REVIEW: Keanu Leaves - Where We Lay Our Heads

Glasgow's Where We Lay Our Heads return with a new single this week. 

'Keanu Leaves' is a rousing folk-rock tune that will have your toe-tapping for its entire four minute and forty seven second running time. 

The track is beautifully layered, with a perfect balance of sounds making it one of the better produced songs to be released this year. 

The single showcases all this band have to offer and leaves you wanting more so we can only hope that they've got more coming soon.

The band launch the single at Broadcast in Glasgow this Tuesday (2nd April), with support from Shambles Miller and Brave Young Red for a mere £5, and advance tickets get a free download of the single. Details can be found at the Facebook event.

'Keanu Leaves' will be released 1st April through Common Records.

REVIEW: Now That You Are A Dancer - Kid Canaveral

The self-released 'Shouting at Wildlife' was 2010's much acclaimed indie-pop debut album from Fife's Kid Canaveral and now they're back with their sophomore album, 'Now That You Are A Dancer', on Fence Records. 

Not only have the band dodged the dreaded sophomore slump, they've successfully defeated the big boss and achieved victory by producing an album that's stronger and bolder than their debut. 

The 10-track player showcases the songwriting talent of David MacGregor and proves he is one of the best lyricists Scotland currently has to offer. Album closers 'So Sad, So Young' and 'A Compromise' are of particular note for exhibiting the strength in the songwriting that this band have to offer.

There's also a lot to be said for the fact that one of the album's standout tracks is a contribution from fellow band member Kate Lazda, 'Skeletons', which is darker than most KC! tracks and stylistically departed from what we expect from them but still very fitting within their model. If you need proof that KC! are much more than just indie-pop singles then this track will set you straight.

'Now That You Are A Dancer' features the indie-pop goodness we have come to expect from Kid Canaveral in spades whilst also displaying the growth in the band since their self-released debut. It may only be March but we have one of our contenders for Album of the Year.

You can purchase 'Now That You Are A Dancer' via Fence Records on CD and LP. It was released on March 4th 2013.

REVIEW: A Kite, A Key and A Storm - The Darien Venture

Almost 2 years since the release of the 'Indications' EP, The Darien Venture are back and stronger than before.

'A Kite, A Key and A Storm' is a 7-track player which showcases the catchy hooks and lyrical talent that this band have to offer. It's an EP from a maturing band and contains some of their best work to date.

Opener 'Bones' is anthemic, with the infectious guitars that The Darien Venture are known for as well as the masterful balancing of the vocal melodies from Dave Martin, Kyle Shields and Liam Rutherford.

'Ho! Criminal Face' is one more to add to the pile of tracks The Darien Venture have produced with massively catchy hooks and big guitars.

The EP strongest from the middle onwards where we get the best master and mix of the hit single '1.21 Gigawatts', with the perfect balance of the guitars and catchy lyrics. This is song is math-rock at its best and the mix on 'A Kite, A Key and A Storm' is the best that it has sounded.

'Catapult' is a song for anyone in their 20s, it builds from an opening showcasing Dave Martin's strong vocal and lyrics to a big chorus where the vocal melodies of his bandmates are once again utilised and Jonny Beveridge's drumming holds the entire track together.

'Thinks/Thoks' is another one full of catchy hooks and has some more standout drumming from Beveridge.

'Tonight Matthew' is the lyrically strong track on the EP and its coupled with infectious guitars and a perfect marrying of vocals. The final third of the song is an epic build bringing together everything that makes this band great - the strong bassline, big guitars and drums with the catchy lyrical hooks.

'Clock' is the darkest Darien Venture track to date and proves the lyrical talent of this band better than anything else. The big guitars take a backdrop which allows the vocals and lyrics to shine through stronger than on any other track on the EP, and in the band's previous work.

The Darien Venture have grown over the recent years but they are still a band who can provide catchy math-rock songs, they've always had the lyrical talent but it is on show more on 'A Kite, A Key and A Storm' than previous efforts. I believe this band are not only one of Glasgow and Scotland's best but one of the best bands in Britain right now and they deserve to be much bigger than they are.

'A Kite, A Key and A Storm' was released March 9th via Overlook Records and can be purchased via Bandcamp.