Ardentjohn - Waiting for the Season

Album Review: Ardentjohn - Waiting for the Season (self-released)

Waiting for the Season is the second album from Edinburgh/London-based Ardentjohn. The indie-folk collective are no strangers to Peenko having featured as the site's inaugural Scots Wah-Hay way back in February 2010. Now the fine folks in Ardentjohn have sent over their second album for scrutiny.

The album open with the title track and immediately the rich, crisp guitar grabs your attention. The depth to the overall sound is impressive, with some distant harmonies fading in and out, while a steady beat comes in. Another guitar and bass come in as the song builds. It's quite breathtaking and uplifting, feeling yourself lifted by the music as it literally sparkles. The vocals add yet another dimension, being sparse in terms of lyrics but rich in their delivery. It's a cracking opener and bodes well for what is yet to come. 'In The Morning' starts with lovely strings and guitar. The tempo is nice and steady and again the music is just stunning. The tone is pitched just right. Strings add a note of melancholy, before the rhythm section kicks the pace up notch and lifts the song to a new plateau. 

'I Hear You' starts in quite a sunny mood. The guitar is again quite refreshing, while the second guitar stretches out it's notes, giving some depth. The vocal is emphasised more on this track and is simply stunning. It's powerful and fragile at the same time and rightly allowed centre stage in this beautiful song. Some subtle harmonies come in a serve to accentuate that feeling. The drums come to the fore on 'Don't Let Me Lose Your Hand'. Aided by the bass, they get the track off to a good start before strings and guitar add some depth. The song gets a nice change of pace on the chorus and tucked away in there is a really great guitar line. Vocally it's again very strong. Slightly different vocally from the previous track, it just serves to highlight how good a singer Keiron Mason really is. 'Apart (Don't Dream Me Bad)' slows things down again. Drums are more undertsated and there's even an accordion in there. The guitar again stands out. Although picking out notes and appearing to be fairly simple in it's delivery it really does add a lovely dimension to the sound.

'Sky Is Opening' begins with a really nice vocal that wouldn't go amiss on a Fleet Foxes song. Delivered acapella for the first thirty seconds or so, the song builds slowly behind it with some meaty drums and a very nice guitar. It settles into it's groove and skips along at a nice pace, with the drums sounding nice and solid thrroughout. I did expect it to build and burst into an explosion of sound but the control is maintained and in a weird way reminded me of some of Paul Weller's really great b-sides back when he was at his peak (in my opinion). It's a song to stick on loud and just close your eyes for six minutes or so and go on a journey. Loved it. 'Lady of the Wood' is more folk than anything and opens with a great tempo. Led by strings and guitar, ably accompanied by the rhythm section, my toes were tapping immediately. Again Keiron Mason's vocals sound wonderful. He has a rich voice that can convey different emotions and convey ideas and his voice demands your attention. Meanwhile, he and the band weave a wonderful tapestry of fantastic music that you can lose yourself in.

'Blizzard' opens with some lovely guitar and a steady rhythm section. Slower in tempo than previous songs, it was incredibly uplifting. When the vocal comes in, there's almost an echo. I couldn't quite decide it was a backing vocal, or if the lead vocal was overdubbed (hey, I'm no sounds engineer!). Regardless of which, it sounded great. Sprinkled throughout the song are lots of little subtle moments that add up to a song that fairly sparkles. There seemed to be a fuzzy edge to the production that further added to the overall sound. 'Now' builds on a really nice acoustic guitar line which rises out of the darkness. There are some electronic sprinkles in the background that flit in and out, before the electric guitar comes in to assist. It's a good, stedy tempo. When the vocal comes in, it really stands out. Slow, steady and rich. A touch louder than the guitars, it really resonates. It really draws you in and holds your attention. Musically, there's lots of nice touches flitting back and forth but it's the vocal that steals the show. 

Final track 'Sleeping Soldier' begins with a bell chiming, before a nice bass kicks in. Underneath are drums and guitars. Slow and steady is the order of the day here, with a slide guitar stretching out notes which wash across the track. The othe guitar dances around, creating texture as that bass pounds out the tempo. Again, it's a varied and full sound being created by the band. This track, as with every other on the album is a finely crafted piece of music. Under the surface od each song beats a complex heart. Layer upon layer of nuance fit together like a fantastic aural jigsaw. Each song washes over you and you can find yourself getting lost in the music and that doesn't happen to me nearly as much as I'd like it to. Here, every song seemed to do that. There's really no aspect of it that didn't thrill me. It's a truly wonderful album and deserves a wide audience.

Waiting for the Season is out now on CD and download and can be picked up from the band's official website on CD, or iTunes and Amazon as a download.

"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.

Scots Way-Hay - The Artists Album of the Year (Part 3)

When I sent emails out to all of this years Scots Way-Hay artists I honestly only expected to get a handful of replies back. How wrong I was, it turned out that most bands were pretty keen to let you all know what's been tickling their fancy in 2010. So in the last of my series of posts I give you the favourite albums of 2010 for Ardentjohn, Endor, French Wives, Lorraine McCauley and Over the Wall.....

Blud Rins Cauld by John Knox Sex Club

chosen by Gav, Over the Wall

"My album of the year is Blud Rins Cauld by John Knox Sex Club. Parts of this album sounds like a group of guys starting a riot, which is very much the sense you get when you see them play live, but the best thing for me is that there's a lyrical depth here absent from most Scottish bands about. No actually, absent from the vast majority of contemporary music. You get the sense of really big classic themes running through an album that also has time to talk about juvenile delinquency in a particularly Scottish way. There's also a burgeoning violence to the music, even when they're in the middle of one of their very tender moments, that's really compelling. I've been playing it constantly since I got it at Insider Festival (where they played the set of the weekend in my opinion) and I think when I look back on the last year later in life this will be a big part of the soundtrack"

Boots Met My Face by Admiral Fallow

chosen by all of French Wives

"Our album of the year is unequivocally Admiral Fallow's debut 'Boots Met My Face.' It is an album which has garnered near universal praise, and such praise is completely deserved. It is extremely rare in pop (to use a slightly catch all term) bands for each and every member to have quite such a high degree of general musicianship. Indeed, in many of the rare instances where this is the case such musicianship is often thrust in the face, or ears, of the listener. However, this is not apparent on this record. The bands musical skill is perfectly apparent throughout, however despite the vast instrumentation at no point do any of the parts feel self indulgent or unnecessary. Melodically and structurally the songs are so meticulously constructed that the arrangements sound like the best possible version of the original song. Add to this the interesting lyrical content and it makes it extremely difficult to watch or listen to this band without being completely in awe"

Hunting My Dress by Jesca Hoop

chosen by Lorraine McCauley

"I watched Jesca perform at a music festival last year and just loved her quirky song style and beautiful lyrics. She has an amazing imagination and creates new places and ideas to explore in each song. Favorite track, though its hard to choose, is The Kingdom and the video for it is great too.......check it out"

High Violet by The National

chosen by David McGinty, Endor

"The most commercially successful album to date by a band who spent years in the relative wilderness is often seen as one of two things: a crossover or a breakthrough, The National’s High Violet is certainly the latter. Whilst the band’s crossover potential is evident on this release, and comparisons could be drawn to the early albums of stadium fillers like R.E.M, this record is evolutionary not revolutionary. Its breakthrough into the mainstream charts follows the critical acclaim surrounding four previous records and years of slugging it out on the road, yet in 2010 it seemed The National proved they could no longer be ignored. Over the course of their last few releases the band have been honing a sound, primarily based around true craftsmanship in terms of their songwriting. Sure, since Boxer there’s less shouting, and knee-jerk purists have been arguing whether or not that record is better than it’s predecessor, Alligator, since 2007; the fact of the matter is that High Violet is the latest instalment in the evolution of a band which has be lauded by critics, and rightly so, since their debut almost a decade ago. Not only is High Violet the most evolved National record, and debatably the finest example of their ability as songwriters and musicians, it’s got to be one of the best albums of 2010"

The Courage of Others, by Midlake

chosen by Seth, Ardentjohn

"It is a beautiful album and, after Trials of Van Occupanther, it was always going to be hard to top it.

The band chose a different genre for the album (which in itself is difficult) and this gave it, instantly, a different vibe from their previous but their harmonies are always to die for and the old english feel of the album is wonderful.. They seem to put their mark over anything they try.

A beautiful album which gets better with every listen: a bit like their last one, but not the same at all. Wonderful"

Ardentjohn - Vic Galloway Session (18/02/2010)

Track Listing
1. Where All Paths Lead
2. Home
3. Follow Me
4. Sleeping Soldier

Download

Scots Way-Hay! #1 - Ardentjohn

So here we are in the first of what I plan to be a weekly feature, cheesily entitled 'Scots Way-Hay' (if you think that's bad you should have seen the one's I chose not to use). If all goes according to plan I should have a band/artist introducing themselves to you each week. Some of them might be well established artists that you know and love, other might be new to you, either way I hope to share with you something that I personally like and hope that you do too. The first band I have chosen to go with are Ardentjohn an indie-folk band from Edinburgh. They're a band who seem to have been about for a few years now, but only came to my attention recently after their new album got reviewed in Uncut. Yes I read Uncut, I'm not ashamed to admit it, it's certainly a much better alternative to reading/looking at the pictures in the NME.
I digress, the review got me curious which in turn led me to checking out their Myspace, followed by buying their mini-album 'When The Time Comes', and that was it, I was hooked. Their new album 'Slow Train' is out now, I am just waiting on the postie delivering my copy, but if the lead single 'Home' is anything to go by I am in for a treat.
Right that's enough about me and how we got here, it's time for me to pass you over to the band to introduce themselves, enjoy......

Would you care to introduce yourself?
(SETH) We are a few from Edinburgh/London band Ardentjohn.

How would you describe the music you make?
(SETH) Bloody Good! No, always a bit of a tricky one because we tick a few different boxes - today i am going to go with Alternative Folk/Pop.

How did you start making music?
(Mark) Keiron (the main song writer) began making music on the Isle of Bute with childhood friend Roy Hayler a while back in their small flat on an old four track tape recorder. Early efforts were interesting sometimes hilarious however i first heard orange nights (song from previous e.p) in this very flat and fell in love with it. This song gave us confidence to move on. The heart has been there from the very beginning, that's why i joined the band.

What process goes into the way you write songs?
(SETH) More often than not a song comes from Keiron and his acoustic guitar. He'll bring it to a rehearsal and then we'll all jam it and try out different vibes, but we always seem to make it sound like an Ardentjohn song, which is sometimes different from what was brought in originally due to the rest of the bands different influences, although the melody is key to what we do. The new addition of strings to the live set-up has made the process a bit longer but we are loving their involvement. We've got a pretty big live sound right now.

What are you all listening to at the moment?
(SETH) I get a little slated for my taste sometimes, you could say i'm a bit of a pop fiend - what can i say, i like catchy. Having said that right now I am SO excited about the new Midlake album, 'Trials of Van Occupanther' is one of my all time favourites, and I love Temper Traps 'Sweet Disposition'. (Mark) We are also listening to Wild Beasts, The National, The XX, Whitest boy alive, Grizzly Bear, Justin Townes Earle and we're always tracing back lots of old stuff, currently Blind blake, johnny cash unearthed, roy orbison box set.

What can we expect to see/hear from you in 2010?
(SETH) We've just done our Edinburgh Album Launch for "On The Wire", which was amazing and have our London one in a week. The album has been a long time coming so looking forward to promoting it and getting it out there! We've got a live session next month with Vic Galloway at the BBC and more gigs in Edinburgh and London and, fingers crossed, we'll be doing one or two festivals this summer. It's all pretty exciting just now.


Ardentjohn's debut album 'Out on the Wire' is out now on CD, you get yourself a copy via the bands Myspace page. It is also available from Play, HMV and Amazon.

Ardentjohn - Home (MP3)


Myspace