclusive free download of the lead track to share with you all, what a lovely bunch they are.

The band head kick off their UK tour this coming Saturday, including dates in London, Manchester and finishing up in Glasgow at King Tuts on Saturday the 23rd of April. Support on the evening comes from Bronto Skylift and PAWS, now that's what I call a line up. Tickets are only £6 and they're available to buy now here.

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St. Deluxe - Vic Galloway Session (04/02/09)

Track Listing
1. New Wave Stars
2. Slip Away
3. Big River (Johnny Cash cover)

Download

Friday Freebies

The National
I was a bit late in actually listening to The National, it wasn't until about a year after 'Boxer' was released that I cottoned on what I was missing out on. My fail, I know. On the plus side though I did have one hell of a back catalogue to work my way through. Anyway, I digress, on Tuesday Lauren Laverne debuted new “Bloddbuzz Ohio” on her 6Music show. This led to several blogs posting radio rips of it. In reaction to this their label 4AD have posted a high quality version of the song to download here. It’s really fucking good, if you only download one freebie today, make sure it's this one.

Adam Stafford
This week we have not one but two freebies from the lovely folk over from Scottish indie 'internet' label Wiseblood Industries. First up is the new album from Adam Stafford, the man who not only runs the label, but is also the lead singer of Falkirk outfit Y'all Is Fantasy Island. His album 'Miniature Porcelain Horse Emporium' is up for free download, bloody good it is too.

Jocky Venkataraman
The second free download from Wiseblood comes from Jocky Venkataraman & Jim Megaw, who's new Post Post Office EP, is also available for free download, go grab yourself a copy here. I'll be honest and admit that I haven't had a chance to listen to it yet, hey there's only so much time that I have each week. If Jocky's previous material is anything to go by, then you're in for a treat.

Phoenix
Out of of all of the freebies that I came across this week , this one of my favourites. It's a free download of French band Phoenix recorded live in Sydney. Originally it was made available by the Observer, however, you can bypass all of the filling in your details part by clicking here. It features 9 out of the 10 tracks from their latest album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, and it is cracking.

Teenage Fanclub
Woo hoo the Fannies are back!! And there's a new song out there for free, “Baby Lee,” which is taken from the group’s forthcoming ninth album Shadows is available to download over on Stereogum right now. Bloody lovely it is too.

Trapped in Kansas
It's been quite an exciting week in terms of things news coming from the Ayrshire outfit, not only have they signed up with Daydream Management (Halina and Iona from Glasgow Podcart), but they also posted up some B-sides for free download up on their Bandcamp page. If you like what you hear then you might be pleased to know that they are playing at Sleazy's next Wednesday (the 31st).

Glasgow Podcart
While I am on the subject of the Podcart team, they have made a couple of their live sessions from The Scottish Enlightenment and St Deluxe available for free download. All you need to do is head on over to their flashy new Bandcamp page and get downloading.

Spaghetti Anywhere
A fair few of us Scottish bloggers have already declared our undying love for this twee pop duo, in case you weren't paying attention when Ayetunes, Have Fun at Dinner, Kowalskiy, Elba Sessions and myself posted about them, then this is the time for you to do some catching up. Head over to Toy Soldier Records, sign up to their mailing list and they'll send you a free Spaghetti Anywhere 'Girlfriends with Boyfriends' single.

Hot Chip
Their latest album 'One Life Stand' is already one of my favourite of 2010, if you haven't heard it yet then I would suggest you check it out. If you need some encouragement to check it out, then head over to the Line of Best Fit as they have an exclusive free download of a new remix of their cracking new single “I Feel Better”. Go download it here.

Aqualung
Remember this guy? one of his song was used in an advert a few years back, must have been great to get that bit of exposure, but it pretty much killed his career. Anyway, if you want to hear what he sounds like these days then head over to his homepage for a free download of a new song called 'New Friend'. It's actually pretty damn good.

Peggy Sue
The Brighton based folk trio have posted a collection of songs from all their singles and EP available as a free download! There are 10 songs up there for your aural pleasure, download them all from their Soundcloud page.

Wintersleep
They release one of my favourite albums of last year, 'Welcome to the Night Sky' (although I think it came out back in 2008, possibly 2007 - hey I am bit slow to pick up on things sometimes). They'll be back in May with a new album entitled 'New Inheritors', in promotion of it's release they're giving away a free track from it. It's one of those sign your life away/email address up and they'll send you the song.

The Girobabies
You can get 'Jeremy Kyle' from their Bandcamp page, if you like what you hear then you might be interested to know that their debut EP is released on the 1st of May. Thanks to Jim Ayetunes for the tip.

The Horns of Happiness
Indiana band, the Horns of Happiness have just made their new EP available for free. Just head over to their label Secretly Canadian to download the EP, which includes three previously unreleased songs

Kowalskiy's Komplimentary Corner

Ohbijou
This week our good friend Kowalskiy has pulled two corkers out of the bag, first up we have Ohbijou's Third Floor Session which includes 8 free MP3s. In addition if you have a scour about on the site you can find sessions from DD/MM/YYYY, Kay Pettigrew, Gravity Wave and The Wooden Sky.

Conquering Animal Sound
They might well be the latest buzz band amongst Scottish bloggers/podcasters, but I have to be honest and admit that I hadn't given them a listen until David Kowalskiy sent me this freebie,
A free MP3 of 'Alice shoes (live)' (right click save) is available for free download from the Gizeh Records website . Also up for grabs on their site are tracks from Glisando, Trespassers William and worrieaboutsatan, who in case you'd forgotten, play at the Flying Duck tomorrow night.

F'All Friday Freebies.......We've Got It Covered

For all of you who weren't paying attention last week, there will be no Friday Freebies on Peenko today. I'm away on holiday (that feels quite a stupid thing to be writing as at the moment I'm sitting on the sofa enjoying a beer). Jim from Aye Tunes has very kindly offered to do the honours for this week, so head on over to his blog where he will be doing the honours for this week.
In case things go tits up and there's f'all freebies this week, I've made you all a wee playlist of Scottish bands doing cover versions. Enjoy.....

Track Listing
1. Withered Hand - Into the Fold (Eagleowl cover)
2. Dananananaykroyd - Whip It (Devo cover)
3. Belle & Sebastian - Here Comes the Sun (Beatles cover)
4. The Boy Who Trapped the Sun - Girl From The North Country (Bob Dylan cover)
5. Camera Obscura-Modern Girl (Sheena Easton cover)
6. Eagleowl - I Am Nothing (Withered Hand cover)
7. Frightened Rabbit - Song Against Sex (Neutral Milk Hotel cover)
8. King Creosote - Pale Shelter (Tears For Fears cover)
9. Meursault - Westward, Home (Moondog cover)
10. The Pictish Trail-It's Not Too Beautiful (Beta Band cover)
11. St. Deluxe - Big River (Johnny Cash cover)
12. The Twilight Sad - Suck (the Wedding Present cover)
13. We Were Promised Jetpacks - Blindsided (Bon Iver cover)
14. My Latest Novel - Two Headed Boy (Neutral Milk Hotel cover)

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Community Service #3 - Glasgow Podcart

I first came across the Glasgow Podcart after Boab introduced me to Sean and Halina at a Yahweh and applesofenergy gig last year. Due to the consumption of a few cans of the finest Red Stripe, my memories of that evening are a bit blurry, I do remember being bowled over about how passionate they both were about music and what they wanted to do with the Podcart. My other memory is of rambling utter shit at Sean for quite a long time, I still cringe when I recall that moment. The following day, I was hungover in work and I had my first listen to an episode of the Podcart. Since that day it's become part of my weekly routine, although I did have to stop listening to it on public transport as I kept getting odd looks when I started pissing myself laughing. I think the most fun thing about the Podcart is listening to what gems they've unearthed this week combined with some piss funny 'banter'. It really does make for a great combination. If you want to find out why I will never be able to drink Irn Bru out of a glass bottle ever again, or the truth behind who was 'Pumped in Venice', then get listening boys and girls. Today is the Podcarts first birthday, as part of the celebrations of this milestone, they're having a wee shindig at the 13th Note tonight. The lineup for the evening boasts three of the finest unsigned Scottish acts about at the moment, Little Yellow Ukuleles, Campfires in Winter and St. Deluxe. Entry is free and it all kicks off around 8pm tonight, it should be a belter of an evening.
Now I'll pass you over to Halina, the Queen Bee of the Podcart-Crew to explain to you in her own words what the Glasgow Podcart is all about and what they have up their sleeve in 2010.....

In your own words describe what Glasgow Podcart is
This answer changes everytime! Glasgow Podcart is a media platform and networking community for musicians, artists, photographers and now writers and film makers. We produce weekly podcasts as well as specialist live sessions. The idea is to enable people to push their ideas forward in a way and create a voice for them. Ultimately, we want people to be seen and heard in a different way.

Please introduce the Podcart team
There is Sean McCann our specialist recording and filming expert and also a talented writer, Ally Burton who is a brilliant photographer and writer, Will McNeilly who is based in Belfast and our graphic designer, web designer all round talented Mr nice guy, Paddy Duke who also with Will does the weekly artwork on the website for our podcasts, Nicola Blair who is now working closely with Sean on recording and filming projects, Louise Cochrane who is a design student also from Northern Ireland. We have 2 new recruits! Iona Bruce and Sophie Stubbs both of whom have very strong arts backgrounds and will be raising the profile of our arts section quite substantially. Finally there is myself, Halina. I with Sean do a lot of the decision making and mainly content on the website.

What was it that motivated you to start doing a weekly Podcast?
I have always been a music fan but mainstream radio was infuriating me. Being subjected to artists that were created through the vision of a record company mogul as opposed to organic musicians I was listening to was very frustrating. There is of course BBC Radio 6 however, which I must point out is a God send! Everyone always says instead of moaning try and change things so that was the idea. We knew about podcasts briefly and I had noticed an increase in digital listening as well as the decline in Radio listeners. We wanted to do things a bit different though and incorporate other art platforms as well.

What would you say has been the best thing to happen since you started it?
Some would immediately presume me saying Stuart Braithwaite of Mogwai and by God that really was a highlight but ultimately I think the relationships we have made. Of course it is natural to be competitive about things sometimes but I suppose it is more the networks we have established. I see all the people we have introduced and some of whom have gone on to work closely together or spawn other projects. It's pretty special.

How difficult is it to find so many new and exciting bands each week?
I think there is a misconception that people think we love everything we listen to. This isn't the case. People have to remember how many people there are in the team and we all have very diverse taste and if someone likes something then so be it we will play it. I will let you into a little secret though if someone is somewhat quiet when the song is played it generally isn't their cup of tea! (I am going to get killed for exposing that haha). I often spend time trawling through myspace friends listening to artists and this is the way I have found most of them. Obviously there is word of mouth and blogs such as yourself and others but I get more satisfaction actually spending time just listening. Some weeks I do find that I listen to several artists in a row that I just have to switch off but generally we have been very lucky.

For you personally what artist/band has excited you most over the past 12 months?
I think in all honesty it is between And So I Watch You From Afar and Panda Su. ASIWYFA are one if not the best live act I have ever seen and their energy is unbelievable. Panda Su is one of the most intriguing young women in music I have had the pleasure of coming across. She wears her heart on her guitar and has often provided a comfort blanket for my emotions with her music. I really think great things are going to happen for her.

For all the folk out there that haven’t heard an episode of the Glasgow Podcart, why should they give you a listen?
We are honest. First and foremost. Just imagine Friday night round your friends with a few beers and you sit and listen to some music and talk about the gigs you have been to and the artists you are listening to that week. It's not scripted and yeah I am going to say it is pretty funny as well.

Lastly, what can we expect to see/hear from Glasgow Podcart this year?
Well! I don't really want to say much as we are going to keep our cards very close to our chest this year but we have some very interesting live things coming up, podcasts from a couple of festivals and a brand new website! The 2 ladies we have taken on for our art side also have some extremely exciting art's ideas that people are going to be happily surprised by. We will of course give Peenko news before these things happen as we love him (Peenko - stop it your making me blush).


Glasgow Podcart

St. Deluxe - Leith FM Session (02/10/09)

Track Listing
1. New Wave Stars
2. Slip Away
3. Big River (Johnny Cash cover)

Download
Leith FM