The Scottish BAMS Award 2012 (The Scottish Blogger And Music Sites Award)

Regular visitors to this site will more than likely already know all about the BAMS, but for any newbies out there I'll you a quick intro. For the past 4 years I have been running an annual poll entitled the Scottish Bloggers and Music Sites Award or Scottish BAMS for short, in which I ask an array of bloggers, DJs and folk who run music web sites to vote for their albums of the year. I then take all these votes and tally them up to see what the most popular of the last 12 months has been. Past winners of the BAMS have included The Phantom Band, The National and Bill Wells & Aidan Moffat, who later went on to win the inaugural SAY Awards.

This year we had a whopping 41 entries, which included votes from the following bloggers, music sites and DJs:
Scots Whay Hae!,  Jim Gellatly, Detour, Jock N Roll, Houdidontblog, Rave Child, Fusion New Music, Fish In A Sub, Manic Pop Thrills, Kowalskiy, 17 Seconds, Net Sounds, The Steinberg Principle, Songs Heard On Fast Trains, Peenko, Hercules Moments, Dauphin Mag, JockRock, Play That Song For Me, The Spill, The Tidal Wave of Indifference, HP, Inverness Gigs, Elba Sessions, Fresh Air, Scottish Fiction, Tenement TV, Marion Scott MFR, Last Years Girl, Dear Scotland, Blues Bunny, The Pop Cop, Vic Galloway, Ally McCrae, Glasgow PodcART, I Hate Fun, Avalanche, Edinburgh Man, Everything Flows, Nicola Meighan, Aye Tunes and Song, by Toad.

Anyway, without further ado here's a selection of the top Scottish BAMS albums of 2012...

Joint 9-12th

Chris Devotion and The Expectations - Amalgamation & Capital 

Paul Buchanan - Mid Air 

The Twilight Sad - No One Can Ever Know

 

We Are The Physics - Your Friend, The Atom

8th

Admiral Fallow - Tree Bursts In Snow

7th 

 

Sharon Van Etten – Tramp

6th 

Miaoux Miaoux - Light Of The North

5th

Errors - Have Some Faith In Magic

4th

RM Hubbert - Thirteen Lost & Found

3rd

PAWS - Cokefloat!

2nd

Django Django - Django Django

And the winner is...

1st Place

Meursault - Something for the Weakened

I managed to catch up with Neil from Meursault at Kid Canaveral's Baubles III event yesterday, where I also got to present him with the much coveted BAMS Buckie!

Pic by Mike from MPT

Congratulations Neil, you are this years' winners of the Scottish BAMS award, how do you feel?        

I feel like the chubby lad at school after being picked first for the football team. I fear that any minute now I'm going to be told it's all a joke and you're going to burn my shoes and flush my head down the toilet.        

It seems to have been a pretty exciting year for the band, what with European tours supporting Clap Your Hands Say Yeah to headlining the Queen's Hall back in July, aside from winning this years BAMS, what's been your personal highlight of 2012?   

My highlight is probably the QH gig. I've wanted to play that venue since I was 18. Feels nice to have ticked that one off.             

Last years the BAMS was won by Aidan Moffat and Bill Wells, who later went on to win the SAY Awards. Have you allowed yourself the thought that you might potentially be in with a shout at next years SAY Awards?   

What? I thought this was the SAY awards? You ARE still giving me £10000 though right?  (whip round anyone? - Peenko)          

I noted that once again you've decided not to head over to Austin for next years SXSW, is not something that interests you or are you just keeping our friends on the other side of the pond waiting?   

It's not something that appeals to me to be honest. I get really tired of the competitive aspect of playing music and do my best to avoid it. I've no interest in travelling halfway round the world (at great expense) to peddle my music to pissed up strangers in laminates  . Playing in the states is something that I'm keen to pursue but not that way.      

       

How important do you feel that the support of music blogs has been to the band?   

It's been hugely important for us. After all it was a blogger (song, by toad) who put out our first 3 records.              

Seeing as we are on the subject of albums of the year, what have been your personal favourites of the last 12 months?        

I've not sure if all of these came out this year but I'm going with them anyway...  

Chad Vangaalen- Diaper Island 

Youth Lagoon- The Year of Hibernation 

Charles Latham- Fast Loans 

Grouper- alien observer 

Paws- Cokefloat   

Cheers!

Pic by Mike from MPT

Thanks to Neil for taking the time to do that for me and for producing my favourite album of 2012. 

"Something For The Weakened" is out now on Song By Toad Records

Thanks to all of the music sites, blogs and DJs who took part in this years BAMS, I don't know about you guys but I am already pretty damn excited about what 2013 has in store for us.

Errors - Marc Riley Session (08/02/12)

Track Listing

1. Pleasure Palaces
2. Blank Media
3. Tusk

Download

We've Got It Covered #85

There was a time when if I was still up at half six in the morning on a Saturday it would be because I was still up from the night before. Nowadays though, you're more likely to find me battling with my daughter as I try to get her to her breakfast, followed by several hours of CBeebies. It might not be very rock n roll and yes it is pretty tiring, but hey unless you've been up at that time you'll never know quite how funny it is to hear cartoon trains talking about have a 'chug wash'. As you can probably tell by ramblings, I am still very tired so it's probably a good idea to get on with this weeks cover version which comes from Errors and their take on New Order's 'The Village' which featured on Mojo magazines recent Power, Corruption & Lies Covered covermount CD. With their third album, ‘Have Some Faith In Magic,’ coming out on Rock Action Records this coming Monday, I couldn't think of a better time to post this up. The band head out on a UK tour in February, you can find all of the dates here, plus the band have also just announced that they'll be playing a hometown show at the Arches on Friday the 11th of May.

Errors - The Village (New Order cover)

Friday Freebies

King Post Kitsch 
In his quest to continue to give away great music for free, King Post Kitsch really does rule the roost. This week he decided to share a new EP with the world and rather ace it is too, coming in at just under 6 minutes it's a short but sweet trip, but one well worth taking. I am particularly taken with the lead instrumental track, 'Nocturnal Wandering', but as always with these things you don't need to take my word for it, find out for yourself by downloading the EP for free here.

Blue Sky Archives
On Wednesday I spent my evening back and forth between Bloc and King Tuts as I had tickets for Beerjacket and Micahel Cassidy, but I also wanted to catch my new favourite band, Behold, The Old Bear play their first ever gig. What does that have to do with Blue Sky Archives you might ask, well kids they were the headline band at Bloc. Sadly I didn't get to catch their set as I was up at Tuts catching Beerjacket, but I did hear their soundcheck which sounded pretty good, as is their new single ,Cosplay The Hard Way, which is available as a free download here. The track is the first taster from their forthcoming Triple A Side, which is scheduled for release at the end of February.

Kowalskiy
With his 19th (yes 19th) Free Monthly 5-track Scottish EP, my fellow music blogger Kowalskiy has pulled out another fine collection of the Scottish music scene. This month he's got free tracks from My Tiny Robots, PET, The Machine Room, Wolves Of Winter and a wee cover from French Wives. You can find out more details on the EP and how you can download it over on his blog.

Schwervon!
This freebie comes courtesy of my friend through in the East, the fabulous podcaster and new dad, Edinburgh Man (if you get the chance check out his shows!). He pointed me in the direction of this track from the New York duo, Schwervon! Not only is it a great wee pop tune, but it also features backing vocals from none other than Frances McKee from the Vaselines. You can download the tune for nowt on their Bandcamp page.

Errors
Momentum is really starting to build for the forthcoming album, Have Some Faith In Magic, which is due out at the end of this month on Rock Action Records. As a wee teaser of what you can expect Drowned in Sound have posted up a free download of an album track, 'Pleasure Palaces', remixed by Brassic, which you can find here.

Delta Spirit
I had totally forgotten about Delta Spirit until I got one of those NoiseTrade emails in my inbox telling me that I could download two of their EPs for nowt. I originally came across them a goof while back when I ordered the first ever Cold War Kids EP. Anyway enough of me and my pish, what you need to know is that you can download the EPs for free here. Fans of My Morning Jacket and Dr. Dog should enjoy this.

Festive Freebies

PAWS
I fucking love PAWS, actually I htink the general consensus amongst the Scottish blogosphere, is that we all love PAWS. If you haven't already been converted then you're in luck as they've put up nearly all of their back catalogue on their SoundCloud page to download for nowt.

Ambulances
It feels like an age since we heard anything from the 'neenaws', actually I just checked it's been over three years. Thankfully now they're back with a bang (and a free tune), with their second album in the bag, they're giving us all a wee teaser of what to expect with a free christmas single called 'The True Meaning Of Christmas' which you can find on their Bandcamp page.

Errors
If you head over to Radio Magnetic's website you can find yourself a free download from the forthcoming third Errors LP, Have Some Faith in Magic, which comes out in January of next year.

Cut Ribbons
Welsh girl-fronted indie rocke outfit, Cut Ribbons, just so happen to be making their first ever appearance in Scotland tonight at the Captain's Rest. The gig which is being put on as a collaborative effort by local promoters, Instinctive Racoon and the Radio One DJ, Ally McCrae, also features Open Swimmer and Sunshine Social. So if you're looking for something to do with yourself tonight, then look no further. If you fancy getting acquainted with our Welsh cousins, then head on over to their Bandcamp and download yourself some free tunes.

Nevada Base
Ahead of their headline show at the The Captain's Rest next Saturday (10th December) with Crash Club andMachines In Heaven, Glasgow Synth-pop outfit Nevada Base are giving away their track 'An Avenue' as a free download in exchange for your email address.

Okkervil River
Will Sheff and his motley crue have just released their second Golden Opportunities EP as free download. This time round they're giving away an EP featuring five covers all of which were recorded live to a two-track in Austin. You can download Golden Opportunities 2 here for nowt.

Scottish Fiction
Although it's been going for a while now, I guess you could still consider Scottish Fiction to be relatively new to the blogging scene. That's not to say that it's not worth checking out, if you are free on a Monday and not already listening to Vic G's show, then you should check out his show on Pulse Community Radio. He's also been pretty busy in promoting local talent with his free EPs, this months offering features tunes from The Spook School, Wrongnote, If You Lived Here, You'd Be Home By Now and The Lonely Boy, which you can find here.

Wavves
A collaboration between Wavves and Best Coast, sounds like a hipsters wet dream to me. But hey it happened (I am guessing most hipsters already knew about this), if you haven't heard their song Nodding Off, then head on over to KEXP where you can download it for free.

Cameo Colours
In case you missed their Fresh Meat post on Monday, now's the time to do some catching up with Edinburgh four piece, Cameo Colours who have made their self-titled EP free to download on their Bandcamp page.

Silvermash
Fife outit, Silvermash have a whole host of live recordings up for free download on their SoundCloud page. If you like what you hear then you should get yourself along to the Captain's Rest tomorrow night to catch them play with Mondegreen and St Deluxe.

Tom
In an age when solo artists have to dream up crazy name for themselves (step forward I Build Collapsible Mountains, King Post Kitsch, etc), it's a bit odd to find someone just going by the name Tom. Well that's what Aberdeen-born, Stonehaven-bred, Edinburgh-based musician, Tom (I've got no idea what his full name is), has gone and done. He's got a song called 'Subtle Lie' on his Bandcamp, it's pretty fucking ace, it's also free. You should download it. Go on, you know you want to.

Allan J Swan
The ex-You Already Know guitarist has posted up his new song, "Time Runs Out" for free download on his SoundCloud page. The song has already been causing a wee buzz in the blogosphere, having been chosen by The Pop Cop as his Song of the Week.

Craig_FS
My partner in crime at Olive Grove, Halina, has been creaming her pants over Craig_FS for a while now. Being the stubborn fucker that I am, I only just got round to listening to some of his music. Turns out that one making music in his bedroom is actually pretty fucking good. You can make your own mind up by visiting his SoundCloud and downloading loads of free songs.

Bottle of Steven
Take one half of the duo, Bottle of Evil and hey presto you get Bottle of Steven. He has a free download of his track 'No More Tears' up on his SoundCloud, a cracking wee tune it is too.

Win Tickets for The Electric Frog, Glasgow - Featuring Mogwai, Errors, Wild Beasts...

Since the demise of Tryptich, Glasgow has been left somewhat devoid of in-the-city events, however, with the addition of The Electric Frog this looks set be rectified. The event which is being put on by a collaboration of promoters, which include Liquid Events, SWG3, Slam Events/Pressure and Synergy Concerts, sees a range of DJs and artists being brought together for quite an eclectic wee bill. The event which takes places on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th, features a full day of programmed live performances on the Sunday with the Saturday having more of a DJ/Electronic aspect. The event which was originally scheduled for April of this year, but was pushed back now boasts a much stronger line of bands which includes Mogwai, Wild Beasts, The Fall and Errors amongst others.


To be in with a chance to win a pair of tickets for the event all you have to do is answer this very easy question:


What is the name of the lead singer of The Fall?


Send your answers to me at peenkoblog@gmail.com with 'The Electric Frog' in the subject line. The winner will be chosen completely at random, with the competition closing next Saturday (3rd Sept).


Tickets for the event are £50 for the weekend, or £27.50 for a day ticket and you can buy them from the following stores: Tickets Scotland, Ticket Web, Cafe Rio - Hyndland Street (with no booking fee), Ripping Records in Edinburgh and Grouchos in Dundee.

The Electric Frog
Facebook
Twitter


Mogwai - Drunk & Crazy

Errors - Beards

Wild Beasts - Two Dancers (ii) (Jon Hopkins Remix)

The Fall - Bury Pts. 1 + 3

Errors - Live at London Calling, Amsterdam (24/04/10)

Track Listing
1. Bridge or Cloud
2. Supertribe
3. Toes
4. Germany
5. Mr Milk
6. A Rumour in Africa

Download
Watch the Video

apologies, but this is just one big MP3, every time I went to record it, it ballsed up in one way or another. Sorry kids

Friday Freebies

The Twilight Sad
Okay so it's an old song, but it's been remixed by Errors and it sounds fucking amazing. it's on their new EP due out in July. Grab yourself a copy of ‘Reflection Of The Television (Errors Remix)’ over that the fabulous Line Of Best Fit.

John Zainea and the Mania
Give some details, email, twitter or facebook and in exchange they'll give you a free download of their song 'The Bird Is A Song', just head on over to Noisetrade.

Frenchkiss Records Super Sampler
I might well have featured this before, apologies if I have, but there's only so many freebies for me to remember. Anyway, it's got loads of great bands on there, Local Natives, The Dodos and the Antlers, plus it's free, check it.

Slow Animal
I think I missed out my hipster freebie last week, shame one me. This week I'm back on the track with New Jersey duo, Slow Animal. Their eponymous EP is up for free download on their Bandcamp page. It was Pitchfork that tipped them, hipster-as-fucktastic.

Spin
The American magazine has posted a free compilation of their picks for Bonnaroo 2010, including the National, Phoenix and Mumford & Sons. Download yourself a copy here.

Hot Hot Heat
I seem to recall posting a freebie from the Canadian indie popsters a while back, I don't think this is the same song, or at leats I hope it's not. Anyhow, if you head over to RDCRD LBL then you download yourself a copy of their song 'Zero Results' for zero pennies.

Bright Eyes & Neva Dinova
Back in 2004 this pairing released an EP called 'One Jug Of Wine, Two Vessels', it's kid of like Two Girls, One Cup, but for indie kids. Or perhaps not, actually I am sorry mentioning that, kids don't go googling it. Promise me you won't, you'l only live to regret it. Anyway, where was I, aye that's it freebies, Saddle Creek have posted two MP3's to promote it's re-issue.

Shark?
They sound a bit like a lo-fi version of the Strokes, they have just posted their new album 'School Night' for free download on their Bandcamp page. Cracker it is too, get tucked in.

Family Cactus
The Kiwi popsters have posted their new single 'Kingmaker' up on their Bandcamp, yep it's free and yep it's tasty!


Kowalskiys Komplimentary Korner

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
How he does it I'll never know, but every week the doc pulls a wee corker out of the bag. This week it's the fabulously named Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, I haven't listened to these guys in years. They were actually one of the first bands I go into through blogs. I think it was through the You Ain't No Picasso blog (check it if you haven't read it before). Shit, done it again, it's all me, me, me. There is a free download of the first single from their
upcoming album, 'Let It Sway', up for grabs. Just clicka the linka.

Errors - Marc Riley Session (30/03/10)

Track Listing
1. A Rumour In Africa
2. Beards
3. Supertribe

Download

Errors - Vic Galloway Session (08/02/2010)

Track Listing
1. Beards
2. Germany
3. A Rumour in Africa

Download

Friday Freebies

Pavement
The American indie-legends are set to release their best of album,
'Quarantine The Past' in March, which will feature 23 tracks spanning their entire career from 1989 to 1999. In celebration (promotion) of this, they have put a wee taster up as a free download, a remastered version of 'Gold Soundz', download yourself a copy here.

Evening Chorus
If you missed out on my post on the Evening Chorus the other week, then now is your chance to get acquainted by this rather excellent Welsh band. They have put up both of their EP's, 'All That We Had' and 'Look Forward to the Day', to download for free. Head on over to their Bandcamp page and get downloading I promise you won't regret it.

The Ruby Suns
If I am honest I would have to admit that I know very little about the music coming out of New Zealand these days, off the top of my head I could come up with three names, D4, Flight of the Conchords and these guys. If you missed out on their last album 'Sea Lions' then don't let them pass you by this time. They have put a cracking little indie pop song called 'Cranberry' up for you to download here. (Try DiS if the first link doesn't work)

FatCat
The indie label are giving away a free Sampler when you sign up to their new mailing list, in exchange you will recieve a free download of their Sampler Album featuring Frightened Rabbit, The Twilight Sad and We Were Promised Jetpacks. Sign up here.

Errors/Twilight Sad
Ever wondered what Errors would sound like if the Twilight Sad got to remix them, then wonder no more. Andy from the Sad's remix of 'Bridge or Cloud' is up to download for free over at the NME's website. Errors new album 'Come Down With Me' is out on the 3rd of March, get it pencilled in your diaries.

Mogwai
Mogwai are set to release their first ever live album, 'Special Moves' on Rock Action Records this spring and in order to wet your appetite a little they're giving away a free MP3 of the song '2 Rights Make 1 Wrong' in exchange for your details over at this minisite www.mogwaispecialmoves.com


Kathryn Williams
I got sent her album the other day, pretty damn good ti was too. Apparently it's her fifth album, I must admit that she had totally passed me by, when I first got the album I admit that I actually thought why the fuck have I been sent the new Kathryn Jenkins album. My fail. Her new album, 'The Quickening’ is out on the 22nd of February, as a wee taster she's put up alive recording of new song 'Sustain Pedal' up to download, to get yourself a copy all you have to do is sign up to her mailing list here.

Insound
The online indie store is giving away a whole host of free MP3's,
including tracks from Vampire Weekend, Nirvana, Lou Barlow, Sea Wolf, DOOM and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, just click here.

SubPop
Every week it seems as if I am posting about some kind of freebie Sub Pop, this week it's their 'Cyber Sex Digital Sampler', which features among others Avi Buffalo, Nirvana, Handsome Furs, Flight of the Conchords and Vetiver. Get yourself a copy here.

North Atlantic Oscillation
I think this will be the third time that I'll have posted about this song, but seriously if you haven't already downloaded yourself a copy of 'Cell Count' get your finger oot!
You can get yourself a free cop in exchange for a tweet here.
This will be the last time I mention how great this track is, for this week at least.

Errors announce Glasgow show

Errors have announced one of their biggest headline shows to date at the Grand Ole Opry, Glasgow on the 25th of February next year. Tickets are on sale now for £8.50 + booking fee, you an buy them here.

Errors - Toes
Myspace

Coming crashing off of the current wave of vibrant left-field music that defines the Glasgow music scene at the moment errors embrace the eclectic culture of Glasgow's seminal club nights, they take elements of new-wave, electro, 90's rave, acid-house and make it their own along with the contemporary influence of purveyors of glitch electronica and IDM such as kid606, squarepusher, boards of canada and fourtet before melding it together in a package that has captured the attention of club kids, Indie-kids and DJ's alike.

The past year or two has seen every one of their headline shows in Scotland and London sell out, European tours with Mogwai and Underworld, Festival Appearances, the release of their debut album 'It's Not Something But It Is Like Whatever', and even having the music video for their single 'Pump' nominated for a Scottish Bafta.

To Err Is Human

Errors are playing a surprise show at Nice N Sleazys in Glasgow
this coming Sunday. Doors at 8.30.
That is all.

Errors - Toes

Myspace
Sleazys

Mogwai to headline Field Day 2009 (London-centric)

'Mogwai have got a UK festival date to announce, so here it is;They will be headlining the Field Day event held in London's Victoria Park on Saturday 1st August.
Other bands confirmed for the festival so far include;FOUR TET / JAMES YORKSTON / APES AND ANDROIDS / MALCOLM MIDDLETON / FENNESZ / ERRORS / DJ SKREAM with many more to be announced soon…'

Field Day 2009 will take place once again at London's Victoria Park on Saturday 1st of August.

Tickets - £29.50 + Booking Fee

Mogwai

Field Day

THE PINUP NIGHTS HOGMANAY BALL!

More Details