Friday Freebies

Invisibles
On my hunt for freebies to share with you all I quite often find myself 'favouriting' tweets that mention free downloads from Scottish bands that might be worth checking out. Most of the time I tend to find something that I like or think's half decent, other times there's stuff that just that bad that I can't bring myself to write anything about it. So earlier in the week when I read about Invisibles, a collective conceived by JP Reid of Sucioperro and Marmaduke Duke fame, I did find myself pre-judging the songs. "They'll not be my cup of tea" I thought, how wrong I was, as this my friend is fucking banging. Fans of folk Fuck Buttons and Union of Knives, actually anyone who likes music should really check this out. Oh and it's not technically a freebie, it's one of those pay what you want deals, either way check it out.

Tall Tales
In case you didn't get the memo, The Social Services changed their name to Tall Tales a wee while back, thankfully though they've not lost any of their charm. The Glasgow based quartet have just released their new EP 'All we can do is sing', which is sure to warm the cockles during these freezing cold nights. You can help yourself to a free download of the EP over on their Bandcamp page.

Le Thug
What with everything I get sent these days, it can be pretty tough to try and give it all the attention that it deserves, I quite simply don't have the time anymore. More often than not I find myself judging whether I like something or not within a couple of listens. One of the things that will make me pay more interest is when I get sent something that's a bit different to what I would normally listen to. One such artist that pricked my attention this week were ambient Glasgow duo, Le Thug, who have just posted up a whole load of demos/possibly a mini album, I'm not sure. All you need to know that songs are free to download here.

Sean Armstrong 
Not content with being one of the most talked about bands in Scotland at the moment, those pesky boys from PAWS are also involved in running their own tape based label, CATH Records. Not only do they love using their Caps Lock button, they also love their lo-fi music, which is all good with me. The latest offering from the label comes from a fella by the name of Sean Armstrong, who's got a whopping 22 tracks available for free download on the CATH Records Bandcamp page. Veering from quiet Daniel Johnston-esq tunes, to full on bat shit crazy experimental tunes, there's some great suff on here that's well worth exploring.

Scottish Fiction 
First we had Kowalskiy giving away monthly free EPs, now we get spoiled twice a month with fellow blogger Scottish Fiction getting in on the action. If you fancy some free tunes from A Band Called Quinn, Bottle of Evil, Mickey 9's and Blank Canvas then all you need to do is head on over to Bandcamp and download January's compilation for free.

Proto Idiot
Another week and yet another freebie from one of my favourite sources of DIY pop music, Odd Box Records. If you miss the Moldy Peaches then you might want to check out this free download only single from the forthcoming Proto Idiot album 'Idiot Proto'.


Drunk Mule
How I managed to overlook this free download from Drunk Mule I'll never know. Yes boys and girls, they're giving away yet another free tune, I don't know about you, but I can barely keep up with them these days. This one's called 'Las Vegas Divorces' and it might well be their best yet.

Wild Nothing
Next month sees Virginia's indie-pop outfit releasing the follow up to 2010's Golden Haze EP.  As a wee prelude of what to expect you can download their new single, "Nowhere", for free over on Stereogum.


Blindfolds
If you're looking something a bit down and dirty, then Glasgow four-piece, Blindfolds, might well be right up your street. The Rock & Roll/ Psychedelic blues outfit have made their track Taste Young Blood available as a free download on their SoundCloud page. If you like what you hear then you can catch them live next month at King Tuts on the 22nd of March when they supporting 'The Minutes'.

100 Not Out...A News Round Up Of Sorts

t's been a while since I did one of my news round up posts, so I guess just now is as good a time as any...

Our good friends over at Glasgow Podcart celebrated their 100th podcast this week, so a big congratulations goes out Halina and all the gang. To celebrate the latest shows was recorded in 45 A Side Studios, with special guest Vic Galloway and an array of tunes including Hidden Orchestra, Salo, Wounded Knee, Craig_FS, Clean George IV, plus an exclusive new song from Julia & The Doogans, Young Fathers , PAWS, Django Django and Die Hard. You can check out the show for yourself over on the Podcarts website.

Not content with hitting the century mark, the Podcart team will be having their annual Christmas party at the Captain's Rest on Sunday the 18th of December. The night which is titled as the 'Glasgow Podcart's Nightmare Before Christmas' features one hell of a noisy line up which includes As in Bear, PAWS, Citizens and Lady North. Further information on the night can be found on their Facebook page.



Way back in June, those luverly boys at Detour had another one of their now legendary 'Wee Jaunt's'. This time round the boys took over 100 folk out and about round Edinburgh to see an array of artists including Madhat McGore, Shields Up, Stanley Odd, I Build Collapsible Mountains, Teklo, Over the Wall, Conquering Animal Sound, a story from the notorious VIC (Mr Galloway to you and I), Withered Hand, and Lady North, all in “venues” that will probably never be used as venues again.
To celebrate they're are going to show a wee premiere of the best of the footage this coming Thursday (15th) at the in Electric Circus, Edinburgh. The show which will run between 6pm-7pm will be totally free to get in. Plus it also coincides with Vic Galloway's special Christmas show in the same venue, featuring Jill O'Sullivan(Sparrow and the Workshop) and Jenny Reeve(Strike the Colours), Neil Pennycook and Lorcan Doherty(Meursault), James Yorkston plus a very special guest who's playing under the guise of Owl John (my guess is Withered Hand, but that's just a guess).

Remember The Social Services? Well they went and changed their name to Tall Tales. Their name might well have changed, but their songs are still ace. Next Friday night (16th) they're going to be celebrating their first release as Tall Tales, with their a double A-side single 'Windows 98/All The Things You Read To Me' with a wee shindig at The Billiard Room at the Pearce Institute in Govan, Glasgow. Entry to the evening is just £5 which also includes a copy of their handmade single, (designed by Emma from the band). Having been lucky enough to have been sent one of the singles earlier this week, I can vouch for just how pretty they are.
The first 25 people through the door will get a deluxe single pack, including badges and a copy of 'Small Tales', a book of flash fiction by Martin from the band (who not only plays drums, he also writes award-winning fiction). If that wasn't enough they will also have a couple of very special guest musicians joining them on stage. If that sounds like it'd be up your street then you can find out more here.


I think that's enough rambling for one evening, I am going to finish on a high though. Here's a video of 'Real Snow', Withered Hand's Christmas song which is also his first new material in 2 years. The song is being released on Fence Records as part of an exclusive to subscribers of their new EP series, anyone who signs up before the 16th of December will receive a Xmas card with a mini-CD inside which will have 'Real Snow' on it. Talking of Fence, if you're going to see Malcolm Middleton on Thursday night, if you keep hold of your stub for the gig, then you can use it to get into the Fence Christmas Party at the CCA on the same night...

Friday Freebies

Field Music
To kick this weeks freebies off we have one of the most under-rated bands in the UK, Sunderland's finest sons have just announced that their their fourth album, Plumb, will be out in February next year. As a wee teaser they've made the song "(I Keep Thinking About) A New Thing" free to download from their website.

The Fruit Tree Foundation
After the success of last year's First Edition album, Rod Jones of Idlewild fame has done something a bit different this year, as they've launched a new mentoring programme which saw Rod Jones, James Yorkston and Withered Hand, pairin up with aspiring singer-songwriters, Liz Cronin, Marie Collins and Lucy Cathcart Frödén (from Tall Tales/Social Services) to create two songs each. The results of which are pretty damn impressive, you don't need to take my word for it though as you can download the EP for free via The Skinny's website.

The Jezabels
This Australian outfit are already being heavily tipped as ones to watch in 2012, having caught them a couple of months back in Tuts I am still not fully sold. You can make your own mind up though by downloading their track 'Try Colour' for free here.

Lil Daggers
Having released their King Corpse EP on Song, by Toad Records, the Miami back are now gearing up for the release of their debut album on 5th December 2011. You can download a free taster here.

Scottish Fiction EP
Up and coming blogger, Scottish Fiction has just posted up his latest free EP on Bandcamp, this month he's got free tunes from Trapped Mice, Plastic Animals, Donna Maciocia and Supermarionation.

Loch Awe
Yes, I know it says that this a by a band called Negotiations, but trust me this is a free download of a new demo track by Edinburgh folk-noise outfit Loch Awe. Grab it here.

Oh You Dancer!
I am a bit late with this freebie, but here's a free a download of a Halloween inspired track by Oh You Dancer! the electronic brainchild of Jamie 'Daisuke' Sturt of scottish alt-folk band This Silent Forest and post-rock-hardcore band Atlas.

Little Victories
The Glasgow based indie/electro/dance collaboration featuring Kev Sherry (Attic Lights) producer and multi- instrumentalist Jim Lang (Malcolm Middleton, Mona, Echo & The Bunnymen) have made their new single 'Killing Me, Killing You' free to download on Bandcamp.

Three Blind Wolves
Ahead of their US Tour, Glasgow folk-rockers, Three Blind Wolves have released a free acoustic album which you can download here.

Guided By Voices
Having reformed just last year, GBV have just announced that they've also been recording new material with a new album 'Let's Go Eat the Factory', set for release in January 2012. If you head over to Stereogum when you can download a free new tune.

Nettwerk Fall Music Sampler
Free samplers can be a good way to find out about new music, I haven't had a chance to listen back to this sampler, but seeing it features Ladytron I am sure it's bound to be half decent. Just head over to Amazon where you can download it for free.

David Lynch and Karen O
On paper it's a fucking mental proposition, on record it's a mental as you think it might sound, but somehow the combination works. The track, “Pinky’s Dream" was specially recorded for My Lynch’s Crazy Clown Time LP, you can grab it here.

Johnny Foreigner
I genuinely thought that Johnny Foreigner had chucked it on years ago, so it's good to know that they're still going. You can download their new single 'Feels Like Summer' for free here.

Drums of Death
The electronic outfit have made available a free download of their song ‘Cold Lazarus’ in return for a ‘Like’ on Facebook.

'Good Bye' The Social Services....'Hello' Tall Tales

It's been a wee while since I have mentioned anything about The Social Services, since we last caught up with them back in August last year. Since we last heard from them they've been busy readying new material and changed their name to Tall Tales. I caught up with Lucy from the band to ask her about the change of name and what future plans the band have.


Why the change of name?

I suppose it's a lot to do with the context we're in - The Social Services started out in Stockholm and was very much about trying to entice the Swedes into the quagmire of social interaction. Also some of the lyrics were quite political, and there was a lot of stuff about feeling like an outsider. The name somehow felt relevant to all that. Since arriving in Glasgow the name has made less and less sense. So it just felt like time for a new name and a slightly different direction.


Does this mean you are making a change to your sound?

Well, we now have a new member, who is able to master most of the instruments known to man shortly after purchasing them off eBay (and even knows about things like the names of chords, which the rest of us have previously shunned) so the sound is definitely richer now. We've dropped our total guitar ban, so there may be occasional strummy things appearing. Being back in Scotland has reminded us of folky influences, both musically and lyrically - there's more of a storytelling thing going on now. Hence the new name.


Can we expect to hear anything new from you soon?

Absolutely. We're just putting the finishing touches to an EP at the moment so it should be out by the summer. We have loads of new material taking shape so we're hoping to record an album later in the year as well. Also we're working on a collaborative venture, which is yet to be named, but which involves some of the best bands around in Glasgow at the moment. We'll be taking that to a couple of festivals in the summer. Quite excited about that.


In celebration of their new name, Tall Tales roped in Ben from Bear Bones to make this wee video for them...